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Division(s): West Central Oxford

ITEM TIC10

TRANSPORT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE – 22 DECEMBER 2005

OXFORD, MERRIVALE SQUARE – PROPOSED ONE-WAY SYSTEM

Report by Head of Transport

Introduction

  1. This report considers comments received on a formal consultation for the introduction of a one-way system in Merrivale Square. The proposal was requested by the Oxford Waterside Residents’ Association. The report recommends that the proposal be implemented.

    2. Background

  2. In October 2003 a proposal to introduce a one-way system in Merrivale Square was advertised after receiving a request from the Residents’ Association. The response to this was very low with the majority of those responding objecting to the proposal. The Transport Implementation Committee resolved not to proceed with the proposal.

  3. The Residents’ Association contacted the Council, after that decision, as they considered that many who supported the proposal had not written as they felt it was unnecessary to do so and asked that the decision be reconsidered. Following discussions with the Cabinet Member for Transport the Residents’ Association were informed that the Council would only reconsider advertising the proposal again if it could be demonstrated that there was support from residents. A petition was subsequently delivered to the County Council showing support and the proposal was again advertised.

    4. Consultation

  4. Formal consultation was held between 14 October and 11 November 2005. Letters informing residents of the proposal were sent to 200 properties, City and County Councilors and other interested bodies. In addition street notices were erected on site.

  5. Overall 60 letters of comment were received. Of these 41 supported the proposal, 2 supported but with reservations and 17 objected. The majority of the responses were from residents in Merrivale Square and Plater Drive. The breakdown of the responses is given below with a summary of the comments at Annex 1 (download as .doc file). Copies of the letters/emails are available in the Members’ Resource Centre.

    		6.

    Merrivale Square

    Plater Drive

    Other

    Total

    %

    Yes

    18

    19

    4*

    41

    68

    No

    4

    13

    17

    28

    Yes but reservations

    2

    2

    4

    Total

    24

    32

    4

    60

    100

    *Includes resident of Rutherway

    Officer Comments

  6. Those objecting to the proposal had three main concerns that:

    • a one-way system would increase vehicle speeds and therefore make Merrivale Square unsafe;

    • there would be an increase in traffic past any one point in Merrivale Square and on the western leg of Plater Drive; and

    • the numbers of signs would be unsightly and out of character with the area.

  1. In the majority of cases when introducing a one-way system an increase in vehicle speeds can be expected. Merrivale Square is laid out with relatively tight radii, reduced visibility due to hedges within the central garden area and restricted road width due to the provision of parking bays. As a result of these these factors, coupled with the relatively short distances that will be travelled by most vehicles, it is not expected that the speed of vehicles will be very different from those currently observed.

  2. It is acknowledged that there will be an increase in vehicle movements past properties in Merrivale Square as a result of a one-way system. There may also be an increase in vehicle movements on the western leg of Plater Drive. This will be dependent on which property a driver is accessing.

  3. The signing required to implement the proposals has been reviewed. The original signage, to comply with the regulations for a one-way street, would have required a minimum of seven signs. It is now proposed to only provide a roundel sign opposite each entry road to the Square, as is normal practice on roundabouts. These will, subject to agreement from the Residents’ Association, be mounted on the railings to the central garden. The original signing proposal and that now being recommended are shown at Annex 2 (download as .doc file) and Annex 3 (download as .doc file).

    4. Financial and Staff Implications

  4. Funding for the proposal will be met from the Rapid Response budget in the 2005/06 Capital Programme. The estimated cost of the required works is £5,000. There are no staffing implications that cannot be met from existing resources.

    5. RECOMMENDATIONS

  5. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to agree:

          1. implementation of a one-way system in Merrivale Square, Oxford as set out in this report and Annex 1 to it; and

          2. the signage proposals as set out in Annex 3 to this report.

STEVE HOWELL
HEAD OF TRANSPORT

Background papers:
Consultation documents
Consultation responses (available in the Members’ Resource Centre)

Contact Officer: John Cramer Tel: Oxford 815963

December 2005

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