Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/100

Contact: Naomi Barnes, Project Manager Tel: 07824 528681

 

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM4).

 

Quickways and Quietways are proposals in the Oxford Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) as an effective way of promoting cycling, in line with council objectives of public health, decongestion, climate change and air quality. East Oxford was chosen as a priority area as it has below average levels of cycling for the city. Quickways are proposed on main routes in the city, with the following routes consulted on: Cowley Road/Oxford Road, Donnington Bridge Road, Iffley Road/Henley Avenue/Rose Hill, Marston Road, Morrell Avenue/Warneford Lane, St Clement’s Street, Between Towns Road/Church Cowley Road and Banbury Road/St Giles.

 

A Quietway is proposed to be introduced on Parks Road in North Oxford.

 

The 20mph speed limit amendments proposed on the Quickways included provision of a 20mph speed limit on Abingdon Road, where cycle improvements were implemented as part of Active Travel Tranche 1. Following the consultation, the 20mph speed limit on Donnington Bridge Road is proposed to be extended to include Weirs Lane.

 

Quickways and the Quietway cycle routes have been presented to key stakeholders through extensive consultation. A total of 1,448 online responses were received from the informal consultation and 909 responses for the statutory TRO consultation. The consultation found that respondents showed good support for the proposed Quickways and Quietway.  75% of respondents to the informal consultation supported the proposals, with 21% objecting and 4% remaining neutral.

 

Across both consultations is clear that respondents largely supported the Quickway routes. There were some key objections which have been noted and addressed where possible. These included but were not limited to loss of parking including disabled provision and a desire for more infrastructure particularly at junctions.

 

Following consultation, a priority ranking exercise was undertaken, and it is recommended to defer the Between Towns Road/Church Cowley Road and Banbury Road. An order of preference has been identified for delivery to ensure the scheme remains within the budgetary constraints.

 

The Cabinet Member for Highway management is RECOMMENDED to:

 

a.     Approve implementation of the Marston Road, Cowley Road/Oxford Road, Iffley Road/Henley Road/Rose Hill and Morrell Avenue/Warneford Lane Quickways with the understanding that, once detailed design costs are finalised and should available budget allow, additional schemes on the prioritisation list can be brought back into the programme.

 

b.     Approve implementation of all the 20mph speed limits incorporating the extension of the 20mph speed limit on Weirs Lane.

 

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management, Councillor Bearder, considered a report of the Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM4) on the proposed introduction of Quickways and Quietways as part of the Oxford Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), and the responses received following a statutory consultation on the proposals.

 

The report noted that the introduction of Quickways and Quietways was viewed as an effective way of promoting cycling in line with the Council’s objectives in relation to public health, [traffic] decongestion, climate change, and air quality. Having reviewed the responses to the statutory consultation, it was RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Highway Management approve implementation of –

 

(a)  The Marston Road, Cowley Road/Oxford Road, Iffley Road/Henley Road/Rose Hill and Morrell Ave/Warneford Lane Quickways as advertised with the understanding that, once detailed design costs are finalised and should available budget allow, additional schemes on the prioritisation list can be brought back into the programme; and

 

(b)  All the 20mph speed limits as advertised incorporating the extension of the 20mph speed limit on Weirs Lane.

 

Councillor Bearder then invited those persons present, either in person or online, to make their presentations on the proposals. In so doing, Councillor Bearder noted that he had also received written representations on the proposals which he would take into consideration before announcing his decision.

 

Having heard the oral presentations and having received written representations, Councillor Bearder made the following observations.

 

(a)  The presentations and representations reflected the complexity of the proposals that were before him today and he thanked everyone for their presentations and written representations.

(b)  He was aware that the proposals, if approved, represented a significant change which had implications for vulnerable persons.

(c)   In reaching a decision, it was necessary to take into consideration those persons who will be put in a vulnerable situation, including very many students who were limited in their means of transport.

(d)  It was necessary to take urgent and dramatic action, as reflected in the proposals set out in the report, if the issues raised by climate change were to be addressed.

(e)  The proposals would not achieve everything and, therefore, it would be necessary to give the proposals further consideration.

(f)    That people paved over gardens to create car parking space; parked on pavements; and ignored 20 mph speed limits, while deeply frustrating, was not justification for not considering the proposals set out in the report.

In response to the criticism that there were insufficient enforcement powers available to address these concerns, it was incumbent upon those who could, to press the relevant authorities on these issues.

[Councillor Bearder then cited the example of the significant success in reducing vehicle speeds in Kiev following the introduction of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems in Kiev].

(g)  It was a priority of the Council to introduce a more sustainable, environmental, and safer, transport network which reflected the needs of the most vulnerable persons in society.

 

Having considered the report of the Director of Growth and Economy; the written representations that had been received in response to the consultation; and the presentations by those persons present at the meeting, either in person or online, Councillor Bearder announced his decision, as follows:

 

DECISION: to approve the report’s recommendations subject to the following provisions –

 

(a)  To request that officers submit reports, as a priority, on –

·       Saint Clements; and

·       If funding was available, on Beauchamp Lane to Rymers Lane, which would connect the two Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Oxford

(b)  Officers also to submit a report on the extension of Donnington Bridge Road to Weirs Lane; and

(c)    To defer any proposals for Between Towns Road/Church Cowley Road and Banbury Road.

 

 

Signed ……………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Highway Management

 

 

 Date of Signing …………………………….