Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/125

Contact: Aron Wisdom, Programme Lead, Aron.Wisdom@oxfordshire.gov.uk 

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM5).

A decision is required on proposed amendments to the vehicles permitted to pass through the traffic filter on Littlemore Road, and the use of ANPR enforcement equipment at the traffic filters on Littlemore Road, Littlehay Road and Crescent Road.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve the following proposals:

a.              The use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera enforcement of moving traffic contraventions to include the existing exemptions and to permit extending these such that they include emergency services, buses, taxis, private hire vehicles and universal service providers (postal service) vehicles on Littlemore Road at a point approximately 10 metres north of junction with Compass Close within the Cowley Low Traffic Neighbourhood.

b.              The use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera enforcement of moving traffic contraventions to include the existing exemptions and to permit extending these such that they include emergency services, taxis, private hire vehicles and universal service providers (postal service) vehicles within the Cowley Low Traffic Neighbourhood at the following locations:

                    i.            Littlehay Road – at a point approximately 15 metres east of the junction with Rymers Lane, and

                  ii.            Crescent Road – at a point approximately 30 metres west of the junction with Junction Road.

The report presented responses to a six-week consultation on the proposals which covered both the change in order and intent to enforce the order, by ANPR camera.

The Chair stated that due to the large number of speakers, the written statements received would not be read out at the meeting but had all been read and formed part of the record of the meeting.

The Chair invited the speakers, in turn, to address the meeting and responded to points raised.

The Chair thanked everyone for taking the time to engage in the process and those that had contributed written statements.

Officers were asked to clarify the point raised regarding the recommendation of taxi exemption being introduced after the consultation period had ended and specifically the legality. Officers responded that the legal team had been consulted and that there was nothing categorically set out in regulations. It was a matter of judgement and could be subject to challenge.

The Chair responded to comments concerning pollution and in particular, air pollution and wanted to make clear that the underlying transport policy of Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) was for the reduction of air traffic pollution.

Speakers had commented on what evidence there may be that the emergency services supported the proposal. The Chair referred to paragraph 31 of the officer’s report, stating that he was happy to take the judgement of the emergency services themselves as evidence.

The Chair commented that this was an enforcement measure, not a money-making measure, and any profit had to be re-invested into schemes of this type and that OCC was putting part of its budget into net zero and road safety.

The Chair reassured speakers that all items on the agenda would be kept under permanent review.

The Chair addressed some of the points in the report, which included that the bollards prevented access to some vehicles that the ANPR would have allowed and the ANPR prevented access to some vehicles that the bollards would have allowed. The report made it clear that where there were bollards, there had been a huge increase in powered two wheeled vehicles going through them which included motorbikes and scooters. This would be prevented by ANPR.

The Chair commented that OCC was committed to the use of traffic filters to address congestion in the city and when they came into use, the situation would change and be reviewed.

Concerning taxi numbers, the Chair commented that officers predicted they would be low and that he did not accept that taxi drivers automatically speed as they hold a licence and are subject to the law. Taxi drivers had been included in the exemptions because the Councils’ hierarchy of road users put public transport second on the list and taxis were a form of public transport.

The Chair asked officers to comment on accident data and officers responded that as of June 2023, there were 730 registered taxis and Hackney Carriages in Oxford City. In 2022, there were 11 recorded incidents, 1 serious, the rest slight. In 2021, there were 12 incidents and 1 serious. In 2020, 9 incidents, 2 serious. In 2019, 5 serious and 18 slight. In 2018, 2 serious and 12 slight.

In Littlehay road, data from 2018-April 2023, showed 10 recorded collisions, 2 serious and 8 slight. Of the serious incidents, one was a two-wheeler going through bollards, the other involved a car shunting another car into a cyclist.

The Chair asked Officers whether there was any additional danger if ANPR were introduced. Officers responded that there is an increased risk with taxi exemption, but it was an acceptable one and ANPR should reduce any risk.

The Chair commented that Blue Badge holders were not part of the consultation, but traffic policy generally was designed to make things better for Blue Badge holders. This would be kept under review.

In terms of NHS workers, the Chair asked officers to comment on care workers not being included in the recommendation and the feasibility of the impact on care workers being assessed. Officers said that they could contact the NHS and various bodies that represented care workers. The issue would be assessing numbers and obtaining data in order to understand the impact on journey times but they would consider how to do that and report back.

The Chair wanted to make it clear that all input and matters of discussion were read and noted.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management APPROVED:

a.     The use of Automatic Number Plate recognition (ANPR) camera enforcement of moving traffic contraventions to include the existing exemptions and to permit extending these such that they include emergency services, buses, taxis, private hire vehicles and universal service providers (postal service) vehicles on Littlemore Road at a point approximately 10 metres north of junction with Compass Close within Cowley Low Traffic Neighbourhood.

b.     The use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera enforcement of moving traffic contraventions to include the existing contraventions and to permit extending these such that they include emergency services, taxis, private hire vehicles and universal service providers (postal service) vehicles within the Cowley Low Traffic Neighbourhood at the following locations:

             i.          Littlehay Road – at a point approximately 15 metres east of the junction with Rymers Lane, and

           ii.          Crescent Road – at a point approximately 30 metres west of the junction with Junction Road.