Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/093

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

Report by Interim Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial (CMDE8).

The report presents objections and comments received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal to amend the existing traffic calming feature on the Woodstock Road, at the eastern entrance to Stonesfield village. 

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approvethe implementation of proposal as advertised and described in the report CMDE8.

Approved

Noted that opportunities to review traffic arrangements and deliver some further measures in Stonesfield could arise if and when further developments were proposed in the village.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE8) a report presenting objections and comments received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal to amend the existing traffic calming feature on the Woodstock Road, at the eastern entrance to Stonesfield village. 

David Baldwin for Stonesfield parish council explained that Stonesfield was a medium sized village which experienced a great deal of rat running and  significant through traffic. The current system worked well with no accidents recorded over the last 5 years but these proposals to amend the existing traffic calming feature on Woodstock Road would encourage traffic to speed and had prompted a great deal of local concern.  He referred to paragraph 20 of the report which had indicated that it would be unlikely that a footpath could be provided as a charge on the development. Without that the situation created by faster moving traffic would worsen.

Mr Tole advised that the consultation had been on a proposal from the developer to reduce by ½ the size of the chicane and to install a speed cushion to enable egress from the site. It was a straight road but it was felt that drivers would slow down in order to line up with the cushion. A speed survey carried out in October had indicated the 85th percentile speed in both directions less than 34 mph with a mean average speed of 28 mph.  He recognised the concerns regarding the straight road but pointed out that most facilities were accessed from the north side where the footway existed. The highway authority had been faced with facilitating a new vehicle access for an approved residential development of 37 houses which unfortunately was not large enough to fund much of what had been suggested. However, if other development was being considered in the village that could possibly help to secure what was requested but in the meantime it was felt that vehicle activated signing and the proposed change of character around the development including provision of two street lights would encourage reasonable speeds to be maintained.

Responding to the Cabinet Member he advised that a full road hump as opposed to a cushion represented a substantial build and would need to include drainage works to avoid standing water.

Accepting the point made earlier regarding opportunities to be gained from further developments in the village the Cabinet Member considered the proposal a good compromise. Therefore having regard to the information and options set out in the report and the representations made to him at the meeting he confirmed his decision as follows:

to approveimplementation of the proposal as advertised and described in the report CMDE8 noting that opportunities to review traffic arrangements and deliver some further measures in Stonesfield could arise if and when further developments were proposed in the village.

Signed………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Dated………………………………..