Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/185

Contact: Hugh Potter, Group Manager – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by Director for Community Operations (Interim) (CMDE4).

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to end the experimental order and return the road layout and signage to its original configuration as designed prior to the Walton Street closure.

To continue the experimental order with retention of current road layout and signage pending consultation and progress on a local traffic neighbourhood scheme.

In July 2020 the Cabinet Member for Environment deferred a decision on the continuation of the experimental closure pending further analysis and assessment of its impact.

However, since that decision it had been decided to reconsider the situation in the light of a number of developments namely:

·           Further traffic surveying undertaken in Walton Manor area which had found that local mitigation measures implemented to try and ease congestion for certain streets including St Bernard’s Rd during the trial had continued to be unsuccessful   The county council had confirmed Tranche 1 Covid 19 Active travel measures which included a proposal to install a temporary bus gate within the Worcester Street/Beaumont Street area, which would have the effect of restricting through traffic through the Walton Manor/Jericho area.

·           The county council was considering detailed consultation into the development of a wider Low Traffic Neighbourhood concept (LTN) through application to the Tranche 2 Covid 19 Active Travel funding.  These were for measures across the city but could include the Jericho and Walton Manor area. 

·           The need to aid local businesses in recovery after a four-month (COVID-19) period of economic uncertainty.

The report set out options and timeline for both cancellation of the order and progression of development and consultation for a potential LTN concept for the Jericho/Walton Manor area in conjunction with local residents and business groups.

Jamie Hartzell a resident of Walton Manor spoke on behalf of the Jericho Low Traffic Neighbourhood group which represented a large number of residents and businesses in the area who were firmly opposed to opening the barrier at this time. They regarded this as a hasty and poorly thought-through recommendation, should be dismissed and we should go back to the decision taken only 3 weeks ago and conduct a full and proper consultation with the community with the aim of reaching a decision before Christmas. Their understanding was that consideration was being given in part to removing the barrier because of the work they had done in developing a low traffic neighbourhood for Jericho and Walton Manor and although we suport the aims of a LTN we have always said that the barrier should remain closed until the low traffic neighbourhood had been fully designed and consulted on, and future plans and levels of investment for the area decided.  For that reason they opposed this recommendation because it would open the floodgates to traffic, without any firm commitment by the Council to developing a low traffic neighbourhood.If there was such a commitment we would expect theCabinet Member to ask if reopening the barrier fitted in with their plans but that had not happened neither had work been carried out to assess if their plans were workable. In fact, our latest meeting had been cancelled.

We understand these things take time which makes us question why the rush to open the barrier now which seemed an impetuous decision.  Also has the Council considered the impact the bus gate will have on opening the barrier? Again it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/185

Contact: Hugh Potter, Group Manager – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by Director for Community Operations (Interim) (CMDE4).

The report presents an ‘overview’ of responses received in the course of the statutory consultation following the implementation in November 2019 of an experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) prohibiting access by motor vehicles to and from Walton Street at its junction with Beaumont Street and Worcester Street in Oxford.  A determination on whether to make the experimental order permanent would typically follow promptly following the end of the formal consultation phase. However, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation and following a significant number of responses received during the formal consultation period, county council officers are recommending deferral of a decision on Walton Street until a later date recognising that a final decision on whether to make the trial closure permanent is still required before May 2021. 

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to defer a decision on the continuation of the above experimental order pending further analysis and assessment of its impact.

Approved

Speakers thanked for their contributions.  County officers to maintain contact  over the next phase prior to a decision.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered a report (CMDE4) presenting an ‘overview’ of responses received in the course of a statutory consultation following implementation in November 2019 of an experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) prohibiting access by motor vehicles to and from Walton Street at its junction with Beaumont Street and Worcester Street in Oxford.  A determination on whether to make the experimental order permanent would normally follow promptly following the end of formal consultation but in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation and following a significant number of responses received during formal consultation the Cabinet Member was being recommended to defer a decision on Walton Street until a later date while recognising that a final decision on whether to make the trial closure permanent would still be required before May 2021. 

Patrick Davey (St Bernards Road Residents) advised that the Walton Street closure had led to an extra 500-750k cars per year being ‘rat runned’ into our side-street of St Bernards Rd. Additional cars, which bumper to bumper would stretch 4-5000 miles. That is on top of what we already had, on top of what was already our fair share and taking Walton Streets fair share. Unfair indeed while at the same time traffic now using south Walton Street was zero which was quite unfair and Walton Street, the major arterial highway for entering and leaving Jericho was now a sea of unimaginable tranquillity at the expense of devastation in St Bernards Road.

You are well aware of these issues and the problems and we have appreciated your expressed sympathy and promises of mitigation. However, no mitigation has occurred. 

In light of this, I could have shouted for identical treatment as Walton Street - total closure right now for St Bernards Road. However, I have sought to have principles for traffic flow: 

1) equity with each area to take their fair share of traffic 

2) traffic to exit by the shortest route to the major roads around Jericho/Walton Manor (Beaumont St, St Giles, Woodstock Rd) 

3) no internal rat running between different areas. 

4) reduced overall traffic.

5) enhanced environment

I have met with many others throughout Walton Manor and Jericho to create plans that had community wide support and were just, equitable and sought to enhance our environment. With compromise between different streets and groups we believe a solution will be found, a just one. 

However, in the interim, we request mitigation for St Bernards Road and I am urging you today:

1.   To re-open Walton St, given the imminent bus gate.

2.   To commit the county council to implementing our mitigation in St Bernards Road within 4 or 5 weeks. 

3.   To further develop and implement the Jericho Low Traffic Neighbourhood Plans. 

I urge you to do what is right and fair and very much hope that you will be able to help us all create a wonderful environment for the future in which we all wish to live and of which we are all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3