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ITEM EX16

FERRY HINKSEY ROAD, OXFORD TRAFFIC CALMING

Introduction

1. This report details the results of public consultation carried out in February 2002 on plans for traffic calming in Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford. The plans are part of the West Oxford Community Primary School Better Ways to School (BWTS) Scheme.

Background

2. West Oxford Community Primary School was selected to join the BWTS programme in 2001. As with all schemes that are part of this programme, an initial meeting took place at the school in June 2001 to discuss areas of concern about the journey to school and identify actions that could potentially be taken by the school, Oxfordshire County Council and others to minimise or eliminate these concerns.
3. A package of measures aimed at addressing these concerns was proposed and agreed with the school in October 2001. Full details of the highway improvement measures requested have been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre. Some of these measures have already been implemented, and most of the remaining measures are expected to be implemented by the end of 2002. The school has subsequently developed a School Travel Plan that contains actions that will complement these measures.
4. The key areas of concern that relate to Ferry Hinksey Road were:

• The volume, nature and speed of traffic on Ferry Hinksey Road.
• Safe crossing of Ferry Hinksey Road and Botley Road.
• Motorists overtaking queuing traffic in Ferry Hinksey Road.

5. Various surveys have been undertaken to assess the extent of traffic and pedestrian conflicts in Ferry Hinksey Road. These are described in the papers, which have been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Traffic Calming Options

6. Two possible schemes were drawn up and are illustrated on drawing Nos. CO275/50/01 (Option 1) and CO275/50/02 (Option 2). These drawings will be displayed at the meeting. A reduced version of the plans is also included in the background papers.
7. Both schemes include the following features:

• Sets of speed cushions and raised tables,
• Toucan crossing, suitable for both cyclists and pedestrians to use, on the south side of the primary school (in line with the pedestrian and cycle routes, which run perpendicular to Ferry Hinksey Road, alongside the playing fields and to Osney Island),
• Advisory cycle lanes on both sides of Ferry Hinksey Road and Osney Mead,
• Traffic island (at the point of the existing pedestrian crossing outside No 2 Ferry Hinksey Road).

8. The key difference between the schemes is that Option 1 maintains the existing car parking bays outside the primary school, at the expense of extended cycle lane. Option 2 includes continuous cycle lanes outside the school, but would require the removal of the car parking bays which are dedicated to permit holders only. Both options require amendments to the existing Traffic Order, which will require further consultation.
9. Both schemes should reduce traffic speeds, make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to use and cross Ferry Hinksey Road, discourage motorists from overtaking queuing traffic to exit Ferry Hinksey Road into Botley Road during the evening peak, and help to create the conditions that will encourage more people to walk and cycle.
10. The inclusion of traffic islands in the scheme is designed specifically to discourage the dangerous overtaking movements witnessed by representatives of the school, and confirmed by manual and video surveys. However, whilst the inclusion of these traffic islands should significantly improve safety the computer simulation of this suggests that the average queue lengths, in the evening peak, would be increased from 12 to 36 vehicles. Delays would be increased from 2 minutes to 5 minutes 20 seconds. As with all modelling exercises the results produced assume that traffic operates under free flow conditions. Because of the capacity constraints on Botley Road it is not uncommon for traffic exiting Ferry Hinksey Road, which is a cul-de-sac, to be stationary during the periods when a green signal is available. The existing delays are underestimated therefore. The additional delay calculated will have more of an adverse effect on traffic turning right from Ferry Hinksey Road as at present they are able to reduce their delays by overtaking the queue.
11. While there have been no injury accidents over the past five years, in Ferry Hinksey Road, it is my view that the potentially dangerous manoeuvre of overtaking queuing traffic needs to be stopped. In doing so it is inevitable that vehicles exiting Ferry Hinksey Road will suffer additional delay.

Consultation

12. This scheme has been designed in co-operation with the City Council and has received backing from its Executive Board for payment of £30,000 from developer contributions towards the scheme’s construction. Furthermore, the local City Councillor, as a Governor to the West Oxford Community Primary School has been involved in the development of the scheme throughout, and the local County Councillor has expressed support for further consultation on Option 1.

13. A public consultation on the two options for traffic calming was held over a four-week period between 4 February and 1 March 2002. Letters were sent to all residents of Ferry Hinksey Road and businesses on Osney Mead Industrial Estate. One-hundred-and-thirty letters were distributed to parents of children at the primary school. Remaining consultation packs were distributed to residents of Osney Island, Hill View Road, Alexandra Road and residents and businesses that are close to the Ferry Hinksey Road/Botley Road junction.
14. One-hundred and thirty-nine replies were received with a further 64 from the school children. Officers have taken all responses into consideration. Out of the 139 received, 59 agree with Option 1, 61 agree with Option 2, 14 object to both proposals, and six indicated no preference to either option. Out of the 64 received from the school children, 28 agree with Option 1 and 36 agree with Option 2.
15. A summary of all the responses to the consultation and the responses from residents of Ferry Hinksey Road and Osney Mead businesses is given in Annex 1 of this report. A complete list of the comments received is in the Members’ Resource Centre.
16. With opinion among supporters of the schemes divided between preference for Options 1 and 2, further consideration was given to the 19 responses received from residents of Ferry Hinksey Road. Among these respondents, 12 expressed a preference for Option 1, 5 support Option 2, whilst the remaining 4 respondents have objected to the proposals.
17. Opinion among the businesses on the industrial estate was also divided. Of the total replies received 19 were from business on the estate. Among these respondents, four expressed a preference for Option 1, nine support Option 2, whilst six respondents have objected to the proposals.

Conclusion

18. BWTS aims to improve children’s journeys to school by creating the conditions that will encourage more children and their parents to walk and cycle to school. It is clear that there are serious safety concerns in Ferry Hinksey Road that have been raised by the school and local residents, and threaten to reduce the number of children who walk and cycle to West Oxford Community Primary School
19. From the responses received neither option had a clear majority of support. I would however recommend to the Executive that Option 1 is approved for formal consultation. Although six local businesses have expressed their opposition to the scheme, the majority of responses from employers and residents of Ferry Hinksey Road support the scheme as proposed in Options 1 and 2. It is my view that Option 1 will have the most support from residents as it retains the existing parking. While Option 2 has the benefit of continuous cycle lanes, it is likely that this would be lost during school arrival/departure times as parents vehicles would be parked on them, albeit for short periods of time while setting down or picking up their children
20. I would like to draw the Executive’s attention to the fact that whilst this scheme will reduce speed and offer significant safety benefits to both children and adults, it is likely to have a significant impact on the amount of traffic queuing to exit Ferry Hinksey Road in the evening peak.

Environmental Implications

21. The proposed traffic calming scheme for Ferry Hinksey Road will improve road safety and help to create the conditions that will encourage more sustainable travel to school and for work journeys.

Financial and Staff Implications

22. The scheme is included in the 2001/2002 Better Ways to School programme. Additional developer funding (£30,000) is available through a section 106 Agreement previously agreed by Oxford City Council. There are no additional staff resource implications.

RECOMMENDATIONS

23. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to authorise the formal steps necessary for the promotion of Option 1 described in the report, subject to consideration of any representations or objections by the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and the Local Member.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Contact Officers: Andrew Vidovic Tel: Oxford 810437

Rachel Gover Tel Oxford 815496

April 2002

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