Return to Items for DecisionDelegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport – 23 April 2009Statement of Decision
Transform Oxford Vision and Queen Street Improvement 2009
Present:
Also in attendance:
Documentation considered:
A copy is attached to the signed copy of this decision.
Summary of representations in person
Monica Macleod expressed concern regarding loss of bus services and the effects that removing buses from Queen Street would have on surrounding streets. She would liked to have had more detailed information made available a lot earlier in order to respond in greater detail.
Julia Gasper opposed removal of buses from Queen Street. Highlighting the detrimental effect that removal of services would have on levels of efficient public transport and commercial viability of the centre of Oxford she stressed the importance of public transport to many people and of retaining an efficient bus service including through services. Many people would be inconvenienced by these proposals and pedestrianisation had not worked in other parts of Oxford creating a scruffy environment.
Hugh Jaeger was completely opposed to Transform Oxford and referred to concerns of increased congestion in surrounding streets and increased walking distances between stops (which exceeded the Government’s recommended maximum). He expected a pedestrianised Queen street to have limited success as had been the case in Cornmarket Street. He had further concerns regarding inaccuracies regarding the increase in pedestrian flows in surrounding streets, the effect of road works taking place simultaneously in Queen street and High Street and threats to bus service improvements and investment. The County Council seemed determined to proceed with transform oxford despite the many and obvious adverse consequences. He asked the Cabinet Member for Transport to consider the alternative put forward by Bus Users UK Oxford for partial introduction and retention of some services and stops in Queen Street.
Graham Jones considered the proposals would have significant benefits in Queen Street where there was currently a high risk to pedestrian safety and high pollution levels. However, there were serious concerns for bus users which involved longer distances to use link services. Pavement capacity in St Aldates was poor now but would be hard pressed to cope with increased numbers and pollution levels would also increase. He also had concerns about the knock on effects of simultaneous road works and endorsed the call for retention of some stops in Queen Street and monitoring where stops had been removed. In principle the proposal seemed a good one but there were many concerns.
Tony Joyce thanked County Council officers for the thorough and useful consultation on the Queen Street proposals and he hoped that would continue. Queen Street represented the easiest of the Transform Oxford proposals to introduce but even so there were still problems. There would be winners and losers and unfortunately the losers would be the least advantaged. Full pedestrianisation of Queen Street would not be possible until radical changes could be made in Oxford. Bus partnership would help the proposals to work more smoothly and he supported calls for the Queen Street proposals to be trialled before physical work started.
Councillor Fooks regretted the piecemeal approach to Transform Oxford. There was a continuing lack of through centre services and concerns regarding longer distances between stops and pavement capacity. There would be benefits for Queen Street but disbenefits for other areas. It was imperative that Bus Quality Partnerships were introduced as soon as possible in order to achieve a genuine reduction in bus numbers and retention of essential services. She asked for consideration to resiting the new bus stop on the north side of High Street, which presented safety concerns for cyclists emerging from Turl Street and also for the siting of additional cycle racks.
Councillor Armitage supported extension of pedestrianisation in Oxford and Queen Street certainly merited such a move. However, he reiterated that the key to this process was a reduction in the numbers of buses and the time spent waiting at bus stops. Services needed to be rationalised rather than simply reduced. He was concerned that the County Council seemed determined to push this through in the absence of agreements with the bus companies and urged the Cabinet Member for Transport not to proceed with the proposals as currently drafted.
Councillor Smith endorsed the view that in principle the proposal seemed a good one but in view of the many concerns a more considered approach, based on bus quality agreements and smart ticketing, should be considered in order to achieve a real reduction in the numbers of buses, particularly empty ones. She supported resiting of certain bus stops.
Mr Howell advised that there had been and would continue to be full discussion between the County Council and the bus companies. It was important to rationalise the number of buses and the bus quality partnership together with joint ticketing remained integral to achieving real improvement. The County Council were also aware of the potential for conflict arising from roadworks in Queen Street and High Street taking place simultaneously and would do what was required to minimise disruption.
Mr Rossington stressed that conditions in Queen Street were poor and, although full pedestrianisation was not possible now, action needed to be taken now. He considered that the benefits to be gained now were worth pursuing. The removal of some stops and retention of others as suggested could be confusing and dilute the effect of the improvements being sought. Referring to concerns regarding the Turl Street bus stop he advised that that stop had formed part of the Road safety Assessment, the overall impact of which had been neutral and confirmed a commitment to provision of extra cycle racks and seating. There had been thorough consultation on the proposals and the County Council had responded to many of the responses received for example provision of a zebra crossing in Castle Street, improvements to pavements in Castle Street and reinstatement of the 300 park and ride service to Stop H1 in St Aldates.
Cabinet Member’s Comments
Councillor Hudspeth endorsed officer comments regarding the County Council’s response to public comments. He was satisfied that consultation had been robust, thanked County officers for their integrity and thoroughness during the process and referred to the considerable levels of support for the Transform Oxford Vision.
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:
to:
(a) note the feedback received as a result of the consultation on both the Transform Oxford vision and the proposals for improvements to Queen Street;
(b) approve the principle of the relocation of bus stops from Queen Street as described in Annex 4 to the report CMDT3, incorporating the suggested changes in the same Annex and to authorise the Head of Transport in consultation with the cabinet Member for Transport to decide on any bus stop changes as part of the detailed design;
(c) approve for implementation the scheme design for Queen Street as set out in Annex 4 to the report CMDT3, incorporating the suggested changes highlighted in the same annex as a result of the consultation, and any further changes arising from detailed design and safety audits;
(d) authorise the Head of Transport in consultation with the cabinet Member for Transport to decide on implementation of a raised zebra crossing at the corner of Castle Street and New Road as shown in Annex 7 to the report CMDT3.
Signed ...................................................................... Cabinet Member for Transport
Date ………………………………….
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