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ITEM EX27

HANWELL FIELDS CYCLE NETWORK - BANBURY

1. This report discusses the proposed Hanwell Fields Cycle Network, linking the new Hanwell Fields Housing Development to Banbury Town Centre, and also discusses the results of the recent consultation on the B4100 Warwick Road Toucan Crossing.

Background

2. A 900 unit housing development is currently being constructed to the north of Banbury, which also includes a school. Funding from this development has been secured to improve the existing transportation infrastructure in the north Banbury area; the first call on this funding is improved cycling provision.
3. Based on the Oxfordshire Cycling Strategy a cycle network has been developed linking the new Hanwell Fields development to the Town Centre, with additional links to schools, shops and industrial areas in the Hardwick and Ruscote areas.

Programme

4. Much of this network is still in the preliminary design stage and can only be built in stages, as it is tied to the release of funds from the developer. The works are therefore programmed over a two to three year period. The phasing is shown in Annex 1, and a more detailed plan will be displayed at the meeting.
5. Phase 1 of the network is to provide a link from the west of the new development to Drayton School and an improved link to the Cherwell Walk (the Old Ironstone Mineral Railway), in the form of a ramp. This phase includes a Toucan crossing on the B4100 Warwick Road. (See Annex 2.) Consultations have already been carried out and the responses are discussed below.
6. Phase 2 will provide the main arterial link from the new development to the Town Centre. Included are two new Toucan crossings, one across Longelandes Way and another across Ruscote Avenue. Also included will be the upgrade of existing footpaths and footways to a suitable shared use standard, and short sections of new foot/cycle track. Many of these paths are already maintainable highways but some existing and new paths are within the ownership of Cherwell District Council or Banbury Town Council. Permission is currently being sought to convert them to shared pedestrian/cycle use.
7. Phase 3 will be the provision of tributary links from the new development and existing centres to the arterial route and new provisions from the east side of the development on Southam Road North to the new cycle provisions on Southam Road south.

Phase 1 Consultation

8. Consultation on the Toucan crossing and the associated footway conversion order consisted of a letter drop and street notices. Approximately 200 frontagers were contacted, resulting in six responses. Of these six responses there were five letters of support, all of which advocated the improved cycle facilities, with only one response objecting. This one objection was concerned that the new cycling facilities would not be used and therefore the cost of the scheme could not be justified. Further discussion on additional points raised by the frontagers can be seen in Annex 3.
9. Three further responses received from Thames Valley Police, Banbury Town Council and Cherwell District Council raised no objection. They did however raise some additional points, ie that the Toucan should be moved closer to Drayton School and the 30mph speed limit should be extended to the new roundabout at the Hanwell Fields Access.
10. This is discussed in Annex 3, but to summarise, the Toucan is proposed to be located to cater for the desire line from the estates north of Cherwell Walk and as a safer alternative to the subway. The 30mph speed limit will be considered during the review of speed limits in Banbury.

Financial and Staff Implications

11. The Hanwell Fields cycle network works are mainly to be funded from developer contributions from the housing development. A sum of £55,000 is included in the 2001/02 capital programme for the Ruscote Avenue Toucan and works south of Ruscote Avenue. The promotion of these works can be accommodated within existing staff resources and design will be carried out by the term consultant (Babtie).

RECOMMENDATIONS

12. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. authorise implementation of the proposals as described in the report and shown in Annexes 1 and 2, subject to the Director of Environmental Services in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and relevant local member(s) considering any representations arising from consultations on elements of the proposals yet to be undertaken and deciding whether modifications should be made to the proposals as a result;
2. authorise the conversion of the lengths of footways required for implementation of the proposals described in the report to shared use footway/cycle track, under Sections 66(4) and 65(1) of the Highways Act, 1980.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Contact Officer: Mike Wasley Tel: Oxford 810464

27 February 2002

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