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Division(s): Iffley

ITEM TIC12

TRANSPORT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE- 4 MARCH 2004

EXTINGUISHMENT OF WALKWAY AGREEMENT TEMPLAR SQUARE SHOPPING CENTRE, OXFORD

Report by Head of Transport

Introduction

  1. This report seeks approval for the leasehold owners, Templar Square Ltd, to terminate the Walkway Agreement, dated 10 January 1991 for Templar Square Shopping Centre, Cowley, Oxford (Formerly known as Cowley Centre).

    2. Background

  2. In 1991 Mayfair & City Estates Ltd, Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council entered into a Walkway Agreement under The Local Government Act 1972, The Walkways Regulation 1973 and The Highways Act 1980 for Temple Square Shopping Centre. Oxford City Council is the landowner of the walkway and Templar Square Ltd are the current leasehold owners. The extent of the land covered by the agreement is shown hatched on drawing number 786/G161, attached at Annex A (download as .doc file).

    3. Proposal

  3. The leasehold owners have asked for the agreement to be terminated to enable them to make significant improvements to the services at the centre and to take measures to improve security.

    4. Consultations

  4. To gauge an initial view to this proposal we carried out an internal consultation within the Transport Service and with the City Council and no objections were raised. Therefore from a highway point of view I have no objection to this proposal.

  5. Under the terms of the Walkways Regulation before the walkway can be stopped up the owners must notify the highway authority of their intention and consult all the occupiers of the premises affected, statutory undertakers and the public. The Highway Authority was notified on 21 November 2003 and the consultation exercise completed in early January. No objections were received.

    6. Environmental Implications

  6. Under a separate agreement also dated 10 January 1991, 5 small areas of footway at the entrances to the centre are maintained by the Leaseholders. Under the terms of this second agreement the maintenance of these areas will revert back to the Highway Authority when the Walkway Agreement is terminated.

    7. Financial and Staff Implications

  7. There will be a small increase in the area of highway to be maintained by the County Council, however, there will be a small saving in staffing resources associated with the administration of the Walkway Agreement.

    8. RECOMMENDATION

  8. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. approve the termination of the Walkway Agreement over the area of land shown hatched on drawing No 786/ G161;

          2. authorise the Solicitor to the Council to make any necessary arrangements for the formal termination of this agreement.

DAVID MCKIBBEN
Head of Transport

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officers: John Boyd Tel. 01865 815082

February 2004

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