Issue - meetings
Woodcote: Proposed 20 mph Speed Limits
Meeting: 27/04/2023 - Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Highway Management (Item 88)
88 Woodcote - proposed 20mph speed limits 
PDF 2 MB
Contact: Geoff Barrell, Developer Schemes Coordinator and 20 Limits Project Manager.
Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM 15).
To consider proposed 20mph speed limits.
Decision:
The Leader of the Council APPROVED the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits as advertised.
Minutes:
Cllr Andrew Gant declared an interest in Item 15 of the agenda.
The Leader of the Council chaired the item.
The report presented responses to a statutory consultation on the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits in Woodcote as shown in Annex 1 of the report.
This scheme was originally considered in March, but decision was deferred to enable further discussions with bus operators to address their concerns. The discussions confirmed the acceptability to all parties of the original proposals.
The Leader welcomed the number of responses to the consultation and noted that most were in favour of the scheme. Over 50% of people stated that if the scheme was introduced they would walk and cycle more.
The Leader noted the objection from Thames Travel Bus Company and officers confirmed that they had engaged with the bus operator on the design of the scheme.
The Leader of the Council APPROVED the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits as advertised.
Meeting: 23/03/2023 - Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Highway Management (Item 73)
73 Woodcote: Proposed 20 mph Speed Limits PDF 2 MB
Contact: Geoff Barrell, Developer Schemes Coordinator and 20 Limits Project Manager.
Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM 20).
To consider proposed 20mph speed limits.
Decision:
The Cabinet Member for Highway Management agreed to DEFER a decision on the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits so that officers could conduct further conversations and engagement with bus companies.
Minutes:
The report presented responses to a statutory consultation on the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits in Woodcote.
The Chair noted that Thames Travel Bus Company objected to the introduction of 20mph speed limits on the B471 Oxford Road and on the Reading Road from the east of the village to its junction with Greenmore, citing the lack of active frontages on these sections. The bus company was concerned that this would encourage or lead to frequent and planned mixing between vulnerable road users and motorised traffic and that maintaining the 30mph limit would provide a buffer between the national speed limit and the 20mph limit.
Given its rural location just off the A4074 and the distances involved on the Oxford – Wallingford – Woodcote – Reading corridor, Thames Travel Bus Company believed it unlikely that cycling and walking would constitute significant mode share for journeys on this corridor. Thus, the Council should be seeking to maximise support for public transport on this corridor to help achieve decarbonisation aims.
The Chair felt that the bus company’s submission warranted further consideration and wished to defer decision on this item ideally to the 27 April 2023 meeting.
The Cabinet Member for Highway Management agreed to DEFER a decision on the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits so that officers could conduct further conversations and engagement with bus companies.