Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/142

Contact: Jim Daughton,  Service Manager, Delivery

Tel: 01865 812083

Report by Deputy Director of Environment and Economy - Commercial & Delivery (CMDE6).

The report details the results of a public consultation on the proposal to implement cycle facilities on London Road, Headington, between Wharton Road and Stile Road. 

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the conversion of the two Pelican crossings to toucan crossings at Barton Road and outside St. Andrews School and the conversion of the length of footway to shared use facility as shown in Annex 1 to the report (drawing number: S-000942/CON/000/001/REV1) and to progress to its delivery in 2014/15.

Deferred

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE6) results of a public consultation on a proposal to implement cycle facilities on London Road, Headington, between Wharton Road Stile Road.

He acknowledged receipt of emails from local County Councillor Roz Smith, the Head teacher and Chair of Governors at St Andrew’s school all of which had supported calls for the scheme to be deferred pending further information  specifically citing concerns relating to the need for a safety audit; lack of information regarding pedestrian flows and current cycle numbers; volume of traffic on London Road through Headington and dangers presented by a dropped kerb and the main vehicle entrance to St Andrews School.

Mr Tole accepted there remained a great deal of concern regarding levels of interaction outside the school between cyclists and children. That had led to a revised proposal as set out in Annex 1 to the report but the local councillor and the school were still concerned regarding these issues.  Those problems obviously existed at the beginning and end of each school day and needed to be balanced against the desire to improve provision for cyclists on an extremely busy section of road. The proposal was to provide a narrower cycle lane with a wider pedestrian area to offer preference to the latter.  The Cabinet Member was being asked to consider the principle of the scheme but officers would be happy to discuss matters of detail with the parties concerned. Confirming there was not enough space to provide a segregated facility along the whole length he felt the scheme would be beneficial but that if it didn’t proceed then cyclists could be exposed to conflict with buses. 

Responding to Councillor Sanders he confirmed there would be further consideration regarding detailed design, which could include possible provision of a ‘cyclists dismount’ sign to encourage cyclists to stop further east.

The Cabinet Member for Environment accepted there was a balance to be struck between the safety for cyclists and children but was not yet convinced that this scheme met all the concerns which had been expressed.  Therefore, 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 confirmed his decision as follows:

to defer consideration of the proposal for conversion of two Pelican crossings to toucan crossings at Barton Road and outside St. Andrews School and conversion of the length of footway to shared use facility as shown in Annex 1 to the report CMDE6 (drawing number: S-000942/CON/000/001/REV1).