Forward Plan Ref: 2022/144

Contact: Mike Wasley, Principal Officer – Traffic and Road Safety Team (North).

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM 7).

To consider proposed traffic calming measures.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management AGREED to approve the proposed traffic calming features as advertised.

The report presented the responses received to a statutory consultation on traffic proposals comprising of the introduction of traffic calming features in the form of speed cushions and hump in The Leys, Witney. The proposals were put forward by the Witney Town Council to address anti-social behaviour, particularly in the form of vehicles speed over this short distance.

The Chair noted that this proposal had been promoted by the town council and was an excellent example of input from people with detailed local insight. 

The overriding objections to this scheme came from residents of Witney many of whom were not local to the scheme. Their objections were that traffic calming was not necessary and a waste of money. It could be surmised that they did not experience the anti-social behaviour because they did not live close to the Leys.

These concerns, along with the 59% of objections raised, were taken back to Witney Town Council which subsequently undertook a second informal consultation. Responses were taken to the Town Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee with 67.5% of respondents in favour of traffic calming. The responses and comments from Witney Town Council and the Witney Traffic Advisory Committee further supported the introduction of the traffic calming measures.

The Chair commented that this was an extremely comprehensive and detailed report.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management APPROVED the proposed traffic calming features as advertised.