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ITEM EX13

EXECUTIVE – 29 OCTOBER 2002

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS – MOOR AVE/MOORLAND ROAD/DARK LANE, WITNEY

Report by the Director of Environmental Services

Introduction

  1. This report reviews comments received during consultation on the installation of traffic management options in Moor Avenue and Moorland Road, and measures associated with the construction of the West End Link Road in Dark Lane.

    2. Background

  2. Moor Avenue, Moorland Road and Dark Lane are residential roads to the West of Witney town centre (see Annex 1 for location). Moor Avenue has been identified and included in the draft Witney Integrated Transport Strategy as requiring traffic management measures. This is due to concerns expressed in the past by residents that these roads are used as a ‘rat run’ by vehicles travelling to the south and west of Witney, avoiding the congested High Street. This was confirmed by a traffic survey undertaken during May 2002.

  3. A planning application has been approved to construct Phase 1 of the new West End Link Road between Welch Way and Burford Road. The planning permission has not yet been issued, and is subject to the results of consultation on alternative cycle lane provision. Phase 1 will provide access for the proposed new development alongside the link road, and will contribute to easing congestion in the High Street.

  4. During the design of the West End Link, the creation of an all movements junction for Dark Lane with the new link road was discounted. This is because of the potential for Dark Lane to be used as a ‘rat run’ to avoid the signalised junctions at each end of the West End Link. It was also discounted on safety grounds, as the junction layout in the current planning application would be at an acute angle and relatively close to the new Burford Road signalised junction. There was concern that right-turning vehicles into Dark Lane would queue back to the signalised junction and create a safety hazard. Consequently the planning application for the road includes the closure of Dark Lane.

  5. Phase 2 of the link road will extend from Burford Road to West End. The completed scheme will provide an additional river crossing for the town and further ease congestion in the town centre. A location plan of the proposed route can be seen in Annex 1. The link road is identified as a major developer funded scheme in the Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan 2001 – 2006, and is included as a proposal in the West Oxfordshire Local Plan (both the 1997 adopted plan and the 2001 first deposit draft plan).

  6. This section of the West End Link is currently not included in the Capital Programme and no funding has been secured towards its implementation. However the Executive on 11 December 2001 resolved to "undertake to consider including Stage 2 of the West End Link Road in the transport Capital Programme as a County-funded scheme at the next review".

  7. The construction of Phase 1 of the new link road will open up the adjacent land for development. West Oxfordshire Local Plan stipulates that the land use for these areas should be mixed retail, residential and recreational use (an appropriate extract from the Local Plan is deposited in the Members’ Resource Centre).

  8. The new link road will mitigate the traffic generation effects from this development area and will serve to relieve the surrounding residential roads of through traffic. In order to encourage the use of the new link road, and prevent any continuation of the existing rat running problem in the adjacent residential roads, traffic management measures are considered necessary in Moor Avenue/Moorland Road.

  9. As a result of this, the draft conditions attached to the approved planning application for the link road would require that:

    • ‘closure of the eastern end of Dark Lane is not to be implemented until an appropriate Traffic Regulation Order is secured’ (condition 8)

    • ‘traffic management measures in Moor Avenue be implemented before the road is opened to traffic’ (condition 9)

Consultation

  1. Separate consultation leaflets were distributed for the traffic management proposals for Moor Avenue/Moorland Road and for the Dark Lane closure during July 2002. Following public concern, a meeting was held at Tower Hill Primary School chaired by County Councillor David Robertson, and attended by officers from Oxfordshire County and West Oxfordshire District Councils. Some 46 local residents attended the meeting.

  2. The main concern expressed by members of the public was that the two schemes were being treated separately. It was explained at the meeting that this was not the case, and officers agreed to carry out a further joint consultation for both schemes, incorporating suggestions from residents raised at the meeting.

  3. Residents were again consulted between 15 August and 6 September 2002 (the consultation documents are detailed in Annex 2). The documents detailing five possible options were sent to all residents of Moor Avenue, Moorland Road and Dark Lane. A total of 240 residences were consulted. The options along with the number of responses are as follows:

    4. Option

    Description

    Favourable responses

    Option 1

    Road humps in Moor Ave/Moorland Rd and closure of Dark Lane.

