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ITEM EX29

EXECUTIVE – 19 MARCH 2002

PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FACILITIES, VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Report by Director of Environmental Services

1. This report considers the progress on new pedestrian crossings, including the results of consultation where appropriate, on Wallingford Road, Goring; Eastern Bypass, Thame; Charlton Road, Wantage, Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford; Banbury Road, Bicester; and Bridge Street, Witney

A: Wallingford Road, Goring

2. Goring Parish Council requested the provision of a pedestrian crossing on B4009 Wallingford Road, which runs north/south through Goring, effectively splitting the village in two. Based on our site observations and comments from the Parish, a location was identified in the vicinity of Milldown Avenue where pedestrians regularly cross Wallingford Road to access shopping areas and the local School. There is a footway on the west side of Wallingford Road coming from the High Street which is used by northbound pedestrians but ends before reaching the school or shops further north. The footway continues on the east side, and we propose to provide a crossing to link these two footways. A location plan is available in the Members' Resource Centre.

Consultation

3. A consultation exercise was carried out in February 2002, including site notices posted near the proposed crossing, and letters and plans sent to the Parish Council, the Local County Councillor and Thames Valley Police Traffic Management Section. Plans were also available for inspection at Goring Library. One household was consulted directly, as their property adjoins Wallingford Road in the area controlled by the crossing (but with access only to Milldown Avenue).
4. Thirteen responses were received in objection to the proposed Pelican crossing. Two were received in favour, from the Parish Council and the local County Councillor. A summary of the objections received, and my comments on them, is in the Members' Resource Centre.

Taking into consideration the comments of the local residents, we will re-consult on the possibility of providing a Zebra crossing at this location, rather than the Pelican Crossing originally proposed.

B: Eastern Bypass, Thame

5. Sustrans have constructed a cycle route from Princes Risborough to Thame along the route of the disused railway. When the route reaches Thame it crosses the Howland Road at a disused level crossing. Sustrans wish to install a Toucan Crossing at this point to take the cyclists over the road. A location plan is available in the Members' Resource Centre.
6. At present the speed limit on the Howland Road is 50mph. The speed limit must be a maximum of 40mph in order for the crossing to be installed. Consultation regarding the reduction of the speed limit is being carried out at present, and any adverse response will be reported to a future meeting of the Executive.

  Consultation

7. Consultation on the crossing proposal was carried out between 13 January 2002 and 13 February 2002. Notices were put up on site and letters were sent out to the Emergency Services, the District and Town Councils, and the local Member.
8. No objections were received during the consultation period, and I propose that installation of the Toucan crossing should proceed, subject to the speed limit being reduced from 50mph to 40mph.

C: Charlton Road, Wantage

9. It was originally proposed that a Pelican Crossing be installed approximately 65m from the Lark Hill mini-roundabout at the eastern end of Charlton Road. A period of consultation was carried out during August 2001, but it became clear that the majority of pedestrians would not use a crossing in this location as most cross the Charlton Road close to the mini-roundabout.
10. Babtie Group were therefore instructed to investigate the feasibility of installing a crossing closer to the mini-roundabout approximately 15m away from the junction with Lark Hill. It was decided that the best option was to go for a Zebra Crossing, as installing a signalised crossing could be dangerous since a green light might be mistaken as giving priority to go straight over the roundabout. A location plan is available in the Members' Resource Centre.

Consultation

11. A period of public consultation on the Zebra crossing is being carried out at the time of writing this report. The consultation involves site notices and letters to the Emergency Services, the Town and District Councils, and the Local Member. The consultation will be completed on 8 March 2002.
12. No objections have been received so far. Any objections received by the end of the consultation period will be reported. I propose that the Executive authorises the installation of the Zebra Crossing, subject to the consideration of any objections received.

D: Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford

13. On 24 August 2000 the Highways & Road Safety Sub-Committee allocated £280,000 within the 2001/02 Supplementary Transport Capital Programme for the provision of new pelican crossing at a number of potential sites, depending on detailed assessment and consultation, including Blackbird Leys Road in Oxford. While initial assessment has identified a number of local amenities that could encourage pedestrian activities in this area, it has not been possible to identify a suitable location for a new crossing because of the character of this long length of road. Blackbird Leys Parish Council have recently been contacted to see if they can help identify where a new crossing would be most needed, and have suggested a new Pelican Crossing in place of existing road islands, but away from the local facilities identified in our assessment work. Further work will therefore be undertaken to see if a new crossing would be justified at the Parish’s Council’s preferred location.

E: Banbury Road, Bicester

14. Investigations and consultations have been carried out on the provision of a Toucan crossing on Banbury Road, Bicester, in the area south of Stable Road. This crossing is to be funded by contributions from the developers of nearby Bure Park. There has been significant difficulty finding a site that can provide a safe facility, while not adversely affecting access to adjacent properties and the local environment (in particular hedgerow and trees that are subject to a preservation order).
15. I had intended to report to this meeting the feedback from further consultation on this crossing. However, we now propose to review this location in terms of the current Integrated Transport Study for Bicester, especially the possibility of relocating the crossing further southwards on Banbury Road and providing additional links to the off-road pedestrian/cycle network, both existing and proposed. This work is in hand, and I will report any adverse responses to further consultations to a future meeting of the Executive.

F: Bridge Street, Witney

16. An assessment was carried out for a Pelican Crossing half-way up Bridge Street, Witney, which concluded that the site was unsuitable for a crossing as the amount of pedestrians trying to cross the road at this point was low and signals would potentially cause existing traffic problems on Bridge Street to worsen.
17. A survey of Bridge Street was then carried out to check exactly where people did cross the road. The results of this survey are available in the Member's Resource Centre. It shows that the majority of pedestrians cross at the junction with Mill Street, rather than on Bridge Street. A plan of the area is also in the Members’ Resource Centre.
18. The pedestrian flow across Bridge Street is currently relatively low. However two new footpaths are planned which will lead to Bridge Street, one at the Wesley Barell entrance on the western side of the road, and another through the industrial estate on the eastern side of the road. The footpath on the western side is not likely to generate a larger pedestrian flow than present, but the path on the eastern side is for leisure purposes and could possible generate a larger flow. With this in mind, I propose to keep this location under review for the time being, so that we can monitor how the pedestrian flow develops in this area, and if a new pedestrian crossing is warranted we will report this to a future meeting of the Executive.

Financial and Staff Implications

19. The proposed crossings in Jubilee Way, Didcot, Wallingford Road, Goring, and Charlton Road, Wantage will all be funded from the current Transport Capital Programme. The design and construction of the crossing proposed on Eastern Bypass in Thame will be funded by Sustrans.
20. The design and construction supervision of these crossings will be carried out by our consultants, Babtie Group, except the crossing on Eastern Bypass in Thame, where Sustrans have appointed Glanville Consultants Ltd. There are no other significant staff implications

RECOMMENDATIONS

21. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:-

1. authorise the detailed design and provision of a Zebra Crossing or Pelican Crossing on Wallingford Road, Goring, as discussed in the report, subject to Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and the Local Member considering any objections or other representations and determining any consequential action;
2. approve the detailed design and construction of a Pelican Crossing on Eastern Bypass, Thame, as discussed in the report, subject to the implementation of a 40 mph speed limit on this section of road;
3. approve the detailed design and construction of a Zebra Crossing on Charlton Road, Wantage, as discussed in the report, subject to the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and the Local Member, considering any objections or other representations made during the final stages of the consultation and determining any consequential action;
4. note the position regarding the crossings at Blackbird Leys, Bicester and Witney.

March 2002

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