Return to Agenda

ITEM TIC8

SAXTON ROAD HOME ZONE

Introduction

1. On 27 November 2003 the Transport Implementation Committee (TIC) approved the final scheme design for the Saxton Road Home Zone and authorised the publication of a Traffic Regulation Order for the necessary supporting speed limit. This report sets out the responses to the publication of this order together with one advertising the designation of Saxton Road as a Home Zone and the alteration of the existing four vertical deflections (humps) and the introduction of a further three. The Committee is asked to confirm the 20 mph order and the designation of the scheme as a Home Zone and therefore to authorise its implementation.

Consultation Process

2. Notices relating to the 20 mph limit, the designation of the scheme as a Home Zone and the alterations to the vertical deflections were placed in Saxton Road between 12 February and 11 March 2004. This allowed residents to make any objections or comments on these aspects of the scheme. Notices were also placed in both the Oxford Times and the Abingdon Herald. In addition to the notices in Saxton Road and in the two newspapers letters were sent to a range of organisations and relevant Oxfordshire County Council departments to ensure that the proposals would not adversely affect their operations. The deadline for responding was 24 March 2004. Consultees could see the plans and details of the proposals in Abingdon Library and at Speedwell House in Oxford.
3. As was stated in the November 2003 report no specific procedures have been published by the Government for the designation of Home Zones. The advice from the Department of Transport was that we should follow a process similar to that for a Traffic Regulation Order to give a formal period of consultation on the proposal.
4. No responses were received from residents of either Saxton Road or Blacknall Road or the the Fire or Ambulance services. Thames Valley Police replied with some concerns regarding the section of the 20 mph limit in Blacknall Road although they supported the stretch of the limit in Saxton Road. They felt that the absence of physical measures in Blacknall Road would mean that the new limit would not result in an appropriate reduction in vehicle speeds. These concerns have been noted. However, this stretch of speed limit is important in that it will form a transitory zone between the Home Zone itself in Saxton Road and the surrounding roads with 30 mph speed limits. It is the opinion of officers that given this and the relatively short length of Blacknall Road proposed to be covered by the 20 mph limit, that the order should be confirmed as advertised without the introduction of physical speed reducing measures in Blacknall Road. However, it is proposed that monitoring of speed in Blacknall Road should be undertaken before and after the scheme is introduced and should there be no impact on speed, the introduction of physical measures should be carefully considered.
5. Neither the Fire nor the Ambulance Services responded to the consultation. Consultation responses are summarised at Annex 1. The extent of the proposed Home Zone and Speed Limit are shown in Annex 2 (download as .doc file) . Copies of all the responses are in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Scheme Design

6. There have been some small changes made to the scheme design since the 27 November TIC Report. The original design incorporated block paving for the entire carriageway surface with different colours highlighting the parking areas and the central ‘running’ strip. Since then, ground investigations revealed that the construction of the carriageway is not sufficiently strong to allow block paving to be used for the ‘running’ strip. The specification of this element has therefore had to be changed to a new hot rolled asphalt surface with red coloured coated chippings rolled into it. The most recent scheme cost estimate was over the budget originally allowed (£550,000). Due to this, a cost saving exercise involving the design consultant and the contractor highlighted possible savings which has led to a small number of minor engineering changes to the design. The number of trees has also had to be reduced so that they will only now be introduced at the two gateways of the scheme.
7. None of these changes affect how the scheme will work and will only result in slight changes in the proposed appearance of the street. The residents of Saxton Road will be informed of the changes by means of an update newsletter in due course.

Environmental Implications

8. The proposed measures lie within the existing highway boundary. Twenty mph signs and supporting measures will be provided at each entry point with repeater signs evenly spaced through the area. The benefits of the introduction of the 20mph speed limit, the designation of the street as a Home Zone and the associated changes in the layout of the street will include a reduction in speed of through traffic which in turn will lead to an improvement to the general environment. There will be improvements in road safety for all users.

Financial and Staffing Implications

9. The Home Zone is being funded through Oxfordshire’s successful Home Zone Challenge bid to the Government of £400,000. £150,000 has been made available from the County Council’s Community Safety (Transport) budget within the Transport Capital Programme. As mentioned in paragraph 6, the cost of the scheme is estimated to be more than the £550,000 previously allocated. The cost saving exercise has resulted in only an additional £20,000 being required to build the scheme. It is possible that this amount may be reduced as a result of making fine adjustments to the design as it is implemented. If this is not possible, the additional funding will be allocated from the 2004/05 budget for the development of future Home Zones. The design of the Home Zone has been undertaken by the consultants MVA in partnership with Building Design Partnership (BDP) managed by officers from Environment & Economy and paid for by the Government Challenge fund.

RECOMMENDATIONS

10. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:
    
    

1. note the responses to the formal consultations on the Saxton Road Home Zone scheme;
2. confirm the Traffic Regulation Orders for a 20mph speed limit and the designation of a Home Zone, and to authorise the replacement of the four existing vertical deflections in Saxton Road with large flat topped tables, together with the installation of a further three to complete the scheme; and
3. authorise the implementation of the scheme accordingly.

David McKibbin
Head of Transport

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officers:
Ben Fryer Tel: (01865) 810451
Craig Rossington Tel: (01865) 815575

April 2004

Return to TOP