Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/159

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE5).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to provide raised side road entry treatments across Oakthorpe Road, South Parade and Thorncliffe Road immediately east of their junctions with the A4144 Woodstock Road which have been put forward to improve safety of all road users in conjunction with a planned major maintenance scheme on this length of the Woodstock Road. 

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposals to provide raised side road entry treatments across Oakthorpe Road, South Parade and Thorncliffe Road immediately east of their junctions with the A4144 Woodstock Road as advertised.

Approve proposals with regard to Oakthorpe Road and Thorncliffe Road but defer South Parade proposals for further consultation should they be progressed at a later date.

The Cabinet Member for Environment (CMDE5) considered responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to provide raised side road entry treatments across Oakthorpe Road, South Parade and Thorncliffe Road immediately east of their junctions with the A4144 Woodstock Road. The proposals had been put forward to improve safety for all road users in conjunction with a planned major maintenance scheme on this length of the Woodstock Road. 

Simon Hunt for Cyclox pointed out that LTP4 recognised Woodstock Road as a cycle super route and as such all local schemes should in some way contribute to and support that aspiration. However, in reality, these proposals, particularly those for South Parade fell short of that. Cyclox had submitted a number of suggestions all of which had been largely ignored and they disagreed that these proposals supported the aims of LTP4 or represented good value for money.

Mr Kirkwood confirmed that since writing the report costs had increased and it was now proposed that the proposals should only cover Oakthorpe Road and Thorncliffe Road with a recommendation that the element for South Parade should not proceed. Explaining that although there was some scope for tightening the South Parade there were limitations on what could be done due to insufficient width and that meant that any major works would require costly kerb realignment and readjustments to the bus lane.

Referring to an email from Councillor Paul Buckley’s expressing general approval for the scheme he confirmed that Beech Croft Road, Bainton Road and Moreton Road did have similar side road entry treatments.

Acknowledging the concerns expressed by Cyclox he considered those as being more of a wish list for further consideration rather than an objection.

The Cabinet Member accepted the recommendation from officers to remove the South Parade element of the scheme for the reasons set out above namely cost increases and issues regarding the bus lane. However, she felt that that part of the scheme merited further consultation and therefore, having regard to the information set out in the report before her and the representations made to her at the meeting confirmed her decision as follows:

to approve proposals to provide raised side road entry treatments across Oakthorpe Road and Thorncliffe Road but defer the proposals for South Parade for further consultation.

Signed……………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing………………………….