Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Highway Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/134

Contact: Odele Parsons, Senior Transport Planner.

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM 5).

To seek approval of the Witney Local Cycling and Walking Plan.

This report presented the strategic Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) produced for Witney. The LCWIP identified a network of walking and cycling routes in and around Witney (including potential future routes) and set out high level proposals for improvements to the walking and cycling infrastructure which made up this network. These infrastructure improvements were intended for development over a ten-year period to 2033 and would help to enable modal shift from private vehicle use to active and sustainable modes of travel. The LCWIP was also well aligned with the County Council’s nine priorities as outlined in its Strategic Plan 2022-2025.

The Chair, Cllr Gant – Cabinet Member for Highway Management, invited speakers to address the meeting and responded to the points made.

Cllr Dan Levy spoke in support of the approval of the Witney LCWIP.

Noting that the active travel tranche 3 scheme intended to improve the public realm to make the High Street a more accessible, pleasant environment for people to walk, cycle and spend time, Cllr Levy enquired as to whether any of the policies in the LCWIP could be delivered through that scheme. 

The Senior Transport Planner responded that the High Street and Market Square schemes had similar objectives and the pertaining active travel schemes were likely to be within the first of the LCWIP schemes to be delivered.

The Chair welcomed the report and thanked officers, in particular Odele Parsons, Senior Transport Planner, for the work that had gone into this proposal. The Chair felt the plan was extremely thorough and an excellent example of coproduction and constructive local engagement in the design of a scheme. The plan was also clearly aligned to the introduction of 20mph speed limits across Witney.

The Chair was pleased to note the reference to walking and wheeling in the report, reflecting the Council’s commitment to making networks accessible for all.

The Chair also welcomed the inclusion of cycle parking in the report.

The Chair noted and addressed responses to the consultation.

A number of respondents took the view that funding for the plan could be better spent on other areas. The Chair’s response was that the Council’s policy of bringing forward LCWIPs facilitated access to funding opportunities from a variety of sources, including government grants, for schemes that delivered on national priorities such as increased walking and cycling.

The Chair invited officers to address the potential loss of vegetation and green space that may result from implementation of some proposals. Officers explained that the plan would avoid using green space where possible, but as each individual scheme was designed some grass verges may be lost to accommodate widened paths and other infrastructure. The loss of vegetation would be considered as a last resort and weighed against the benefits from increased active travel over motor vehicle use. Each scheme would undergo consultation and a Climate Impact Assessment and opportunities to increase vegetation or plant trees would be sought. Some schemes would also improve and increase access to green space.

In response to some objections received through the consultation, the Chair cited a report published by DfT (2020) which stated that there could be up to a 40% increase in shopping footfall from walking infrastructure improvements. This reflected the Council’s belief that an enhanced public realm and cycling and walking infrastructure was better for the local economy.

The Chair highlighted that the policies within the plan were iterative and more could be brought forward as the scheme matured and evolved. Officers reiterated that the consultation highlighted a number of additional schemes and elements which could be considered in future iterations of the LCWIP. There was regular liaison with district and town councils regarding such matters. 

The report referenced the potential cycle route between Witney and Eynsham via the A40. The Chair enquired whether consideration was given to a leisure route between Witney and Eynsham. Officers stated that this had not been considered within the Witney LCWIP but as the strategic development area in west Eynsham came forward the route would be covered.

A response from West Oxfordshire District Council and a query from the Creative Community Connector regarding funding for a bridleway between Deer Park Road and Downs Road and Deer Park Road, south of Range Road linking Deer Park Road and the Bridleway was received. The Chair requested that officers respond and provide clarification regarding funding for these proposals.  

The Chair wished to express his gratitude to the Windrush Bike Project and its excellent advocacy for such projects. The Chair asked that officers give due regard to the comments submitted by Windrush.

The Chair noted the response from the Witney Traffic Advisory Committee

Officers confirmed that the consultation responses had been fully considered and incorporated into this version of the LCWIP.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management APPROVED the Witney Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.