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Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport

15 February 2007

Statement of Decision

50mph Speed Limit Proposals

Present:

Also in attendance: 

Documentation considered:

A copy is attached to the signed copy of this decision.

Summary of representations in person

Welcoming proposals for the A329 (Milton Common to Thame) Councillor Turner  asked for consideration to be given to including a section of the B480 between Stadhampton and Chislehampton which had been omitted from an earlier order for technical reasons and had not been implemented.  It was important to achieve consistency in these matters and as consultation had already been undertaken in the past he felt there was now an opportunity to include this section in the current order as it would be the only stretch of the route between Thame and the A4074 without a 30 or 50 mph limit.

Mr Comiskey stressed that speed limits were not a panacea for the prevention of accidents and quoted instances where accident rates had increased following implementation of speed limit proposals.  He referred specifically to accident and injury rates on the A4142 Eastern Bypass, which had remained unchanged in the 9 months since a 50 mph limit had been imposed.  He questioned the accuracy of the response figures in the report and considered that many more residents in Stanford-in-the-Vale had objected but as they had had omitted their residency details had not been included in the report.  He considered the proposals and the process undemocratic.

Councillor Purse welcomed the proposals for the B4027.  This stretch of road was very winding and this proposal was seen as a first step towards accident reduction.  She considered the support received from Forest Hill, Stanton St John and Beckley Parish Councils as indicative of local support for the proposals.

As a member of the Speed Management Working Group for a number of years Councillor Wilmshurst referred to the experience which had been gathered by the Group.  The Group approached these issues in a very objective way and took into account a great deal of data and advice including the potential for other preventative measures. He supported the recommendations.  Councillor Farrow endorsed his comments.

Mr Disley confirmed that the proposals had been largely data led and had only been  proposed where it was felt that to do so would make a difference. He referred to support from many organisations including the Police

Cabinet Member’s Comments

Councillor Robertson undertook to request the Group to reconsider the Stadhampton-Chiselhampton stretch of road as requested by Councillor Turner.

He referred to the points raised by Mr Comiskey regarding fluctuations in accident rates and that the majority of respondees had objected to the proposals.  There had been a number of points raised which he felt needed to be taken into account when considering future proposals but that on the whole he supported the current recommendations of the Speed Management Working Group.

Decision

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before me, the representations made to me and the further considerations set out above, I confirm my decisions on this matter as follows:

(a)               to authorise officers to undertake detailed design work in respect of the proposed speed limit schemes detailed in Document A and as shown at the locations in Annexes 1 – 7 to the report CMDT 3;

(b)               that the speed limits detailed in (a) above be introduced subject to authorising the Head of Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport to resolve any concerns or comments which might result from the detailed design or the Road Safety Audit process should any arise.

Signed ......................................................................

            Cabinet Member for

Date ………………………2007

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