Decision details

To reconsider strategic route speed limits following local concerns to original proposals

The Chair invited speakers to address the meeting and responded to their points in turn.

Officers noted points surrounding the coherence of having a small stretch of 20mph speed limits outside of the school mentioned in addresses by speakers.

The Chair clarified with officers that recommendations a) to d) were designed to address concerns on the ‘through-routes’ raised when the scheme was deferred at the Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport Management meeting in January 2024.

Officers noted that the recommended length of speed limits was 300 metres, but that there were some exceptions and that if 20mph speed limits were to be introduced on an ‘A’ road, signage would have to be illuminated.

There were discussions between officers about the implications of cost in delivering the set policies of the County Council and it was felt that local expertise from the local County Councillor would be useful in making judgments on this specific point.

The Chair noted that the proposal had to be introduced in a holistic way to link in with other policies put forward by the County Council.

The Chair referenced the change in Welsh government guidance on 20mph schemes to involve local authorities as vindication of the scheme working well in Oxfordshire with the involvement of local County Councillors and parish/town councils.

The Chair asked for officers to keep recommendation f) closely under review and to liaise with the school.

The Chair thanked speakers for their contributions, thanked officers for their work and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the introduction of 20mph speed limits in Banbury as advertised with the exception of the lengths of roads set out below:

a)     The A361 North Bar Street, Horsefair and South Bar Street between their junctions with the B4100 Warwick Road and A361 Bloxham Road,

b)    The A4260 Upper Windsor Street, Windsor Street and Cherwell Street between their junctions with Swan Close Road and Bridge Street,

c)     Castle Street and Cherwell Drive between their junctions with the A361 North Bar Street and the A4260 Concorde Avenue,

d)     Hightown Road and Swan Close Road between their junctions with Bankside and the A4260 Upper Windsor Street,

e)     A361 Bloxham Road – the 40m length immediately southwest of its junction with the A361 South Bar Street,

f)      A361 Southam Road – the 260m length immediately north of its junction with the B4100 Warwick Road,

g)     A4260 Concorde Avenue – the 65m length immediately north of its junction with Bridge Street,

h)     B4100 Oxford Road – the 190m length immediately south of its junction with A361 South Bar Street,

i)       Bankside – the 30m length immediately east of its junction with Hightown Road,

j)       Bridge Street – the 125m length immediately east of its junction with the A4260 Upper Windsor Street.