Issue - meetings

Not agreed

Not agreed

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE4) a report setting out objections and other comments in response to a statutory consultation on proposed pelican crossings on the A415 Marcham Road and Ock Street, Abingdon. The proposals had arisen following an Appeal Decision made by the Planning Inspectorate on 11 July 2013 granting planning permission for a the proposed development of 159 dwellings on land adjacent to the B4017 Drayton Road in south Abingdon insofar as that decision had included a condition that no development should take place until the earlier of the following two events had taken place:

a)                 The local planning authority had received written confirmation, issued by Oxfordshire County Council, that highway alterations were to be carried out comprising the introduction of an additional crossing of Ock Street to the east of Drayton Road and the relocation of the existing crossing further west on Marcham Road.

b)                 Highway alterations had been implemented comprising the introduction of an additional crossing of Ock Street to the east of Drayton Road and the relocation of the existing crossing further west on Marcham Road and the associated traffic signals were first in operation.

The reason for this, as outlined by the Inspector and discussed in detail at the appeal, had been to avoid severe transport effects that would otherwise arise from the development.

Anthea Norman-Taylor a resident in this area suggested that this proposal had been formulated purely for traffic reasons associated with the proposed housing development and not to meet any identifiable need or provide any advantage for pedestrians. She considered the Inspector’s decision flawed and that the proposed crossing sites presented a clear and significant danger to pedestrians which she felt would inevitably result in fatalities.

Roberta Nichols (Abingdon Civic Society) pointed out that the original objection by the County Council had been based on the potential for severe traffic congestion.  There had been little success in identifying a suitable scheme to alleviate and mitigate against traffic impact and yet the Inspector had agreed this condition.  These crossings would not help the situation. However, if it was to go ahead then a trial period of say 2 weeks in school term time should be introduced.

Anne Dodd a local resident of 37 years used the crossing daily and addressed specific concerns regarding school children.  The proposed site was not on a desire line and she considered it reasonable to expect that children would not use them therefore increasing the risk of accidents. She was familiar with traffic modelling but residents were all to aware of the problems this would cause.

Roger Bush considered the proposals flawed.  The roads were already subject to an unacceptable level of queuing and the only conclusion to be drawn was that that situation would worsen if these proposals went ahead. Air pollution levels would also increase and he questioned whether there these had been adequately considered.

Councillor Samantha Bowring (Abingdon Town Council) referred to the work previously undertaken to mitigate the effects of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16