Return to Agenda

Division(s): South Abingdon

ITEM TIC10

TRANSPORT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE – 27 NOVEMBER 2003

SAXTON ROAD HOME ZONE

Report by the Assistant Director (Environment & Economy)

Introduction

  1. This report is seeking approval for the final scheme design of the Saxton Road Home Zone in Abingdon. It is also asking the Committee and for the publication of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for a 20mph speed limit to be introduced to cover the length of Saxton Road, which is to be treated as a Home Zone.

    2. Home Zone Challenge

  2. The Prime Minister announced the creation of the Home Zones Challenge Fund in April 2001, in a major speech about the quality and "liveability" of our public spaces. The key feature of Home Zones is that traffic is kept to very low speeds by the way that the streets are laid out. This is to favour informal and non-motorised use of the street, including walking, cycling and social activity such as children’s play. An application for Saxton Road, Abingdon to be included in the Home Zone Challenge was accepted by the Government in December 2001 with £400,000 being made available for the design and implementation of the scheme. This was to be supplemented by £150,000 from the County Council’s Casualty Reduction and Community Safety (Transport) Schemes’ budgets.

    3. Scheme Development

  3. A Steering Group comprising the local member, representatives of the District and Town Councils, the Vale Housing Association, Thames Valley Police and local residents has met regularly throughout the development of the scheme. The development of the Saxton Road scheme has involved four stages of consultation. The first stage carried out in mid June 2002 comprised a household survey to highlight problems that existed in the street from which ideas for improvements could be identified. This information was used to establish the issues that were then dealt with in the second stage Home Zone Workshops held at the end of July and the beginning of August 2002.

  4. The third stage of the consultation was a public exhibition running from 10 to 12 October 2002 held in Saxton Road with the purpose of showing the residents a number of options which had been developed following the first two stages of the consultation.

  5. The final stage of the consultation was the holding of a street party on the 2 August 2003, between 12-4pm. All residents of the Home Zone were invited to the event, together with other stakeholders, including the emergency services, Councillors and Vale Housing Association. The street party was organised to give the opportunity for the residents to comment on the draft designs for the Home Zone, and to further help raise awareness and maintain support for the scheme. The event was planned to be an informal and social occasion, giving the opportunity for residents to speak to the design team and officers and ask questions on the project.

  6. A marquee was erected on the street, inside which was a scale model of part of the proposed Home Zone. A free barbecue was provided for all the residents with various activities arranged throughout the day, including face painting, badge making, poster painting, design of street art tablets and construction of a street mock-up.

  7. There was general support for the overall concept of the scheme and the aims of the project. However, the majority of residents expressed concerns over the introduction of seating, as they felt that it would encourage young people to congregate and cause nuisance. Therefore, all seating has been removed from the design. There was also concern expressed by a minority of residents over the perceived reduction in the number of car parking spaces. The Home Zone is designed to formalise the existing parking arrangement and it is anticipated that current parking levels can be accommodated. However, to meet these concerns, the areas in which parking is prohibited have been reduced in size. The issues surrounding seating and parking were later discussed at some length at the following Steering Group meeting. The residents present were satisfied at the end of this meeting with the reduction in size of the ‘no parking’ areas adjacent to the cul-de-sac, and with the decision to remove all the planned seating from the design of the scheme.

  8. The street party proved to be very successful and the positive feedback that was received enabled the design team to establish the materials that will be used for the Home Zone, to make minor amendments to the scheme lay out and therefore produce the final design.

    9. Developments Since the Street Party

  9. Much work has been carried out on the design of the scheme since the street party. Unfortunately, preliminary investigations have indicated that the pavement structure may not be sufficiently strong to support block paving without substantial, and unaffordable, rebuilding. Further structural tests are currently being undertaken and if these confirm the earlier results it would seem sensible to replace the proposed block paving with a high quality tarmac surface. This will have to be sanctioned by the Steering Group before a final decision is made.

    10. Home Zone Designation and 20mph Traffic Regulation Order

  10. As yet there is no separate legislation regarding the implementation of Home Zones, but there is enabling legislation included in Section 268 of the Transport Act 2000. Specific regulations for the introduction of a Home Zone are to be published at a later date but in the interim period the informal advice from Government is for highway authorities to follow a similar procedure to the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order. It is therefore proposed that Notices are published as soon as possible in the local press and on-street to advertise the designation of the length of Saxton Road (see Annex 1) (download as .doc file) as a Home Zone and formally invite comments on the scheme. It is intended that the results of this will be reported back to the Transport Implementation Committee in early 2004, when a decision will be sought on confirming the designation.

  11. As well as the Home Zone Designation, it is considered that there needs to be a 20mph limit introduced along the part of Saxton Road to be treated as a Home Zone. In addition to this, the 20mph limit is proposed to be extended eastwards along Saxton Road to its junction with Reynolds Way and also running northwards along the entire length of Blacknall Road. See Annex 2 (download as .doc file). These will form a transitionary area between the Home Zone and roads with 30mph speed limits. It is not envisaged that any additional physical measures will need to be introduced as part of the speed limit.

    12. Environmental Implications

  12. The Home Zone scheme will introduce environmental improvements to the area being treated. These will include the planting of trees and the creation of community areas along the road.

    13. Financial and Staff Implications

  13. Oxfordshire’s bid was for £400,000 to improve the safety of the road, improve the street’s environment, reduce crime, manage the street’s parking and encourage more walking and cycling. This is being supplemented by £100,000 from the County Council’s Community Safety (Transport) budget and £50,000 from the County Council’s Road Safety Budget within the Transport Capital Programme. Costs to date have amounted to £88,527 and have been charged to the Government’s Challenge Fund. Implementation, due to start next Spring, will be achievable within the funding available.

    14. RECOMMENDATIONS

  14. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to approve the:

          1. final scheme design of the Saxton Road Home Zone; and

          2. publication of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for a 20mph speed limit.

RICHARD DIX
Assistant Director (Environment & Economy)

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Ben Fryer Tel: Oxford 810451

Roger O’Neill Tel: Oxford 815659

November 2003

Return to TOP