Return to Agenda

ITEM EX9

EXECUTIVE – 17 APRIL 2002

HARCOURT HILL, NORTH HINKSEY : PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING

Report by Director of Environmental Services

Introduction

  1. Local residents and my local Traffic Team are concerned at the speed of the traffic using Harcourt Hill, North Hinksey. 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 Harcourt Hill 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.

    3. Background and Development of Proposals

  3. Waiting restrictions were recently introduced on Harcourt Hill to stop the indiscriminate parking mainly from people using Brookes University (formerly Westminster College). The removal of parked vehicles has encouraged higher speeds. The proposed traffic calming is to be used to reduce vehicles speeds on Harcourt Hill to improve road safety.

  4. The scheme is needed because many drivers are exceeding the 30 mph speed limit. A recent traffic survey showed that 85 percentile speed on Harcourt Hill was 39 mph.

  5. It is proposed that five pairs of 1.6 metre wide speed cushions are installed on Harcourt Hill. 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.

    6. Consultation Responses

  6. 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. 33 Questionnaires were returned with 25 in favour of the proposals, one in favour only if road humps are used instead of speed cushions, and 7 against.

  7. In addition, a report from Thames Valley Police and letters of support from the bus company serving the local route, the District Council and a local District Councillor were received.

  8. The main points of objection and officer comments on these are listed in Annex 1. Copies of the letters are in the Members’ Resource Centre.

    9. Thames Valley Police’s Comments

  9. The report from the Thames Valley Police concluded; "with the removal of indiscriminate parking on Harcourt Hill there is a danger vehicle speeds could increase. Providing traffic calming in the form of speed cushions should help to address such a problem".

  10. It also concluded that:

    • consideration is given to the construction with regards to visibility and illumination.

    • Harcourt Hill is quite a steep hill. Therefore, drainage issues need to be considered carefully.

    • road edges to be kerbed adjacent to the cushions to stop vehicles avoiding them.

    • the needs of cyclists using Harcourt Hill are taken into account.

    • necessary and requisite road signs and road markings are used in respect of the speed reducing features.

  1. 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 too narrow to provide any shared facility. It is expected that by reducing the general traffic speed, safety for cyclists will be improved.

    2. District Council’s Comments

  2. A covering letter was received from Vale of White Horse District Council with two completed questionnaires from a officer and a local District Councillor. Both replies supported the scheme.

    3. Bus Company’s Comments

  3. A letter of support was received from The Oxford Bus Company with the comments: "we are happy with the proposals as detailed in the letter with the proviso that the traffic calming measures are indeed 1.6 metre wide speed cushions rather than flat top tables".

    4. Financial Implications

  4. This scheme is to be funded from a developer’s contribution from Oxford Brookes University. The estimated cost of the proposed scheme is £6,000.

    5. Conclusions

  5. There is a good case for the scheme, it is well supported locally, and is funded by a developer’s contribution.

    6. RECOMMENDATIONS

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

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Arshad Khan Tel : (01235) 466120

April 2002

Return to TOP