Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/035

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

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

The report summarises the formal consultation undertaken on the proposed amendments to traffic regulation orders, bus stop clearways and provision of new zebra crossings in association with Queen Street, Oxford. The consultation took place between 15 September and 14 October 2016. 

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED:

(a)             not to approve the proposals as advertised;

(b)             instruct officers to report to a future Cabinet Member Decisions meeting a proposal for an experimental closure of Queen Street to buses and taxis which addresses the concerns about conditions in St Aldates and High Street raised during the recent consultation and which does not rely on the bus turning facility at Worcester Street; and

(c)             to note the City Council’s and COLTA’s latest correspondence in relation to the decision made at Cabinet Member Decisions on 21 July 2016 regarding changes to TROs for Castle Street, Norfolk Street and Speedwell Street as part of the Westgate centre development and confirm that this does not alter the decision made.

Approved

Subject to ratification by full Cabinet on 20 December to approve a proposal that Queen Street remain open as it was before the Westgate redevelopment with a review after 6 months.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE5) a report which summarised a formal consultation on proposed amendments to traffic regulation orders, Bus stop clearways and provision of new zebra crossings in association with Queen Street, Oxford and the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre.

Sarah Lazenby highlighted difficulties for the elderly and vulnerable and stressed that traffic and planning should take account of this and that perhaps the County Council should appoint a specific and dedicated champion for this sort of work to evaluate proposals.  Moving bus stops further away and beyond the recommended minimum distance was against agreed policy and the proposals were not inclusive for all sections.

Karen Bell expressed concern that this was a sustrans route and it now seemed that cyclists would be prevented from travelling through Queen street between 10 am and 6 pm with no alternative safe east west route through Oxford.  Shared systems for pedestrians and cyclists worked elsewhere and she could see no reason why that wouldn’t be the case in Oxford.  Queen street was wide enough and a joined up transport policy was required.

Simon Hunt spoke as chair of Cyclox and against the  terms of paragraph 30 in the officers report that no further consideration be given tyo changes in cycle access until the question of bus access had been fully resolved..  Originally the proposal had suggested access for cycles for 24 hours but this recommendation if agreed went against County Council policy to encourage pedestrian and cycle activity on what had been identified as a cycle super route; it ignored the majority view from the consultation and would lead to 55 extra buses on St Aldates which made that area more dangerous for cyclists and other road users.  He urged that the original proposal be approved on the basis of an 18 month experimental period.

Sajjad Khan considered that the 107 licensed cabs should be given access through the route and particularly at peak times 8 – 10 am and 4 – 8 pm 7 days a week initially as an experiment.  Secondly Queen street was necessary for cabs to operate effectively in the Queen street and Cornmarket areas.  COLTA were happy to work with the County Councilto progress these issues.

Responding to a question from the Cabinet Member Mr Khan confirmed that the rank at Carfax was available in the evenings and 24 hours on Sundays.

Martin Sutton advised that removal of buses from Queen Street would quite simply be unmanageable and impact heavily on St Aldates, High Street and Speedwell Street. The new development would indeed attract more pedestrians but as many of those would arrive by bus access to Queen Street needed to be retained. Nothing had changed since 2009 when Bonn Square had been closed. That hadn’t worked then and emphasising that bus operators were practical people he was confident safety concerns could be dealt with and urged that buses be allowed to continue to use Queen Street if only for a trial period.

Phil Southall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94