Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/083

Contact: Mark Gregory, Senior Transport Planner, 07775 007933

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM4).

The School Streets programme is part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Travel to School policy within our countywide Local Transport & Connectivity Plan. This became adopted policy following the County Council meeting on 12 July 2022. This policy contributes to our vision to make “walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice.” 

The consultation proposals seek to introduce permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for four participating schools that have been trialling School Streets under Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO), using trained volunteers to manage and enforce the temporary closures.

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposal to make permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) so we can continue the School Streets programme with participating schools in Oxfordshire from autumn 2022, these being:  

a)              the proposed ‘prohibition of motor vehicles’ restriction during the stated operational hours (i.e.: The School Street) for each of the following four schools:

·                  Oxford – Larkrise primary school

·                  Oxford – St Ebbe’s CE primary school

·                  Abingdon – St Nicolas CE primary school

·                  Oxford – Windmill primary school

b)              The proposed use of (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) ANPR cameras to enforce the temporary road closures for the ‘School Streets' during the operational hours.

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to approve the proposal to make permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) so the Council can continue the School Streets programme with participating schools in Oxfordshire from autumn 2022, these being: 

a)    The proposed ‘prohibition of motor vehicles’ restriction during the stated operational hours (i.e.: The School Street) for each of the following four schools:

·                              Oxford – Larkrise primary school

·                              Oxford – St Ebbe’s CE primary school

·                              Abingdon – St Nicolas CE primary school

·                              Oxford – Windmill primary school

b)    The proposed use of (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) ANPR cameras to enforce the temporary road closures for the ‘School Streets' during the operational hours.

The School Streets programme was part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Travel to School policy within its countywide Local Transport & Connectivity Plan. This became adopted policy following the County Council meeting on 12 July 2022. This policy has contributed to vision to make “walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice.”

The consultation proposals has sought to introduce permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for four participating schools that have been trialling School Streets under Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO), using trained volunteers to manage and enforce the temporary closures.

Cllr Andrew Gant invited the speakers to address the meeting (as per Appendix 1 of the minutes) and responded to issues and comments made by each speaker in descending order.

Cllr Gant welcomed that School Streets programme had created places where children could thrive, be healthier and happier because they were more active, enjoying improved air quality, getting a boost to confidence from Active Travel, and getting more chances to be sociable. The aim was to create an environment where people could walk, wheel, cycle, scoot, or park and walk to school with lower air pollution and traffic congestion and make the school gate environment safer for children. Cllr Gant also thanked all volunteers who took part in this programme.

Creating a car free environment would make easier and safer for people to choose to travel by foot, wheel, cycle, or scooter to school, supporting promotion of Active Travel and encouraging modal shift away from private car use for short journeys. Air quality sensors would be used to monitor air quality at School Street sites. Levels of walking, wheeling, cycling, and scooting would continue to be monitored to measure increases in modal changes and qualitative data recorded by the schools.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to approve the proposal to make permanent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) so the Council can continue the School Streets programme with participating schools in Oxfordshire from autumn 2022, these being: 

a)    The proposed ‘prohibition of motor vehicles’ restriction during the stated operational hours (i.e.: The School Street) for each of the following four schools:

·         Oxford – Larkrise primary school

·         Oxford – St Ebbe’s CE primary school

·         Abingdon – St Nicolas CE primary school

·         Oxford – Windmill primary school

b)    The proposed use of (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) ANPR cameras to enforce the temporary road closures for the ‘School Streets' during the operational hours.