ITEM CMDT3
CABINET MEMBER DECISIONS (TRANSPORT) – 26 MARCH 2009
BANBURY, MERTON STREET: ONE-WAY STREET SYSTEM
Report by Head of Transport
Introduction
1. The current experimental one-way street system in part of Merton Street, part of Back Edward Street and Junction Road was introduced on 1 September 2008. The intention was to consider public responses made in the first six months (which ended on 28 February 2009) and to make the one-way street system permanent if there was sufficient support for it.
2. Public consultation was undertaken In January 2009 to encourage comment. This report describes the background to the proposals, summarises responses to the public consultation and recommends that the one-way street system be made permanent. The report also recommends the implementation of associated desirable measures.
Background
3. In 2007 the Middleton Road / Merton Street junction was improved and traffic signals installed to improve safety for pedestrians crossing the roads and provide for the increasing traffic due to new development. As part of this the access to/from Causeway at the junction was closed.
4. Because of major redevelopment taking place immediately south of Merton Street, including the new Dashwood Primary School, a working party comprising members and officers of the County Council, District Council and Town Council was set up by the Banbury Traffic Advisory Committee to consider appropriate measures for Merton Street and Back Edward Street.
5. It was clear that a one-way street system was desirable, because Back Edward Street north of Merton Street was narrow and had no footway. There was congestion at busy periods in Merton Street, particularly between Junction Road and Back Edward Street. Public consultation was undertaken in March 2008 on four options drawn up by the Working Party. Many of the responses were opposed to any one-way streets. However, it was decided to introduce the current experimental one-way street system (shown at Annex 1) (download as .doc file), as there was more support for this than for the other options.
6. The experimental one-way system was introduced on 1 September 2008. In Back Edward Street, barriers were erected on the east side to segregate pedestrians and vehicles and provide a temporary footway.
Public Consultation
7. As the experimental one-way street system has now been in force for over six months, there was no statutory need for further public consultation. However, it was decided to encourage public comment by writing to local residents and other interested parties.
8. In January 2009, letters were sent to representative organisations, the emergency services, elected representatives and also to approximately 800 local homes and businesses. A total of 22 responses were received. 10 (including the Police and the District and Town Councils) were in favour of the one-way system becoming permanent, 6 were against, 4 were neutral, and 2 (including Dashwood Primary School, which was generally in favour) were in favour of an extension of the experimental period so that supporting measures and extensions could be considered.
9. The responses are summarised and tabulated at Annex 2 (download as .doc file). The responses themselves are available in the Members’ Resource Centre.
Proposed additional measures for the Permanent One-way street system
10. The Working Party, referred to in Paragraph 4, met on site on 26 January 2009 to review the responses and to agree measures to enhance the one-way street scheme and increase safety. If the one-way street system is made permanent, the following measures (Annex 3) (Annexes 3 & 4 - download as .doc file) will be implemented:
(a) A permanent footway on the east side of Back Edward Street from the Causeway junction to opposite the south corner of the Merton Street junction.
(b) Sharpening of the corners adjacent to the No Entry signs at the ends of Back Edward Street and Merton Street, in order to make illegal left turns into those streets difficult.
(c) Build-out of the footway on the western corner of Junction Road into Merton Street, with bollards on the build-out, in order to prevent illegal parking. (Buses on the B7 route turn right from Junction Road into Merton Street, which is difficult when there is illegal parking close to the corner).
(d) Additional road marking (“Ahead Only”) to reinforce the “No Entry” message at the locations in (b) and (c).
(e) An extension of the existing footway on the west side of Back Edward Street, northwards to link up with the footway at the south corner of the Merton Street junction. (This particular measure would be appropriate even without the one-way street system).
11. Some of the respondents (Ref Nos 10, 11, 13, 18 and 19) asked for extensions to the double yellow lines, i.e. a “No Waiting” Order, on additional lengths of road. Two locations have been identified by the Working Party where an extension would be advantageous yet would incur almost no loss of parking space. One is in the two-way section of Merton Street, the other is in Back Edward Street. They are shown at Annex 4. The Orders needed for these will be consulted on and it is suggested that the Head of Transport be authorised in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport.
12. Five of the 22 respondents (Ref Nos 7, 10, 13, 19 and 22) asked for the one-way street system to be extended to the whole of Merton Street east of Gasworks Road junction, with Causeway becoming one-way in the opposite direction, and the Causeway junction with Middleton Road re-opened. However, that would reduce the efficiency of the Middleton Road/Merton Street junction traffic signals, causing severe delays and widespread congestion at peak periods and therefore is not recommended.
How the project supports LTP Objectives
13. The one-way street system and the additional measures reduce congestion, reduce air pollution and enhance both accessibility and safety for pedestrians, particularly children going to and from school.
Financial and Staff Implications
14. Finance is available from the funds provided under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act by the developers of the land to the south of Merton Street. The cost of making the permanent One-way Street Order would be approximately £3,000. The construction cost of the additional measures listed in Paragraph 10 would be approximately £24,000. The cost of making the “No Waiting” Orders referred to in Paragraph 11 would be approximately £5,000. The work required for all of these can be accommodated within existing staff resources in Oxfordshire Highways and the County Council’s Legal Unit.
RECOMMENDATIONS
15. The Cabinet Member for Transport is RECOMMENDED to approve:
(a) that the experimental one-way street Order be made permanent;
(b) implementation of the supporting measures listed in paragraph 10 (a) to (e) and shown at Annex 3 to this report; and
(c) implementation of the “Prohibition of Waiting” Orders referred to in paragraph 11 and shown in Annex 4 (Annexes 3 & 4 - download as .doc file) to this report, subject to the Head of Transport being authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, to consider any objections received.
STEVE HOWELL Head of Transport Environment & Economy
Background papers: Consultation documentation and responses.
Contact Officer: David Deriaz telephone: 01865 815666
February 2009
|