Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/067

Contact: Anthony Kirkwood, Assistant Principal Engineer Tel: (01865) 815704

10.10 am

Report by Head of Highways & Transport (CMDT5).

The Cabinet Member for Transport considered a proposal to introduce additional speed limit changes at various locations in Oxfordshire.

Mr. George Dick, Didcot resident, explained that he was a Highways Agency LGV instructor and an emergency services instructor.  He had asked Thames Valley Police for the number of incidents on the Didcot link road, but that of course was only the number of incidents which had been reported.  Over the next three years he estimated the traffic on the A4130 and B4493 west of Didcot would increase ten-fold as a result of the Great Western Park housing development and the new ASDA Wal-Mart depot.  He stated that the speed limit on those roads was breached every day; he also mentioned the need for a cycle path on both roads, not just the A4130.  He asked the Cabinet Member to reconsider and reduce the speed limit below 40 mph from Foxhall Road roundabout to the new signalled junction of the A4130 with the Great Western Park housing development and introduce solid white lines and chevrons in the middle of the carriageway.

Mr. Barrell stated that there needed to be a balance.  The review of speed limits on A and B roads had been conducted with Government criteria in mind.  Having considered the circumstances of the stretch of road in question, the national speed limit remained appropriate; he added that the Council could not introduce double white lines in the centre of the carriageway because the Government criteria for this were not met.

Councillor Zoe Patrick, as local Member, asked that the speed limit on the A417 Mably Way be reduced from 40 mph to 30 mph; she reminded the Cabinet Member that she had presented a petition to this effect at the last meeting and asked him to support the recommendation in the report.

Mr. Barrell noted the strength of feeling and pointed out that the officer recommendation was to reduce the speed limit to 30 mph.

The Cabinet Member for Transport APPROVED implementation of the speed limit orders as detailed in Annex 1 to the report (CMDT5) and agreed to delegate his authority to the Head of Highways & Transport, in consultation with him, to agree a final programme of schemes ensuring value for money.