Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2013/069

Contact: Jim Daughton, Highways & Transport Manger Tel: (01865) 815083

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy - Commercial & Delivery (CMDE4).

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered a proposal to make a permanent traffic regulation order prohibiting right turns into and out of Collinwood Road in the light of comments received to a public consultation following an experimental order which closed the gap in the central reservation of the A40 and the Collinwood Road junction.

Mr Taylor supported action  but the aspiration remained very much a junction as had been provided at Kiln Lane.  There had been discussion regarding this and if funds were to become available could this restriction be lifted at a future date and a light controlled junction installed.  He also requested that the turn into the estate from Wheatley be widened.  Although no accidents had bee recorded here he had personally witnessed a bus clipping the end of a car at this point.

Councillor Roz Smith agreed that a safe entry and exit was required and she regretted that some of the capital funding spent on the Abingdon Road roundabout had not been directed here and a safe crossing was needed. If lights could not be provided then at least a sign warning that pedestrians were crossing should be provided as most cars were speeding at this point. Possibly consideration could now be given to directing some of the Barton development money to providing a crossing.

City Councillor Mike Rowley advised that a recent survey had shown 200 people crossing over a 12 hour period equating to 1 every 3 ½ minutes with a concentration at either end of the day. Therefore some form of traffic control was needed urgently and there was lot of local support for a crossing.  Traffic was also accelerating at this point which was 50 meters from the change of speed limit and as a minimum signage should be provided to encourage drivers to stick to the speed limit and visibility of existing signing improved.

City Councillor Dee Sinclair referred to support expressed over recent years at County level and locally for a crossing but unfortunately the cheaper option was to closed the junction but in reality the only real safe option was to provide signals.  A recent survey had indicated 75.5% in favour of a solution other than the junction being fully open or closed.  She hoped that it would not take a fatal incident to prompt action.

County Councillor Glynis Phillips referred to local calls for the gap to be reopened.  Pressure in this area would only increase with the Barton development with a large body of support for provision of a crossing. She called for the traffic management review to be undertaken by the end of the year and opportunities taken to put this right.  She asked how permanent the restriction would be and assumed that it could be reversed if it was found that the gap could be reopened.

Mr Tole confirmed that this was a permanent restriction but if consultation was undertaken on a light controlled junction then that would also include consultation on reopening the gap  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20