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ITEM EX25

EXECUTIVE – 22 JANUARY 2002

B4009 WALLINGFORD ROAD, GORING – PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING

Report by Director of Environmental Services

1. Oxfordshire County Council and Goring Parish Council are concerned at the speed of the traffic using the B4009 Wallingford Road, Goring. Speeding drivers cause danger to themselves and to other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. It is therefore proposed to install traffic calming features to reduce traffic speeds and hence improve road safety.
2. An extensive consultation exercise has taken place which involved all the frontagers directly affected by the features, the District Council, Parish Council, Thames Valley Police, Fire and Ambulance Services, the bus company serving Wallingford Road and other organisations representing road users. The consultation letter, list of consultees, a location plan, a questionnaire and consultation responses are available in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Background and Development of Proposals

3. The scheme is needed because many drivers are exceeding the 30 mph speed limit. A recent traffic survey showed that 85 percentile speed on Wallingford Road was 38 mph. Consequently, an experimental scheme was implemented on Wallingford Road near the northern end of Goring in September 2000. This consisted of a chicane and appropriate signage. This was replaced by a pinch point in June 2001 after objections to the original scheme were received from the Parish Council, Local Member and residents.
4. It is proposed that this experimental pinch point is made permanent. The other features of the proposed scheme are four pairs of 1.6 metre wide speed cushions. Speed cushions are being used in other parts of the County to reduce the speed of general traffic and at the same time cause minimum inconvenience to bus passengers and Fire and Ambulance service vehicles. The entry pinch-point will help reduce the southbound vehicle speeds before they reach the first speed cushion.

Consultation Responses

5. As part of the design process, the County Council carried out consultation with the local residents in the vicinity of the proposed scheme and other interested bodies. 22 Questionnaires were returned with 17 in favour of the proposals, one in favour only if one of the speed cushion is re-sited away from their property, and 4 against.
6. In addition, a report from Thames Valley Police and letters of support from the local Member and Parish Council were received.
7. The main points of objection and officer’ comments on these are listed in Annex 1.

Thames Valley Police Comments

8. The report from the Thames Valley Police concluded; "the provision of the traffic calming feature may reduce the speed of traffic on this particular section of road, which in turn could have a positive benefit on road safety".
9. It also concluded that consideration should be given to the following points:

• Entry pinch point should be made permanent with illuminated signage.

• Street lighting to the British Standard at the features.

• Speed cushions to be constructed with materials which afford maximum conspicuity.

• Provision of temporary ‘New Road Layout’ signs to advise motorists.

• Take into account the needs of cyclists using Wallingford Road.

10. Most of these points can be incorporated at the detailed design stage. However, it is not physically possible to provide any cycle facilities, as the carriageway is narrow in most places. The footways are either non-existent or too narrow to provide any shared facility. It is expected that by reducing the general traffic speed, safety for cyclists would be improved.

Financial Implications

11. This scheme is jointly funded by Oxfordshire County Council and Goring Parish Council. The estimated cost of the proposed scheme is £6,000. It has been agreed with the Parish Council that they will contribute 50% of the cost and the rest would be funded by the County Council from the Minor Traffic Management Budget.
12. It may be possible to extend the scheme towards the south in the next financial year subject to availability of funds. The likely estimated cost for the extension to the junction with High Street is £9,000. A new pelican crossing north of Hilldown Avenue is also planned and will need to be co-ordinated with the proposed scheme extension.

Conclusions

13. There is a good case for the scheme, it is well supported locally, and a financial contribution is available from the Parish Council.

RECOMMENDATION

14. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to authorise the implementation of the traffic calming scheme as described in the report.