Meeting documents

Cabinet
Tuesday, 16 January 2007

CA160107-14

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Division(s): Carterton

ITEM CA14

CABINET - 16 JANUARY 2007

CLOSURE OF KILKENNY LANE, CARTERTON

Report by Head of Transport

Introduction

  1. The closure of Kilkenny Lane was first proposed in the West Oxfordshire Local Plan in association with development at North East Carterton. It also forms part of the Local Transport Plan 2006 - 2011 and funding has been allocated from developer contributions.

    2. Background

  2. The scheme consists of a point closure, along with two turning heads, and appropriate signing, and Annex 1 (download as .doc file) identifies the locations of each of these features. Access will be maintained for the three properties along the route and also non motorised vehicles.

  3. The objective of the closure is to prevent the use of this route as a ‘rat run’ therefore improving access for pedestrians and cyclists, making this area of the town a more pleasant place to live and visit, and encouraging use of the recently developed route (implemented in association with the North East Carterton development) to the A40. There are also proposals (and an indicative alignment) in the West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 for a link between Shilton Road and the new route (see Annex 2) (download as .doc file). This will give residents in North Carterton an alternative to Kilkenny Lane and it is hoped that the Shilton Road section will be constructed in 2008. Closing Kilkenny Lane to general traffic will also improve access to the Country Park, situated adjacent to the North East Carterton development, by alternative modes of transport.

  4. Should the closure of Kilkenny Lane be approved it is anticipated that construction will begin on site in February 2007.

    5. Consultation

  5. This scheme has been consulted upon a number of times within the context of larger plans such as West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and the Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2006 to 2011, and formal consultation has taken place for the actual scheme. The first round of consultation attracted a number of comments which have been taken into account and resulted in the scheme being modified. The new proposals in Annex 1 (download as .doc file) went out to consultation on 27 October 2006 in the form of a Public Notice in the Oxford Times and in hard copy to the statutory bodies. Nine responses were received in all, 5 of which supported the scheme and 4 which raised an objection. A summary of the comments received is attached at Annex 3 (download as .doc file) and a copy of the full responses has been placed in the Members Resource Centre.

    6. Corporate Policies and Priorities

  6. The County Council has a statutory duty to produce a Local Transport Plan (LTP) for Oxfordshire. This document guides the expenditure of capital funding on transport throughout the County and prioritises schemes accordingly. This document contributes to the Council’s strategic priorities of:

  • helping "the economy to grow as fast as possible with real choice of access to jobs, homes, leisure and services and in a way that does not prejudice the future of our environment"; and

  • making "Oxfordshire – it’s City, towns, villages and countryside – welcoming, safe and exceptional places to live, work, learn and visit".

  1. The closure of Kilkenny Lane forms part of the LTP and works towards making the north eastern side of Carterton a better place in which to live and visit. Officers have been working closely with the Town Council and Traffic Advisory Committee to take on board local views.

    2. Financial and Staff Implications

  2. The LTP assessment framework allocated £65,000 from developer contributions towards this closure. Further detailed design work identified that the cost of this scheme has been considerably reduced. This is largely due to the revision of the scheme following consultation and by the design work being carried out in house. The cost of this scheme including the Traffic Regulation Order and construction work is approximately £25,000.

  3. There are no land costs associated with this scheme as one turning head is at the allotment entrance and permission has been obtained from both the Town Council and the allotment committee to carry out these works. Land for the second turning head at the Country Park will pass to the control of the County Council from the developers at North East Carterton.

    4. RECOMMENDATION

  4. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the closure of Kilkenny Lane and associated construction works for implementation in the 2006/07 financial year.

STEVE HOWELL
Head of Transport

Background papers: Copies of correspondence received during consultation

Contact Officer: Suzanne Roberts, Tel 01865 815582.

January 2007

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