Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Transport Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/134

Contact: James Whiting, Team Leader – TRO’s and Schemes (James.Whiting@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director of Environment and Highways (CMDTM).

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to approve the following measures:

a)    The introduction of dual purpose bays for paid parking and permit holder (AN prefix) in Withington Court (as advertised) and to retain the existing single yellow line restrictions.

b)    The introduction of double yellow lines sections of Thesiger Road and Abbott Road and Oxford Road as shown on plans in Annex 6.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to withdraw the following measures:

c)    To withdraw proposals for the introduction of resident permit holder parking areas bays on Abbott Road, Aston Close, Bath Street (service road), Clifton Drive, Fitzharry's Road, Kingston Close, Letcombe Avenue, Nuneham Square, Stanford Drive, Sutton Close, The Holt, The Motte, and Thesiger Road

d)    To withdraw proposals for the introduction of shared-use permit holders or 2 hour parking bays on Clifton Drive, Fitzharry’s Road, Nuneham Square and Stamford Drive.

e)    To withdraw proposals for the introduction of double yellow lines on parts of Boxhill Walk, Clifton Drive, Oxford Road, Oxford Service Road and Withington Court.

f)     To withdraw proposals to change of operating hours for single yellow lines on Fitzharry’s Road and The Motte.

g)    To withdraw proposals to remove existing single yellow line restrictions (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm) on Aston Close, Clifton Drive, Fitzharry’s Road, Kingston Close, Letcome Avenue, Nuneham Square, Standford Drive, Sutton Close, The Holt and The Motte.

The Chair introduced the item to the meeting, invited speakers to make their addresses and responded to their points in turn.

The Chair made several comments about Controlled Parking Zone’s (CPZ’s) more generally and also made some points about items 7 & 8 together as the schemes were both based in Abingdon, and the wider themes interlinked.

The Chair referred to several written responses that were submitted.

The Chair stated that CPZ’s are not ‘one size fits all’ but where there are appropriate, they work well to safeguard the amenity of residents.

Officers commented that CPZ’s were the policy of the County Council and were shown in the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan 5 (LTCP5).

The Chair noted issues around timing in terms of being proactive to avoid issues becoming such, and waiting until an issue arises before trying to put in measures to solve it. It was also noted that the advantage of CPZ’s was its flexibility as parking bays could do whatever the Council wished, such as who could use them and when, in order to help residents and meet local needs.

The Chair asked why officers were recommending withdrawal on both schemes rather than deferral, as had happened previously in other CPZ schemes. Officers stated that if a scheme was deferred, further investigation and work would be undertaken. If changes were brought back to this scheme, it was stated they would be more substantial and thus re-consultation would be needed.

The Chair noted that CPZ’s are self-financing and not a revenue generator for the County Council as there is strict legislation preventing that.

The Chair stated that the consultation was not a referendum, but it was important to read responses individually, highlighting 495 responses sent by the same IP address within a short timeframe with identical quantitative and similar qualitative responses. The Chair thanked officers for identifying this and detailing in within the report.

The Chair stated that the consultation responses stated that there was not a parking problem to fix.

The Chair specifically referenced the recommended approval of double yellow lines on Thesiger Road. Officers confirmed it was recommended to try and discourage parking in Thesiger Road and on the junction with Abbott Road.

The Chair asked officers to continue their work with local communities on what works well for them and what does not, as well as to monitor changes after implementation.

The Chair thanked officers for their work, speakers for their contributions and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the following measures:

a)    The introduction of dual purpose bays for paid parking and permit holder (AN prefix) in Withington Court (as advertised) and to retain the existing single yellow line restrictions.

b)    The introduction of double yellow lines sections of Thesiger Road and Abbott Road and Oxford Road as shown on plans in Annex 6.

Withdraw the following measures:

c)    To withdraw proposals for the introduction of resident permit holder parking areas bays on Abbott Road, Aston Close, Bath Street (service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59