Letter No

Name and Address

Comment

Officer Comment

Resident of Kingston Road

We are concerned at the loss of parking spaces that have been proposed. There are currently insufficient residents’ spaces to meet demand. These proposals will make that situation worse. To remove residents’ spaces yet leave visitors spaces does not show a good sense of priority.

We are also against the proposal to reintroduce road humps. Road humps were removed four years ago as they cause houses to shake when crossed by heavy vehicles. Also, we feel that humps just annoy drivers, increasing their irritability and recklessness.

It is proposed that the speed cushions are not implemented.

Petition signed by residents of Kingston Road

We feel that the existing road narrowings have proved unsuccessful from the outset. Both speed and volume of traffic has increased significantly along this stretch of road since the implementation of the so-called traffic calming scheme in 1999. Our preference is that any remedial work should include their removal.

While welcoming action to calm the road we do have concerns about the proposed changes:

1. The introduction of speed cushions at designated pedestrian crossing points will affect pedestrian movements, especially those with pushchairs.
2. The spacing of the speed cushions will not prevent traffic from speeding in between them.
3. Can we be assured that the design of the cushions will be effective and resilient?
4. Will the 20mph speed limit be enforced effectively?

 

5. How will use of the road by heavy vehicles and tour coaches be controlled?

1. It is proposed that these features be redesigned so as not to disadvantage pedestrians etc.
2. This will be reviewed with (a)

5. There are no proposals to restrict access to these types of vehicle.

Letter No

Name and Address

Comment

Officer Comment

5 cont

1. The further loss of on-street parking, itself a calming measure.

Kingston Road is used by children travelling to many schools in the area. It is also part of the National Cycle Network. We still feel that the needs of children, cyclists and pedestrians are not sufficiently prioritised.

5. On-street parking can be a calming feature. The layout proposed while removing parking retains a narrower road width by the provision of additional islands

The whole scheme was originally designed to provide more and better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

Resident of Kingston Road

We have written on a number of occasions in the past two and half years to the City Council expressing our concerns at the obstruction of road narrowing islands in front of our property which pose problems accessing our off-street parking space. We now find that these proposals not only appear to ignore that Council’s original written assurances but also will exacerbate our difficulties.

A site visit has confirmed that there is a problem with access. This will be addressed in the redesign.

Resident of Kingston Road

Both speed and volume of traffic has increased along this stretch of road since the implementation of the traffic calming scheme in 1999.

While broadly welcoming some action I do have concerns about the proposed changes:

1. What are the specifications for the cushions? Height and depth make a difference to their effectiveness.
2. How are pedestrians, particularly those with pushchairs, to cross the narrowings once the cushions are in place?

3) The installation of a Zebra crossing at Walton Well Road is a good idea but the existing island should

1. The design is to be reviewed.

 

2. These features will be redesigned so as not to disadvantage pedestrians etc.
3. As far as is practicable the work on these elements will be co-ordinated.

Letter No

Name and Address

Comment

Officer Comment

7 cont

Kingston Road is used by children getting to and from many schools in the area. It is also part of the National Cycle Network. The needs of cyclists and pedestrians are not being prioritised sufficiently highly.

What has happened to the promise of a 20mph speed limit in the area?

4) The loss of parking is to provide an island at the end of the parking bay to prevent vehicles parking within the cycle by-pass. The effective road width will therefore remain unchanged.

The whole scheme was originally designed to provide more and better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

The City Council’s Highways and Traffic Committee agreed to seek a 20mph limit. It is County Council policy not to introduce these unless physical measures achieve such a speed. This criteria has not yet been reached.

Resident of Kingston Road

I object to the proposed changes on the grounds that they would reduce the already insufficient residents’ car parking. I do not see why compensatory spaces cannot be found.

The total number of parking spaces in the area has been maximised. The only changes that can be made are to the type of vehicle permitted to use individual bays. The proposals do provide some additional spaces for residents but there is still an overall loss.

Resident of Kingston Road

The removal of parking spaces will worsen the existing difficulties that residents have in finding a space. Between Farndon Road and Tackley Place there are 46 properties (including flats) but only 13 parking spaces. Some properties own two or more vehicles which creates a need for 92 spaces (at 2 cars per household).

As a cyclist I have no difficulties in using the current cycle slips at the traffic calming islands. The problems arise when a vehicle is illegally parked.

I like the idea of the speed cushions at the traffic islands which will help to reduce drivers enthusiasm.

It is impossible to cater for all residents needs on-street as most frontages only provide enough kerb space for one vehicle.

The proposed changes include features to prevent this.

Letter No

Name and Address

Comment

Officer Comment

Resident of Kingston Road

There are 178 houses on Kingston Road. Of these only 28 have off-street parking. A recent count showed on-street space for approximately 70 cars. Assuming one car per household this leaves a shortfall of 80 spaces. Some of the side roads have been able to provide overflow parking as many of the properties have off-street parking. This situation is rapidly changing.

Surely the best solution would be to return the road to its state before the present system was installed. The original road humps could be replaced with cushions to reduce the vibration previously caused. This would enable the spaces lost by the introduction of the scheme to be restored.

It is impossible to cater for all residents needs on-street as most frontages only provide enough kerb space for one vehicle. Due to junctions, accesses etc it is not possible to place parking spaces outside every property.

The design is to be reviewed.

Resident of Kingston Road

Generally the proposals seem satisfactory and I look forward to their implementation. However I have a few comments:

1. The narrowing next to St Margaret’s Church has no protection for northbound cyclists.
2. The above narrowing is to "mitigate the effects of the Aristotle Lane Development". This will however be closed when the Northern Spine Road is completed. The narrowing is considered unnecessary and a waste of money.
3. The width of the speed cushions is to be "reduced". If they are too narrow they will not slow traffic.
4. The island in Walton Well Road should remain as lorries have been coping with it lately. I consider that bollards are preferable to the Zebra crossing that is being considered.
5. I support strongly the idea of a 20mph zone.

(a), (b) and (c) The design is to be reviewed.

5. It is County Council policy not to introduce lower speed limits ie 20mph unless physical features reduce the speed of traffic to that level. This has not yet been achieved.

Letter No

Name and Address

Comment

Officer Comment

Resident of St Margaret’s Road

The best form of limiting the speed of cars is a low speed limit, which is enforced. This should be put in place before more money is spent putting in humps.

Humps in the past were not well received and had to be removed. The same criticisms can be made of cushions.

The proposed narrowing and cushion outside 81 Kingston Road is unnecessary. While the new Phil & Jim school is being built lorries have to go down there. The narrowing will increase the dangers.

The splitter island at the junction with St Margaret’s Road has already been removed. There seems to be no reason to provide a raised humped island.

Kingston Road will never be a safe road for cyclists while it is designated a major road route.

It is County Council policy not to introduce lower speed limits ie 20mph unless physical features reduce the speed of traffic to that level. This has not yet been achieved.

This will be reviewed

PC Croxton

Road Policing Department

Traffic Management Unit

Howes Lane

Bicester

OX26 2ZA

The success of the current design is compromised where the no waiting restrictions adjacent to the physical features and advisory cycle lanes are regularly ignored. Pavement mounted bollards adjacent to the cycle by-pass would remove this area for illegal parking.