Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/034

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

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Commercial) (CMDE5).

The report presents comments and an objection received in the course of a statutory consultation on a revised proposal to introduce a signal controlled pedestrian crossing on the A4260 Oxford Road near the junction with Broad Gap, Bodicote. The original proposal for a crossing south of the Broad Gap junction had been developed during the planning of the Bankside/Longford Park residential development.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the construction of acrossing south of the Broad Gap junction. 

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE5) comments received including one objection received to a statutory consultation on a revised proposal to introduce a signal controlled pedestrian crossing on the A4260 Oxford road near the junction with Broad Gap, Bodicote. The original proposal for a crossing south of the Broad Gap junction had been developed during the planning of the Bankside/Longford Park residential development.

Mr Kirkwood confirmed that Bodicote parish council preferred siting of the crossing to the north of the junction but officers felt the crossing as proposed best met the primary reason for pedestrian safety. He confirmed that the island to the north would be retained.

The Cabinet Member advised that he had approached the local member for comments but had had no response. Therefore having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him and the further considerations set out above he confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve construction of a crossing south of the Broad Gap junction as set out in the report CMDE5.

Signed……………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing………………………….

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/034

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

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CMDE6).

The report considers objections and comments received during the formal consultation on proposals to introduce a new pedestrian crossing on the A4260 Oxford Road at Broad Gap in Bodicote.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposal described in this report as advertised.

Deferred to enable further consultation on provision of a crossing on an alternative site north of Broad Gap in the vicinity of the current informal crossing point

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE6) objections and comments received to a formal consultation on proposals to install a new pedestrian crossing on the A4260 Oxford Road at Broad Gap in Bodicote.

Councillor Arash Fatemian supported provision of a crossing but further to the north, which was where residents currently crossed.  It was important to consider broader developments and increased traffic flows and as there were currently delays at Broad Gap he was concerned that removing the slip road and moving the bus stop, as currently proposed, would exacerbate that problem.  He had issues with the line taken by officers in paragraph 10 of the report insofar as there was a natural exit at the north western corner of the new development on Canal Lane which supported the view of the parish council regarding installation of a crossing to the north of Broad Gap in the vicinity of the current informal crossing. He also questioned the concerns expressed regarding visibility issues coming out of Broad Gap. There was indeed a compelling case for a crossing but not at its current siting and he was convinced that the needs of people would be better served if it was sited further north at the existing informal crossing and that a case should be worked up for that to be considered.

Mr Tole agreed that it seemed to make sense to use funding to improve the current line but that was not part of the agreed. There was clearly a demand to exit in the north-west corner and then down Broad Gap, which provided the shortest distance from the new development.  Consultation could be undertaken on the option north of Broad Gap but there could lead to some objections due to the fact that that siting would involve more frontages plus potentially additional problems arising from the loss of grass verge and footway. Costs would be irrelevant as those would be borne by the developer.

The Cabinet Member for Environment appreciated the benefits of the shorter line but there was also some reluctance on his part to go against the views of the parish council.  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 he confirmed his decision as follows:

To defer consideration of the proposal to provide a crossing on the A4260 Oxford Road at Broad Gap in Bodicote to enable further consultation to be undertaken on provision of a crossing on an alternative site north of Broad Gap in the vicinity of the current informal crossing point

Signed……………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Dated………………………………..