Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/035

Contact: Anthony Kirkwood, Principal Engineer Traffic and Road Safety, anthony.kirkwood@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM 8).

A decision is required on a proposed no loading at any time restriction (excepting existing designated loading bays) at The Plain roundabout including the approaches to the roundabout on St Clements, Cowley Road, Iffley Road and Cowley Place).

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management APPROVED:

a.    a peak hour loading ban (suggested times of operation between 07.00 to 10.00 and 16.00 16:30 to 19.00)

b.    officers to investigate alternative arrangements for loading in this area in consultation with the residents, businesses and landlords to inform a decision on whether to progress a more comprehensive scheme taking account of the likely requirement for a Public Inquiry to determine the appropriateness of further controls on loading.

The report presented responses received during the statutory consultation on a proposal to prohibit loading at all times other than the existing off carriageway loading bays as shown in in Annex 1 of the report.

The Chair invited the speakers to address the meeting and addressed the points made.

Officers agreed to continue the discussion regarding bollards on loading bays with Peter Barnett, CoHSAT.

There was a discussion regarding the Magdalen College School bus service which used the loading bays to drop off and collect pupils. Officers confirmed that loading was permissible whereas waiting was not, thus school drop off and collection on Iffley Road and the loading bays outside Sainsbury’s could continue if the proposals were passed.

In response, the Bursar of Magdalen College School raised the importance of the school adhering to its safeguarding responsibilities for its junior school children. In the event of the school holding any bus from which an expected child from the junior cohort was missing, the school would be in breach of the no waiting restrictions.

James Whiting, Principal Officer – Parking, stated that afternoon restrictions applied from 16:00 – 19:00 so a shift in operating times to 16:30 could alleviate any issues around after-school collection.

The Bursar added that the school was introducing late 5pm buses from September 2023 which meant pupils would be collected from the locations of any reviewed restrictions. The school was aiming to increase the percentage of its pupils who used its home to school transport service with the launch of its new bus partnership with Headington School.

The Chair welcomed the school’s sustainability policy and efforts to reduce the number of pupils travelling to school by car. The Chair agreed that loading enforcement should start from 16:30 but noted that this scheme should be an ongoing process and officers should continue discussions with the school to ascertain whether any improvements to the proposals could be made.

The Chair also noted and addressed a number of the consultation responses and acknowledged the concerns and objections raised in responses 8 and 9 and emphasised that all comments should be considered carefully by officers. Some objectors felt that the proposals did not go far enough. The Chair reminded the meeting that these proposals formed part of an iterative process which required ongoing engagement with all stakeholders.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management APPROVED:

a.    a peak hour loading ban (suggested times of operation between 07.00 to 10.00 and 16.00 16:30 to 19.00)

b.    officers to investigate alternative arrangements for loading in this area in consultation with the residents, businesses and landlords to inform a decision on whether to progress a more comprehensive scheme taking account of the likely requirement for a Public Inquiry to determine the appropriateness of further controls on loading.