Point made by Objector

Officer Comments

Scheme will/may cause rat-running in various housing estate roads, particularly Evelin Avenue. (2+V+A)

The housing estate roads where rat-running might happen will be surveyed before and after, and measures considered if rat-running is found to increase. However the traffic calming measures will add less than 15 seconds to journey times for vehicles currently averaging 30mph along the 500-metre length of Wootton Road to be traffic calmed. The zebra crossing might cause additional delay, but usually less than 5 seconds outside School travel times.

There is no provision for children attending schools in Northcourt Road. (1)

If they cross Wootton Road near the junction with Trendell Place they will benefit from the lower speed of traffic. Any measures at the Wootton Road/Northcourt Road signal-controlled junction would be outside the scope of this scheme.

The humps will not prevent accidents involving cyclists; the reduced vehicle speeds might give cyclists a false sense of security. (1)

The benefit of reduced vehicle speeds will far outweigh any false sense of security for cyclists. Also, north of Boxhill Walk junction the cyclists will benefit from the advisory cycle lanes.

There should be a mini-roundabout at Boxhill Walk junction. (1)

That would be very expensive because of the physical alterations that would be required to the junction. It might also be dangerous because of the close proximity of the school exit.

Wootton Road is on a major route into Abingdon which already has enough traffic calming measures. The School Crossing Patrol should be re-introduced. A zebra crossing so close to the School is inappropriate, unless controlled by a suitably-qualified person. (1)

There is a need to reduce vehicle speeds on Wootton Road.

It is very difficult to recruit School Crossing Patrols; there is a severe shortage of them in the County.

Teachers will watch the pupils using the zebra crossing and will, at the end of the School day, prevent excessive numbers from leaving the School premises all at the same time.

Road humps (speed cushions) are distracting and annoying. Those in Northcourt Road should be removed. (1)

Nationwide accident records show that road humps and speed cushions always reduce the frequency of accidents, in some places by a very large percentage.

Road humps are extremely dangerous to cyclists and motor cyclists. (1)

They can easily see speed cushions and avoid riding over them. Also they can easily see a flat-top hump, as proposed at the zebra crossing, and will be able to reduce speed if necessary. A 20mph speed limit is planned to be introduced in the near future.

A part-time lower speed limit would be better than humps/cushions. (1)

A lower speed limit would be unenforceable without traffic calming measures to constrain speed. A part-time speed limit would require special authorisation and would be ignored by a high proportion of drivers.

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Priorities for spending are wrong. Some nearby roads (eg Letcombe Avenue) are in a very poor state. (1)

There are separate budgets for traffic calming schemes and for road maintenance. The amount in each is to a large extent controlled by central government.

Good scheme, but waiting restrictions on the west side of Wootton Road are needed to stop parking on the footway, which seems to be increasing. (1)

Waiting restrictions would not prevent very short stay parking, eg for loading, picking up or dropping off. However they will be considered if the problem gets worse.

There is no need for calming beyond the vicinity of the School. (1)

Traffic calming is needed beyond the vicinity of the School because of the large number of accesses and the existing pelican crossing to the north, and the narrowness of the road to the south.

Emergency vehicles will only be able to straddle the speed cushions if there are no other road users on the road at the time. (1)

Other road users will slow down or stop to allow emergency vehicles to pass them without their wheels running over the speed cushions.

The speed camera has reduced speeds. (1)

It has not reduced northbound speeds. It has reduced southbound speeds, but 15% of southbound vehicles are still exceeding 30mph. We want to reduce the speed exceeded by 15% of vehicles to 24mph or less.

Would prefer a pelican crossing, however will accept a zebra provided it is properly and adequately signed. (A + V)

The zebra will be properly and adequately signed. Also, additional school warning signs will be provided on the approaches if necessary.

Does not see the need for traffic calming north of the School. (A)

Traffic calming is needed north of the School because of the large number of accesses and the existing pelican crossing.

The hump and the speed cushions will cause extra wear on buses, strain on drivers, and could result in a reduction in the bus services. (5)

None of these things are expected to happen provided the bus drivers take care to straddle the speed cushions and keep their speed down. Wootton Road is recommended for a 20mph speed limit.

The hump and the speed cushions will cause discomfort to vehicle occupants, which would be particularly serious for the elderly and infirm and those in ambulances. (5)

There should be no discomfort provided vehicles are driven at an appropriate speed and straddle the speed cushions. Ambulances will be able to straddle the speed cushions more easily and therefore go faster than cars without causing discomfort.

They will cause congestion on Stratton Way and other roads in north Abingdon. Residents and local businesses will suffer. (5)

The Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy will discourage unnecessary use of private cars. This should offset any increase caused by drivers diverting from Wootton Road, and will help to avoid congestion.

They will delay Emergency Service vehicles. (5)

Emergency Service vehicles will be able to straddle the speed cushions; delay at the humped zebra crossing will be less than 3 seconds. The Emergency Services have been consulted and have not objected.

Other road safety measures should be used, eg education, a Crossing Patrol, and 30mph speed limit enforcement. (5)

Speeds need to be reduced to below 25mph on Wootton Road. Those other measures would be much less effective than the proposed traffic calming.

Drivers should be free to drive at 30mph in comfort. (1)

In Wootton Road that would allow irresponsible drivers to drive much faster than 30mph. A reduction in accidents of at least 5% can be expected for every 1mph reduction in the speed exceeded by 15% of vehicles.