The
Committee considered a report (TDC8) setting out details of a scheme to tackle
capacity issues at Thornhill Park & Ride.
Nicholas
Lawrence welcomed the proposal but called for further landscaping work. He
supported introduction of a charging regime for London bus operators and
suggested that Thornhill park & ride should replace Gloucester Green bus
station, although it would be imperative that London buses continued to serve
the City Centre with High Street made one-way.
Graham
Jones also welcomed the expansion which would support the local economy and aid
London commuters. He was also concerned
at the number of buses using High Street and called for provision of additional
out of town park & ride facilities.
Councillor David Turner supported the proposal which would aid the Oxford commuter although he understood that the facility was used for parking by local office staff, which was not the primary purpose of the site. He suggested consideration be given to using park & rides as off peak hubs for rural transport and that any further development should include porous surfaces and provision of electric charge points.
Councillor
Hudspeth referred to the benefits of reducing traffic levels through the South
Oxfordshire District Council region and Councillor Rose issued a note of
caution regarding unrealistic expectation for the provision of further park
& ride facilities due to funding.
RESOLVED: to
(a)
authorise officers to proceed with making a
planning application to expand Thornhill P&R to the east of the current
site, increasing the capacity of the site to 1400 spaces as outlined in Annex 3
to the report TDC8;
(b)
authorise officers to proceed with
negotiations to agree an extension to the current lease arrangement with
Shotover Estate;
(c)
authorise officers to proceed with designing
and specifying a charging regime, targeted at London and airport bound use, to
form part of the planning application;
and
(d) delegate approval for the mechanism of the charging regime to the Head of Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Growth & Infrastructure.