Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/086

Contact: Owen Jenkins, Highways, Transport & Waste Service Manager Tel: (01865) 323304

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

The report considers objections and comments received following formal consultation on proposals to introduce new parking restrictions in two laybys on A40 between Oxford and M40 which involve the introduction of a 30 minute limit on the length of stay that vehicles can be parked in the two laybys on A40 east of Oxford.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED toapprove the proposed parking restrictions as described in this report. 

Agreed

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE4) objections and comments received in respect of a consultation on proposals to introduce new parking restrictions in two laybys on the A40 between Oxford and M40 which involved the introduction of a 30 minute limit on the length of stay that vehicles could be parked in either layby.

Councillor Purse had particular concerns regarding the eastbound layby. That had a cycle track next to it between the toilets and hedge and it was inconceivable that that could be perceived as a safe route between Oxford and Wheatley. It was clearly nothing of the sort and it was imperative that every step should be taken to prevent any such classification.  The real issue here centred on anti-social behaviour as much as anything and the only way to solve this problem would be to close the laybys as had been proposed in the past.

Mr Tole confirmed that the County Council had been approached by the police and residents of Shotover to introduce further controls at both laybys but particularly the westbound one.  Both laybys figured highly on the police radar with regard to criminal activity and by using legislation principally designed to manage highway use to manage non-highway issues that would  give the police further opportunities to visit. Closing the laybys had been considered but that could not be achieved as closure could only be undertaken on the premis that they were no longer required and that was clearly not the case here. There was also the consideration that the problem could move elsewhere.  The original proposal had been to limit waiting for one hour but as that had been changed to 30 minutes at the request of the police to presumably facilitate more regular visits it seemed reasonable therefore to expect a high degree of vigilance in enforcement.  He appreciated that whilst this was not a total solution he felt it should help the situation and it had to be remembered that the majority of use at these sites was legitimate. He confirmed that there were no plans to achieve safe route status but there were plans to clear vegetation on the westbound layby although that was not so easy to achieve on the eastbound one.

The Cabinet Member for Environment accepted that this was a mechanism to enable police to more regularly visit the site but that it was unlikely to be the end of the story.  The situation would be monitored and reviewed but in the meantime and having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him, the representations made to him and the further considerations set out above he confirmed his decision as follows:

To approve the proposed parking restrictions as described in the report CMDE4.

Signed…………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Dated……………………………………..