Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/202

Contact: David Tole, Principal Engineer, Traffic & Safety Improvements Tel: (01865) 815942/Craig Rossington, Principal Transport Planner Tel: (01865 815575)

10.35 am

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Highways & Transport (CMDT5).

The Cabinet Member for Transport considered (CMDT5) responses to a formal consultation on draft traffic regulation orders for proposed controlled parking zones for the Magdalen Road (North) and Magdalen Road (South) areas.

Liz Fisher speaking on behalf of St Mary’s Road residents association referred to a legal requirement placing a duty on the highway authority to ensure safe movement of traffic.  This was not happening and the area was gridlocked.  There had been thorough consultation over 5 years and paragraph 19 of the officer report set out an extremely strong case for the North area with 73% of respondents in support and it would be irrational not to introduce the proposals for the North area especially now that a decision had been taken to introduce proposals for the Divinity Road area.

Craig Simmons advised that he had chaired 3 meetings on these proposals with a good cross section of views expressed and the responses reflected accurately the views of the people supporting introduction in Divinity Road and Magdalen Road North but not Magdalen Road South.

Dominic Woodfield considered the proposals should be rejected.  Despite a considerable lapse of time since they were first mooted there was still a huge body of objection. The scheme had been mis-sold to residents regarding minimum carriageway widths and measurements quoted in the report were wrong.  Significant material changes which were required left the proposals  open to legal challenge.

Nick Allen opposed the proposals. He considered the proposals had been badly researched and that the County Council could have come up with something more innovative, such as utilising existing resources such as alternative parking areas.  The East Oxford area was a vibrant community  and these proposals would only serve to stifle the local economy.  He was also unaware of any work having been undertaken to estimate costs of implementation or likely revenue.

David Maw, a resident of Silver Street was not a car owner but still had concerns regarding the effect of the proposals.  Suggesting that cars should park on pavements with limits placed on the number of permits for visitors would reduce the quality of life for many residents. Revised proposals should be developed which complemented the area.

Sylvia Barker a resident of Percy Street referred to a similar level of opposition to a development some 30 years previously which had seen the same level of community spirit that was being seen now in opposition to the Magdalen Road South proposals which she considered regressive and flying in the face of local opinion and the democratic process.  Limiting visitor permits was anti social, particularly for the elderly who would feel even more isolated.  It was also wrong to expect residents to pave over front gardens in order to provide additional parking and to promote footway parking.

Dennis Pratley considered that the proposals would destroy the character of East Oxford.  There was 100% opposition from local businesses none of whom had been invited to discuss the proposals with the County Council who seemed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13