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ITEM TIC10

TRANSPORT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE – 6 DECEMBER 2002

MILTON: HIGH STREET TRAFFIC CALMING

Report by Director of Environmental Services

Introduction

  1. Extension to the Milton Park Development has resulted in funding being secured for traffic calming for Milton Village. Oxfordshire County Council, in conjunction with Milton Parish Council, are now progressing a traffic calming scheme through to implementation.

  2. In August 2001 the Highways & Road Safety Sub-Committee approved the progression of a traffic calming scheme subject to final details being agreed with the Parish Council and further public consultation on the scheme.

  3. This report describes the scheme agreed with the Parish Council and the results of their public consultation with the village.

    4. The Scheme

  4. The scheme consists of gateways at the entrances to the village. Vertical deflections include a raised table junction at Sutton Road/Heather Road, a raised table mini-roundabout at High Street/Sutton Road, 2 pairs of speed cushions at the northern end of High Street and 3 pairs of speed cushions at the approach from Milton Park Turn. No physical traffic calming features are proposed for the stretch of High Street from Willow Lane to Millbrook House School.

  5. The overall scheme is shown on the plans attached to this report, see Annex A. (download as .doc file)

    6. Consultation

  6. Milton Parish Council carried out consultation with all electors of Milton Village. A copy of the questionnaire is attached at Annex B. (download as .doc file)

  7. Of the 423 questionnaires sent out 201 (48%) were returned. Of the returns, 171 (86%) were in favour of traffic calming with 119 (65%) in favour of the scheme proposed.

  8. Of the 74 Questionnaires sent out to frontagers of the High Street, 41 (55%) were returned. 37 (90%) were in favour of traffic calming with 28(70%) in favour of the scheme proposed.

  9. A summary of the results to each question and some of the comments received are available in the Members’ Resource Centre.

  10. Further consultation will be required on the vertical deflection elements of the scheme and any objections received will be reported to the Committee at a subsequent meeting.

    11. Director’s Comments

  11. From discussions with the Parish Council in the evolution of the scheme it was clear that a staged approach was required to check the effectiveness of the proposal. Traffic speed checks before and after the implementation were agreed as the way forward, which would help identify if measures were required in the High Street.

  12. From the responses it is clear that the villagers support the proposed scheme.

  13. The Parish Council were reluctant to provide any physical measures on High Street as residents consider that parked cars act as natural traffic calming in that area.

  14. Villagers support traffic speed surveys being undertaken at various locations along the route both before and after implementation of the scheme which should show whether parked cars on the central section of High Street do act as a natural calming measure.

  15. The Committee need to be aware that the results of the surveys may show that further measures need to be promoted on the High Street. This will require further discussion with the Parish Council and possibly further consultation.

    16. Environmental Implications

  16. Milton Village falls within a conservation area. The measures lie within the existing highway boundary. Additional signing is required to meet the Traffic Signs Regulations and upgrades to the existing system of street lighting will be necessary. Benefits include a reduction in speeds of through traffic and improvement of road safety to all users.

    17. Financial and Staff Implications

  17. The scheme is to be funded from contributions secured from Milton Park Development. There are no significant staff implications.

    18. RECOMMENDATIONS

  18. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to approve implementation of the scheme described in this report and that speed checks be carried out before and after implementation to determine its effectiveness, subject to consideration at a subsequent meeting of any objections which may arise from the public consultation on the vertical deflection elements of the Scheme.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Andy Warren Tel: Oxford 815835

November 2002

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