    14

    Option 2

    Chicanes/speed cushions in Moor Ave/Moorland Rd and closure of Dark Lane.

    5

    Option 3

    Traffic calming in Moor Ave/Moorland Rd and Dark Lane and a left out only from Dark Lane to the new link road.

    32

    Option 4

    Closure of Moor Ave/Moorland Rd and closure of Dark Lane.

    9

    Option 5

    Closure of Moor Ave/Moorland Rd and left out only from Dark Lane to the new link road.

    35

     

    Would prefer none of the above options

    4

  4. There were five replies in addition to the above; three residents commented they would like to see Moor Avenue only closed, one resident would prefer Dark Lane only closed, and one resident would prefer only a left turn out from Dark Lane provided.

  5. A total of 104 replies were received. Some of these replies contained additional comments and these are detailed in Annex 3, along with the officers’ response. There was no general consensus on a preferred option.

  6. Of the 104 replies, 46 responses were received from the residents of Moor Avenue/Moorland Road, with 24 preferring the closure of Moor Avenue and 23 preferring traffic calming measures.

  7. Thirty replies were from residents of Dark Lane, 12 of whom opted for the closure of Dark Lane, with 18 preferring access onto the new link road. Of these 18 responses, some residents commented that they would prefer an all movements junction with the link road. Although this would be feasible, if introduced in conjunction with alternative measures to prevent rat running along Dark Lane, it cannot be accommodated within the existing planning application.

  8. Some residents have criticised the consultation exercise because it did not include an option for an all movements junction between Dark Lane and the Link Road. In particular representations have been received from Mr Bizzell on behalf of a number of Dark Lane residents, who has put forward an alternative solution detailed in Annex 4. Officers’ comments have concerning this proposal are detailed in Annex 3. A formal complaint has also been received from Mr Mackie of Dark Lane concerning the consultation process, which also details his opposition to the closure of Dark Lane.

    9. Conclusions

  9. The consultation results have not proved to be conclusive, with none of the proposals having overwhelming support. However there is a general feeling of support from residents that measures should be introduced to prevent rat running throughout the area, although 67% of residents are not in favour of the closure of Dark Lane.

  10. Based on the results of the consultation, the closure of the eastern end of Dark Lane as detailed in the planning application cannot be recommended. I consider that the safety concerns surrounding the provision of a junction between Dark Lane and the West End Link, can be removed by reducing ‘rat running’ through the implementation of appropriate traffic management measures along Dark Lane, Moor Avenue and Moorland Road. This would be complemented by the construction of a Dark Lane/West End Link junction with an improved alignment, accommodating minimum standard turning movements, and with an appropriate entry treatment to discourage the use of Dark Lane as a through route.

  11. As the approved planning application (subject to the issues detailed in paragraph 3) includes the closure of the eastern end of Dark Lane, an amended planning consultation would have to be carried out to obtain views on the inclusion of an all movements junction.

  12. In view of the above it is proposed that a new consultation exercise be undertaken to include options for a comprehensive traffic management/calming scheme in the Moor Avenue, Moorland Road and Dark Lane area.

    13. Environmental Implications

  13. Traffic calming/management measures will create a safer environment for the residents of Dark Lane, Moor Avenue and Moorland Road by reducing through traffic, and could have the effect of reducing pollution.

    14. Financial and Staff Implications

  14. Works can be accommodated from existing staff resources. The measures implemented in Dark Lane would be at no cost to the County Council. A developer contribution of £10,000 has been offered towards the construction costs for the Moor Avenue/Moorland Road measures. It is anticipated that this will cover the cost of the scheme, although a contingency sum of £25,000 has been made available in the 2002/03 capital expenditure budget for any excess costs.

    15. RECOMMENDATIONS

  15. The Executive is RECOMMENDED:

          1. not to proceed with the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order to close the eastern end of Dark Lane; and

          2. to develop proposals in consultation with residents of Moor Avenue, Moorland Road and Dark Lane for comprehensive traffic calming/management measures to reduce through traffic in the area.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Jon Winstanley, Senior Engineer, Major Projects Tel: Oxford 815070

October 2002

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