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ITEM EX6

MARKET SQUARE/WESSEX WAY, BICESTER - TRAFFIC MEASURES TO FOLLOW THE SKIMMINGDISH LANE IMPROVEMENT

1. This report presents the results of the appraisal of alternative traffic routes that could support the plan for the pedestrianisation of the Market Square based on Option 5 previously considered by the Executive on 29 October 2002. The report explains that no alternative routes to Wessex Way have been found acceptable.
2. The report outlines the results of the study, and considers the predicted levels of diverted traffic, the number of properties that would be affected by changes in traffic flow, the effect on junctions and traffic management changes that would need to be made to junctions or the highway network.
3. It concludes that it is not desirable to implement the proposed Option 5 scheme without building the extension of Wessex Way. However, following more preliminary design work on Wessex Way it is considered that further work is required before officers are able to confirm the recommendation that the Executive should submit a planning application for the Wessex Way scheme and approve the Option 5 scheme for Market Square.

Background

4. In June 2002 the County, Town and District Councils held an exhibition and consultation on the pedestrianisation proposals for Market Square, Bicester. The Bicester ITS Members Steering Group met in July 2002, and agreed in principle after reviewing the exhibition response, to adopt and pursue the combined Wessex Way and Option 5 scheme. The results of this consultation were reported formally to the County Executive on 29 October 2002. The Executive resolved to include the Wessex Way proposal in the approved Bicester ITS programme and to endorse the work led by the Steering Group in relation to the development of Option 5 (the preferred Option). Annex 1 (download as .doc file) and Annex 2 (download as .doc file) detail Option 5, and show plans of the roads mentioned.
5. The Wessex Way/Market Square Option 5 proposals were ‘called in’ by the Environment Scrutiny Committee on 18 December 2002. Specific requests were made to consider Priory Road and Victoria Road as alternative diversion routes for Market Square traffic as an alternative to constructing the extension of Wessex Way.
6. When the views of the Scrutiny Committee were considered by the Executive on 7 January 2003 it was agreed to suspend the original conclusions of 29 October 2002 Executive, pending a written report reviewing alternative traffic routes needed to support Option 5.

Summary of traffic impacts of Option 5 if Wessex Way is not extended

7. The following analysis is based on counts done in November 2002, and may therefore represent a small overestimate following the opening of Skimmingdish Lane.
8. Traffic diverted from the Market Place would predominantly use Priory Road, with a predicted increase in westbound traffic during the morning peak hour from 50 to 395 vehicles and a corresponding increase in the evening peak hour from 40 to 493 vehicles. This compares to an increase ranging from zero to about 100 if Wessex Way is built, depending on the deterrent measures adopted in Priory Road to discourage any rat running traffic.
9. Only a small increase is predicted on Victoria Road, the equivalent figures being an increase in northbound traffic from 203 to 277 vehicles in the morning and an increase from 191 to 269 vehicles in the evening. In general there is not much difference in the rise on Victoria Road whether Priory or Wessex Way is the main route as it is mainly local westbound traffic in Launton Road that will divert.
10. Although all the main junctions appear to work in theory, there would be link capacity problems on Priory Road if it remains two way with parking. Along Priory Road there are 34 dwellings with no ‘off street’ parking. There would be strong objections to removing this as most of this parking is for residents. Also when there is opposing traffic on Priory Road, the main eastbound flow has to give way behind the parked cars creating delays and congestion, and possibly blocking the Priory Road/London Road junction.
11. The impact on the northern part of Chapel Street is similar for either of the Options. It is likely that Chapel Street (north of Wessex Way) would require a full prohibition of ‘on street’ car parking and this would lead to a loss of 7 existing parking spaces. With the increased level of traffic flow there is also concern about pedestrian safety along Chapel Street north of Wessex Way due to limited footpath widths. The full safety implications of increasing traffic in Chapel Street needs further investigation.

Environmental Implications

12. The extension of the Wessex Way link will have some impact on Saxon Court and neighbouring properties. More work is therefore required to find ways to reduce the potential impact of noise, visual intrusion and other effects.
13. Saxon Court was designed to take account of the proposed road. These homes are restricted to persons aged over 55 and therefore there are unlikely to be any small children resident. In addition no dwellings have direct access onto Wessex Way, some dwellings have no windows fronting Wessex Way and all windows are uPVC double glazed affording acoustic protection to all dwellings. All Saxon Court residents are provided with ‘off street’ car parking within the development.
14. Priory Road comprises Victorian family homes with gardens and are likely to have a number of children resident. The houses were obviously constructed before the popular use of cars and were therefore not protected acoustically. Living rooms and bedrooms front Priory Road.
15. The junction of Priory Road and Chapel Street is used by parents as a drop off point for taking pre-school children to Bicester Nursery because Priory Lane is an unadopted, unmade single lane width road with no turning facility.
16. Table 1 in Annex 3 (download as .doc file) summarises and compares the environmental implications of using Wessex Way or Priory Road as alternatives for the westbound traffic diverted from the Market Square under Option 5, while Table 2 shows the forecast traffic flows that may result from the diversion of westbound traffic in Option 5.

Further Work

17. It is recommended that further work is carried out to make a comparison of the impact on Wessex Way and Chapel Street with the benefits to Market Square contained in Option 5 scheme and to carry out further preliminary design work of the Wessex Way extension.
18. This work will need to address the environmental impact of the displaced traffic, road safety implications and traffic delays and congestion on the surrounding road network.

Financial Implications

19. The Wessex Way scheme and the Market Square related highway changes are proposed to be partially funded from developer contributions, with additional Single Capital Pot funding likely to be required as a ‘top up’. Any further work, if approved, will be funded in 2003/04 from the existing developer contributions. The existing land agreement with MacCarthy and Stone will require full budget funding to be demonstrated before its completion no later than 2009.

RECOMMENDATIONS

20. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. agree that the approved Option for Market Square (Option 5) is not achievable without the extension of Wessex Way; and
2. instruct officers to examine further in consultation with Cherwell District Council and Bicester Town Council the environmental and road safety implications of the extension of Wessex Way and the pedestrianisation of Market Square.

EDDIE LUCK
Assistant Director of Environmental Services (Transport Development)

March 2003

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