Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/158

Contact: Tim Shickle, Group Manager – Traffic & Road Safety Tel: 07920 591545 / Odele Parsons, Senior Transport Planner Tel: 07974 002860

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM12).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation to introduce a shared use footway/cycle track on the south side of Corn Street at and on the approach to its roundabout junction with Ducklington Lane and forming part of the Witney 'Active Travel' improvement scheme which was consulted on in January/February 2021. Funding for the proposals has been provided by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership in support of the Department for Transport’s ‘Active Travel’ programme.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve a shared use footway/cycle track as advertised on the south side of Corn Street at and on the approach to its roundabout junction with Ducklington Lane.

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management considered (CMDHM12)  responses received to a statutory consultation to introduce a shared use footway/cycle track on the south side of Corn Street at and on the approach to its roundabout junction with Ducklington Lane and forming part of the Witney 'Active Travel' improvement scheme.

County Councillor Andrew Coles had looked carefully at the comments received and expressed his support for the scheme but wished that it would have been possible to go further with the scheme to include the five-way roundabout which was particularly hazardous for cyclists. He had hoped that the Witney Active Travel Plan would have supported further measures.  He took the opportunity to ask the Cabinet Member to consider works to complete the surfacing of Orkney Place which is in this area and help residents to see the shared cycle space as less of a priority than their road surface.

The Cabinet Member advised that he was aware of the issues in this area and understood the frustration of residents such as those in Orkney Place who saw provision of a new cycle route while the surface of their road remained poor. Unfortunately, government funding was provided for specific schemes and as such was non transferrable, although he understood that resurfacing work was scheduled.

He referred to the issue of priority at the Orkney Place junction.

Officers confirmed that the number of properties there suggested low levels of flow in and out and, therefore, levels of conflict were also likely to be low. If, however, the junction was reprioritised then extra funding would need to be found to implement that change.

As an alternative this specific issue could be looked at from a road safety budget perspective.

Having regard to the information set out in the report along with the representations made to him at the meeting the Cabinet Member for Highway Management confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve a shared use footway/cycle track as advertised on the south side of Corn Street at and on the approach to its roundabout junction with Ducklington Lane.

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Cabinet Member for Highway management

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