ITEM TIC3TRANSPORT
IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE –
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Request from |
Agenda Item |
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Mr S. Saunders ) Dr D. Bennett ) Mr S. Wright ) |
5. 50 mph Speed Limit Proposals |
Mr M. McArthur-Christie had been due to attend and speak to Item 5 but had been unable to do so. His written submission was circulated.
76/03. 50MPH SPEED LIMIT PROPOSALS: FORMAL CONSULTATION
(Agenda item 5)
In April the Executive had approved the promotion of pilot 50mph speed limits in place of national speed limits subject to community and police support and to any representations being considered by the Transport Implementation Committee. The Committee now considered a report (TIC5) setting out responses to the formal consultation.
Mr Saunders challenged the supporting evidence for these proposed limits. Statistical data had been collated over too short a period with 2 variables changed on later proposals. He suspected that the proposed limits would largely be ignored creating contempt for speed limits elsewhere and contributing to a lowering in driving skill levels. Accident levels could also be attributed to a lack of investment in maintenance, engineering and signing.
Dr. Bennett also expressed concern regarding the analysis of the information with too little time taken to view the whole picture; the environmental impact of signing and road markings which would lead to suburbanisation of the rural environment and the need to strike a balance between achieving a reduction in accidents, which could never be totally eliminated, against the draconian measures now proposed to reduce speed.
Mr Wright endorsed the points made by the earlier speakers. Challenging the methodology used he recommended caution in the interpretation of figures collated over a period of one year and which totally misrepresented the situation. Speed was not the sole issue but many other factors and causes, such as driver misconduct, needed to be taken into account in order to secure the desired reduction in accident levels.
Councillor Mold referred to the reduction in accidents on the A4250 (Bunkers Hill) since the introduction of a 50 mph limit and asked for the reinstatement of proposals for a 50 mph limit between Drayton and Wroxton.
Mr Barrell accepted that there was no guarantee that speed limits alone would reduce accidents but he believed that the success achieved elsewhere, following the introduction of similar restrictions could be replicated through the introduction of these proposals. There was also local support for many of the proposals.
Councillor Robertson expressed some concern over the comments of the police regarding enforcement of the proposals. He suggested that the proposals be considered first by the Speed Management Strategy Task Force, which had been set up as part of the County Council’s Speed Management Strategy before the Committee took a decision.
RESOLVED: to defer to 8 January 2004 a decision on the implementation of the 50 mph limits as set out in the report EX5 with the inclusion of A422 Drayton-Wroxton Road pending consideration of the proposals by the Speed Management Strategy Task Force.
77/03. OXFORD CENTRAL AREA PROPOSED 20MPH ZONE: INITIAL CONSULTATION
(Agenda Item 6)
The Committee considered a report (TIC6) setting out responses to initial consultations on the 20 mph zone proposed for the central area of Oxford.
RESOLVED: to:
78/03. EXPERIMENTAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN SANDHILLS, OXFORD – CONSIDERATION OF COMMENTS RECEIVED
(Agenda Item 7)
The Committee considered a report (TIC7) setting out comments received during the 6 month consultation period on the experimental Traffic Order
RESOLVED: to make the 24 hour waiting restrictions and limited waiting restrictions to various roads leading into the Sandhills Estate Order permanent as advertised in November 2002.
79/03. THAME – PROPOSED 20MPH ZONE: INITIAL CONSULTATION
(Agenda Item 8)
In April 2003 the Executive had approved the promotion of a 20mph speed limit zone in Thame subject to any representations being considered by the Transport Implementation Committee. The Committee now had before it a report (TIC8) which considered the outcome of informal consultations on the proposal.
RESOLVED: to authorise the Director of Environment and Economy to discuss with the Thame Town Council their concerns, and, if they could be overcome, to formally consult on the proposed 20mph zone as shown in Annex 2 to the report EX8, including consultation on signing and any other supporting measures identified by speed monitoring.
80/03. OXFORD HILL/NEWLAND WITNEY – CYCLE IMPROVEMENTS
(Agenda Item 9)
The Committee considered a report (TIC9) setting out comments received in response to a formal consultation on proposals to introduce a shared use footway/cycleway on Oxford Hill and convert an existing traffic signalised crossing to a Toucan crossing at the junction with Jubilee Way.
Councillor Robertson declared a personal interest insofar as he was resident of Newland Mill, Witney.
RESOLVED: subject to further discussions with and the agreement of the Witney Traffic Advisory Committee with regard to the Section between Staple Hall and Church Lane to authorise officers to proceed with the detailed design and implementation of the scheme as described in the report TIC9, subject to the Director for Environment & Economy being authorised to resolve any concerns or comments which resulted from the detailed design and safety audit following consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of this Committee.
81/03. COUNTRYWAYS WHITE HORSE
(Agenda Item 10)
The Committee considered a report (TIC10) which sought approval for the implementation of the measures following consultation on the Countryways White Horse project.
Councillor Fooks expressed support for the scheme which had also received a considerable amount of local support. She raised a number of questions regarding footpaths in Uffington, the railway bridge in Kinston Winslow, the Pegasus crossing on the B4507 and footpath issues on Dragon Hill
Officers responded accordingly with assurances that these matters were being addressed.
The local member Councillor Mrs Anda Fitzgerald-O’Connor had been unable to attend but had expressed her support for the proposals, subject to approval from the various Parish Councils.
RESOLVED: to approve the:
82/03. RURAL BUS CHALLENGE BID FOR FLEXIBLY-ROUTED BUS SERVICES IN THE CHIPPING NORTON AND CHARLBURY AREAS
(Agenda Item 11)
The Committee had before them a report (TIC11) which considered again the question of a Rural Bus Challenge bid in the light of the Consultants Halcrow’s final report. Also circulated were the draft bids from Halcrow from each of the two areas.
Councillor Robert Evans had submitted written representations in support of a bid for the Chipping Norton area.
Councillor Julian Cooper referred to the need for improvements to local services in rural West Oxfordshire particularly the need to develop links with main route services into Oxford and the need to progress the Post Office bus initiative.
Councillor Hodgson supported the submission of a Rural Bus Challenge bid for Charlbury which would provide more focused services and help ensure the future of the Charlbury Taxibus. West Oxfordshire was poorly served by public transport with particular difficulties experienced in making return journeys. He realised the difficulties facing the Committee but hoped that a bid could be supported.
Councillor Robertson expressed concern about the ability to continue full financial support for these services once Rural Bus Challenge funding ceased at the end of its three-year period.
Councillor Purse reluctantly agreed but supported further efforts to try to secure improvements to public transport services in West Oxfordshire.
RESOLVED:
in the Chair
Date
of signing 2003
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