ITEM CMDT9
CABINET MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT - 14 FEBRUARY 2008
ABINGDON TOWN CENTRE IMPROVEMENTS: BRIDGE STREET TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS
Report by Head of Transport
Introduction
1. This report details the results of a public consultation on amendments to Traffic Regulation Orders on Bridge Street, Abingdon. The Orders remove a length of general parking places and introduce peak time loading/unloading restrictions at its northern end to accommodate the relocation of the Bridge Street ‘gated’ traffic signal. The report recommends that approval be granted for the making of the Orders as advertised. A reduced scale plan showing the extent of the amendments is attached at Annex 1 (download as .pdf file).
Background
2. Oxfordshire County Council’s former Environmental Committee adopted an Integrated Transport Strategy for Abingdon (AbITS) on 27 June 2001. A design for the town centre scheme followed, which led to a public exhibition in July 2004. Proposals to provide a ‘gated’ queue relocating traffic signal on the Bridge Street entry to the town centre were included in the design. After numerous discussions at the AbITS Members Working and Steering Groups, a decision on its final location could not be agreed. The current location by the Rye Farm Car Park was offered as a trial, but officers expressed concerns at the time that its position may be too far away from the town centre to be effective in regulating the flow of traffic.
3. The traffic signal became operational in December 2006 and monitoring of conditions since has shown that there can be unsatisfactory queue lengths and journey times during peak hours.
4. A new site for the relocation of the ‘gated’ signal has therefore been identified and agreed at the AbITS Members Working Group on 9 August 2007. It is about 20 metres south of the junction of Bridge Street with East St Helen Street. Amendments to existing Traffic Regulation Orders and re-siting of the southbound bus stop are required to accommodate the signal at this new location. A reduced scale plan showing the proposals for the relocated bus stop is attached at Annex 2 (download as .pdf file).
Consultation on Traffic Regulation Order Amendments
5. Public consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order amendments was undertaken between 12 December 2007 and 18 January 2008.
6. Consultation was carried out with emergency services, members of the AbITS Members Working Group, local County Councillors, Vale of White Horse District Council, Abingdon Town Council, road user groups, bus operators, residents and businesses. Copies of the public notices appeared in the local press and were posted on street furniture along Bridge Street.
7. Thames Valley Police has confirmed that it has no objections to the proposals subject to their effectiveness not being reliant on constant police enforcement.
8. Four letters of objection were received during the consultation period, the content of which expressed a number of concerns. These included a business owner concerned with the proposed peak hour loading/unloading restrictions and residents concerned with the loss of the general person parking place and the relocation of the bus stop in relation to their property.
9. No representations were received from the Vale of White Horse District Council, Abingdon Town Council or the bus operators.
10. The comments are summarised along with officer responses at Annex 3 (download as .doc file). Copies of the correspondence are available in the Members’ Resource Centre.
Officer’s Comment on Consultation Responses
11. Restrictions to peak hour loading/unloading are required to enable the relocation of the Bridge Street traffic signal which is seen as key to improving the efficiency of the system and the management of congestion. It has been identified that loading activities during these periods, throughout the town centre, often contribute to the traffic conditions and are the subject of regular complaints from the public.
12. One pay and display parking space, the length of one vehicle, will be lost. However, work has commenced to change the two disabled spaces on the opposite side of Bridge Street to pay & display spaces, resulting in the overall gain of one space. The loss of disabled spaces is balanced by two new disabled spaces that have been provided at the southern end of Stert Street as part of the recently implemented improvement works.
13. The front end of the proposed bus stop will be approximately 12 metres north of the property with the footway area widened so queuing directly outside any doorways will be minimised.
14. A litter bin could be provided with respect to the concern regarding additional litter.
15. Buses will not be required to pull into the lay-by completely. Part of the bus will be within the carriageway and visible to oncoming traffic, and Bridge Street is of sufficient width at this point to accommodate two-way traffic.
Financial and Staff Implications
16. The implementation of the Traffic Regulation Order Amendments is included within the funding secured for the Town Centre Improvement scheme for 2007/08. Estimated costs for these, plus the associated works to relocate the bus stop and Bridge Street traffic signal, is £40,000.
17. Oxfordshire Highways staff will undertake construction supervision and project management of the scheme. The County Council’s Legal Services will prepare the Traffic Regulation Orders.
RECOMMENDATION
18. The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to authorise:
(a) the making of the amended Traffic Regulation Orders to restrict peak hour loading/unloading activities as described in this report;
(b) the removal of a length of general parking place in Bridge Street, Abingdon; and
(c) implementation of the associated works to relocate the ‘gated’ traffic signal.
STEVE HOWELL Head of Transport Environment & Economy
Background papers: Consultation Documentation
Contact Officer: Andy Warren Tel: 01865 815835
February 2008
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