Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/200

Contact: Mike Horton, Principal Traffic Technician (Regulations) Tel: (01865) 810504

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Highways & Transport (CMDT8).

The Cabinet Member for Transport considered a set of waiting restrictions in 14 locations across West Oxfordshire District in the light of public consultation on each.

The Cabinet Member received a number of representations with regard to proposals for Heath Lane, Bladon.

Mr Chesterman referred to the limited availability of pavement in Heath Lane. There was no pavement on the right hand side, the pavement on the left hand side often had cars parked on it and there were particular problems outside numbers 8 and 10, where there was a high pavement. Parked vehicles obstructed emergency vehicles and posed a threat to the viability of bus services, which were already limited, placing greater pressure on the elderly and requiring more people to walk in an area, which was already quite dangerous.

Mr Henderson referred to the 81 objections received to the proposal.  He could not understand why it was considered that a restriction was required in Heath Lane when the grounds for such a restriction were no longer valid. The proposals went too far and the expenditure could not be justified if such restrictions were not needed. He was not aware of any problems of access for buses, refuse or other vehicles and expressed concern that evidence presented during the formal consultation did not appear to have been considered.

Mr Roulston endorsed the views put forward by Mr Henderson and reiterated that evidence presented in the second round of consultation had not been considered.  He felt that the original parish council plan had had some substance to it but advised that problems that were being experienced then were no longer a problem now as many residents had built their own parking spaces.  That had eliminated problems of parking on the lane and there was therefore no justification for this expenditure. He was not aware of problems experienced by large vehicles and no study had been undertaken regarding displacement of vehicles if a restriction was implemented.

Mr Hambridge advised that proposals for some form of parking in Heath Lane were not new.  However, neither had they been driven by the parish council who had merely been responding to representations received and concerns of residents in Heath Lane. The parish council had never wanted the larger scheme, which they knew would be resisted but felt they should go along with it in order to get the scheme into the public domain.  The parish council would like to see the expanded scheme withdrawn and consultation undertaken on the smaller scheme which they considered a reasonable compromise.

Wanda Gough advised that there had been some evidence of delays to emergency service vehicles and documented evidence of parking problems on the corner at the Manor Road end and the police had recommended yellow lines in that area.

Councillor Hudspeth felt the advertised proposal went way beyond what was required and a restriction at the pinch point on Heath Lane would be more than sufficient and he supported the proposal being tabled by the parish  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8