Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/006

Contact: Hugh Potter, Group Manager – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704/Jason Sherwood, Growth Manager (South & Vale) Tel: 07795 684708

Report by Corporate Director, Environment and Place (CMDE10).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on proposed waiting restrictions on B4017 Bath Street Abingdon and follows a consultation on the same restrictions carried out in December 2018 and January 2019 and which were approved at the Cabinet Member for Environment delegated decisions meeting on 14 February 2019. As the restrictions were not implemented within the statutory maximum period of two years from the start of the consultation it was necessary to carry out a further consultation. Funding for the proposals has been provided by the developers of land north of Abingdon.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the waiting restrictions on B4017 Bath Street, Abingdon as advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE10) responses received to a statutory consultation on proposed waiting restrictions on B4017 Bath Street Abingdon. This followed a consultation on the same restrictions carried out in December 2018 and January 2019 and which were approved by the Cabinet Member for Environment on 14 February 2019 but not implemented within the statutory maximum period of two years from the start of the consultation and therefore requiring a further consultation.

The following written representations were reported:

Jim Halliday - “Changes to the Parking regulations:  Whilst removing 54m of parking might seem to be a worthwhile exercise – I think that its impact on safe cycling will be at best minimal; but the impact on residents will be major. For many years there have been ongoing parking issues on the roads of the Fitzharry’s Estate – I am concerned that the total removal of parking from this layby will simply result in the car owners deciding they will park on the Fitzharry’s Estate instead - as I strongly suspect that many of the cars parking in this layby belong to residents from the southern stretch of Bath Street who do not have off-street parking. Certainly changing the regulations from a restriction from Mon-Sat 0800-1800 to 24 hours every day will have a major impact on local residents – particularly in the evenings. Whilst I feel that the removal of 54m of parking will contribute little to safer cycling I wish to withdraw my objection to the proposed change in parking regulations. However, should the scheme proceed I would ask that careful consideration is given to the design of the cycle lane - in particular how far it extends at the southern end, its width (I have checked and the current Bath Street cycle lane is definitely narrower than other cycle lanes in the town), and its surface treatment (I would suggest when it passes the parked cars at the northern end, perhaps coloured tarmac or very frequent painted cycle symbols may be appropriate). Therefore, for both the parking and safe cycling reasons listed above, I object to the plan and would suggest that there are other places in Abingdon where the money planned to be spent on this scheme could be spent to give much better benefit to cyclists and would urge the County Council to think again.”

Robin Tucker Oxfordshire Cycling Network – “We support the proposals.  This is a busy route for cycling as it is the main route to the centre from the John Mason and Fitzharrys secondary schools and Abingdon & Witney college.  It is difficult section because the road narrows.  We consider is sensible to prioritise people who wish to use the road for movement using a sustainable mode of transport, rather than the non-movement of private cars, although we appreciate the proposal will cause some inconvenience to people who normally park here. We note Abingdon School’s objection – however, Abingdon School’s entrances are in Faringdon Road and Park Road so in our view this objection not substantial.  Beyond this, encouraging access from Bath Street encourages dangerous road crossing and U-turns in the road, so removing the parking makes school access safer. For reference, the section between Stratton Way and Faringdon Road, excluding the junction, has seen 4 casualties in the last 10 years.”

County Councillor Alison Rooke and Abingdon Town Council also supported the scheme.

Having regard to the information set out in the report before her together with the representations made to her at the meeting while noting that there was an impact on parking although minimal the Cabinet Member for Environment acknowledged the benefits to increase cycling options and therefore confirmed her decision as follows:

to approve the waiting restrictions on B4017 Bath Street, Abingdon as advertised.

Signed……………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………