Forward Plan Ref: 2022/086

Contact: Joanne Fellows, Growth Manager Central, 07990 368897

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM5).

This report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which created a gated safe area in North Parade Avenue for the community and for businesses to provide hospitality facilities to the public by prohibiting vehicles from part of the street during certain times. The scheme is supported by the North Parade Residents and Traders Association who have collaborated with the councils during the period of the order.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED:

a)              to approve making permanent the provisions of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) currently in placeto allow the current measures to continue beyond the expiry of the ETRO on 11 October 2022.

b)              to instruct officers to investigate amendments to the scheme to address some operational issues identified by respondents to the ETRO consultation and by monitoring by Oxford City Council officers, and to also explore funding options for its ongoing operation.

c)               to instruct officers to report to a future meeting the outcome of the above work and any additional consultation carried out to then allow a decision to be taken on the longer-term future of the scheme.

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to:

a)    Approve making permanent the provisions of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) currently in place to allow the current measures to continue beyond the expiry of the ETRO on 11 October 2022.

b)    Instruct officers to investigate amendments to the scheme to address some operational issues identified by respondents to the ETRO consultation and by monitoring by Oxford City Council officers, and to also explore funding options for its ongoing operation.

c)    Instruct officers to report to a future meeting the outcome of the above work and any additional consultation carried out to then allow a decision to be taken on the longer-term future of the scheme.

This report presented responses received to a statutory consultation on an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which had created a gated safe area in North Parade Avenue for the community and for businesses to provide hospitality facilities to the public by prohibiting vehicles from part of the street during certain times. The scheme was supported by the North Parade Residents and Traders Association who have collaborated with the councils during the period of the order. The provisions of the ETRO were separate to those made for the fortnightly Saturday street market, which were in place prior to the ETRO and which were planned to continue irrespective of the decision made on the latter.

Councillor Andrew Gant read out a supporting statement from the resident before commenting on some of the responses to the consultation.  

The proposals would help facilitate access to local amenities by pedestrians, improve air quality/reduce pollution, the effective and safe movement of traffic, and would help ensure that danger to road users was minimised. Any concerns received over the impact of the scheme on pedal cyclists had been included in the report.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for the Highway Management AGREED to:

a)    Approve making permanent the provisions of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) currently in place to allow the current measures to continue beyond the expiry of the ETRO on 11 October 2022.

b)    Instruct officers to investigate amendments to the scheme to address some operational issues identified by respondents to the ETRO consultation and by monitoring by Oxford City Council officers, and to also explore funding options for its ongoing operation.

c)    Instruct officers to report to a future meeting the outcome of the above work and any additional consultation carried out to then allow a decision to be taken on the longer-term future of the scheme.