Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Transport Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/287

Contact: Jacqui Cox, Infrastructure Locality Lead – Cherwell & West Oxfordshire (Jacqui.Cox@oxfordshire.gov.uk) and Colm McAllister, Senior Transport Planner (Colm.McAllister@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director of Environment and Highways (CMDTMT5).

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Approve in principle the preferred scheme to take forward into the preliminary and detailed design stage for the Cherwell Street Bus Service Improvement Scheme.

The Chair introduced the item to the meeting, invited public speakers to make their addresses and responded to their points in turn.

Following a question from the Chair, officers explained that the plans accompanying the initial bid to the Department for Transport had been altered slightly due to the benefits not working as expected on the corner of Cherwell Street and George Street.

The Chair confirmed with officers that this was termed as a ‘virtual bus lane’.

Officers noted that the regeneration of Canal Street, to the east of Cherwell Street, would provide further opportunities in this area. The Chair agreed and stated that this scheme had to be seen in the wider traffic management plan for Banbury, rather than in isolation.

The Chair noted that further formal consultation would be undertaken once the design is finalised.

Officers noted different options that had been put forward, but that the ‘virtual bus lane’ approach was the one taken forward and they confirmed that money was not being taken out of the scheme.

The Chair noted support outlined in the report from consultees for the core objectives of the scheme, which was welcomed.

The Chair encouraged residents to keep in touch with the County Council with any concerns they may have.

The Chair thanked officers and speakers and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

a)    Approve in principle the preferred scheme to take forward into the preliminary and detailed design stage for the Cherwell Street Bus Service Improvement Scheme.