Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/049

Contact: Hugh Potter, Group Manager – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by Interim Director for Community Operations (CMDE12).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation to introduce a zebra crossing on Morrell Avenue, Oxford put forward and funded by Oxford City Council.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposed introduction of a zebra crossing on Morrell Avenue, Oxford.

The Cabinet Member considered (CMDE12) responses received to a statutory consultation to introduce a zebra crossing on Morrell Avenue, Oxford put forward and funded by Oxford City Council.

City Councillor Tom Hayes spoke as one of two elected city councillors for St Clement’s Ward alongside County Councillor Jamila Azad. During his time as a Councillor he had been made aware of the concerns surrounding the volume of traffic and speeding, and the resulting effects of air pollution, reduced safety, and less liveable spaces come up every session. The issue of provision had been ongoing for many years. However, the vast majority agreeing on the need for a crossing did not mean there was a vast majority in favour of one location for it although everyone who had provided a view has done so with the public interest uppermost in their minds. While supportive of the proposal he recognised that it would be unlikely to receive full support but once the crossing had been installed and the material benefits felt, seen, and heard, he believed that people would be persuaded of its merits. With the pandemic response reaching into a new phase, he was concerned about the potential move away from using public transport to private cars and vans which of on a significant scale could significantly affect Morrell Avenue. He supported installation of the crossing with proper signage and hoped that the County Council could install cycling infrastructure and coloured cycle lanes on Morrell Avenue, to further encourage people to make use of active and sustainable transport modes.

County Councillor Jamila Azad Morrell Avenue Crossing had been sought by residents of Morrell Avenue for last twenty years. It was a very steep Road with 240 houses, many driveways and trees on both sides. Traffic travelled very fast coming from Headington through Warneford Road into Divinity Road and Morrell Avenue and it was now a rat run. There had been a lot of accidents on this road with people driving at more than 40mph even though there was a 20mph speed limit and flashing lights to slow them down. Because of the number of driveways and trees on this road feasibility studies had been carried out twice which had found this to be the only suitable place to have a crossing because of schools, language centres, playground and hospitals nearby. There are many elderly and disabled residents and parents with children living on this busy road and with 6 bus stops on both sides and there had been a big increase in traffic levels over the last 4 years and a crossing was desperately needed.

Noting that Cyclox, although not objecting in principle to the crossing, had objected to the width of the traffic lane, which they said did not comply with guidance issued by Transport for London in respect of lane widths and should be narrower than the proposed 3.5 metres the Cabinet Member accepted an officer response that the width at 3.5 metres was not regarded as hazardous and indeed experience of similar lane widths in the county had not shown there to be any safety problems.  Noting that this was a city council initiative funded by them and having regard to the information set out in the report and the representations made to her at the meeting she confirmed her decision as follows:

to approve the proposed introduction of a zebra crossing on Morrell Avenue, Oxford.

Signed…………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………..