Return to Agenda

ITEM TIC7

TRANSPORT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE –
6 DECEMBER 2002

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (CHARLBURY, DYERS HILL) (PROHIBITION AND RESTRICTION OF WAITING) ORDER 200*

Report by Director of Environmental Services

1. This report considers comments received during the formal consultation on the proposals and amendments proposed following that process.

Background

2. During 2000 Thames Trains introduced a daily charge of £2.00 at Charlbury railway station car park. This charging regime had the effect of displacing some of the vehicles that previously parked within the station confines onto Dyers Hill, the B4437.
3. The transfer of vehicles has created potential road safety concerns, in that the effective width of the road has been reduced to one lane. Traffic flows now operate on a shuttle basis up and down the hill. This has also meant that visibility has been restricted for vehicles exiting the station car park.
4. In addition to the deterioration of conditions for general traffic, it has caused considerable problems for those seeking to cycle to and from the station. Pedestrians are also being inconvenienced by the cars parked close to the kerb line of what was already a narrow pavement.
5. The introduction of waiting restrictions along this section of road will have the effect of freeing up road space to maintain continual two way flow, and will also provide a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians using this stretch of road for both access to Charlbury station and for recreational use (the Oxfordshire Way, long distance path uses a section of the B4437).
6. Further measures are being implemented as part of the Charlbury station redevelopment. These include the provision of a raised mini roundabout at the station entrance, traffic calming in the form of road humps along Dyers Hill, new length of footway, improved street lighting and on-carriageway cycle lanes.

Consultation

7. As the scheme forms part of the much larger Strategic Rail Authority Cotswold Line Charlbury station improvements, considerable general consultation has taken place regarding the basic proposals as shown on drawing No PW/DYER/01.
8. This consultation has taken the form of letter drops to those in and around the affected areas and by means of public exhibitions in both Charlbury Town centre and at Charlbury station ticket office.
9. Many of the concerns raised during the formal consultation for the draft order have also been raised previously.
10. Thames Valley Police Traffic Management Unit have indicated that they have no objections to the proposals but warn of the likelihood of displacement into other areas of the town. Comments were also made regarding the potential for disabled motorists to park on the double yellow lines for periods of up to 3 hours.

Environmental Implications

11. The implementation of restrictions on Dyers Hill will reduce the likelihood of congestion in the town centre and remove the conflict between inbound and out bound vehicles in this vicinity.
12. Linked to the other traffic management measures proposed the area will become a safer environment for both cyclists and pedestrians and may encourage more use by those modes of travel, which could in turn lead to greater use of Charlbury station and the local rail network.
13. It may cause some local problems for some residents of Dyers Hill who do not have off road parking facilities.

Financial and Staff Implications

14. The introduction of these waiting restrictions will, if approved cost approximately £2500 and will be funded by Environmental Services Local Safety Schemes budget as part of the County Council’s contribution to the bigger scheme.
15. Much of the earlier consultation work has involved input in the form of officer time attending meetings and exhibitions.
16. The preparation of the draft Order has been carried out by officers from the Environmental Services Northern area office as part of their normal duties.

Conclusions

17. There has been a substantial objection to the draft Order banning waiting at any time principally from residents who have no off street parking on Dyers Hill.
18. Officers anticipated this and are recommending that waiting restrictions be limited to normal commuting times, i.e. 08.00 to 18.00. However, Charlbury Town Council were strongly of the view that measures to protect road safety during the daytime were just as valid at night.
19. As a result the draft Order was published on the basis of ‘no waiting at any time’.
20. We believe a compromise might be to allow overnight parking at the top of Dyers Hill nearest to those residents with limited off street parking, but maintain the restriction ‘at any time’ from a point 50 metres west of the Church Lane junction to the end of the speed limit and covering the area immediately outside the station.
21. Some comments have been received seeking a residents’ parking scheme but it is not recommended that this be taken forward in isolation from the general policy issues surrounding residents parking, special parking areas and the financial implications from these.
22. Comments from residents in Church Lane suggest that they are concerned about displacement of vehicles from Dyers Hill into Church Lane to the detriment of residents, few of whom have off street parking and the local church congregation. These concerns could be addressed by introducing a one-hour parking ban in Church Lane. This amendment and the change described in paragraph 20 are shown on Drawing No. PW/Dyer/02.
    
    Annex 1
    
    Plan ( download as .doc file)
    

RECOMMENDATION

23. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to approve that an amended draft Orderbe readvertised to:

1. provide permitted parking on the north side of Dyers Hill from its junction with Church Lane for a distance of 50 metres between the hours of 18.00 and 08.00 on Monday to Saturday; and
2. ban parking on one side of Church Lane between the hours of 11.00 am and 12.00 noon Monday to Saturday, and between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm on the other side.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officers: Paul Wilson Tel: 01869 241144

November 2002

Return to TOP