Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/081

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

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

The report presents objections received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal to introduce a prohibition of driving of motor vehicles (except for access) and a prohibition of parking along a section of Meadow Lane in Oxford.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approvethe implementation of the proposal as advertised.

Agreed

The Leader of the Council considered (CMDE4) objections received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to introduce a prohibition of driving of motor vehicles (except for access) and a prohibition of parking along a section of Meadow Lane in Oxford.

Referring to past opposition to a previously proposed CPZ for this area Councillor Curran was aware that there was likely to be more support for such a scheme particularly from residents of Stratford Street, which was already overparked.  Although a number of houses on Meadow Lane had off-street parking there were some which did not and therefore it was likely if this proposal went ahead then those vehicles would be displaced, probably to Stratford Street, exacerbating the problems there. He felt any proposals for Meadow Lane should be considered as part of a proposed scheme for the area as a whole.

Responding to the Leader of the Council he confirmed that in his view residents would now favour a CPZ.

Mr Tole confirmed that the local member had also confirmed that local opinion seemed to have changed with more local support for reviving proposals for a CPZ for the Iffley Fields area. However, there was nothing programmed for that nor any developer funding available to fund any work.

Additionally he confirmed that as part of the consultation on this current proposal the County Council had contacted all residents with rear access to Stratford Street as well as residents of Meadow Lane with a reasonable level of support.  He accepted that whilst not ideal it would fix the most significant problem in that Meadow Lane was not really wide enough for any parking and help address the concerns from St Mary and St John school regarding the operation of the school and safety of pupils.

The Leader of the Council acknowledged that a CPZ would be the ideal alternative but accepted that in reality that was unlikely to happen in this case due to funding issues. He agreed with officers that it was not an option to do nothing and in view of the City Council’s support and funding for the proposal 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 implementation of the proposals for the prohibition of driving and waiting restriction in Meadow Lane, Oxford as advertised.

Signed………………………………..

Leader of the Council

Dated…………………………………