Agenda item

The Local Transport Plan 3 (2011-2030) was adopted by the County Council in 2011 as a 20-year strategy for Oxfordshire’s transport system. Having an adopted Local Transport Plan and keeping it under review, is a statutory requirement on the county council, as set out in the 2000 Transport Act as amended by the 2008 Local Transport Act. It provides the framework for the county council’s transport input into the Local Development Plan process and supports our ability to secure key infrastructure projects. It underpins our capital delivery programme, and the way in which we deliver our services. Owing to the long-term nature of the Plan it was agreed as part of the approval process that it would be regularly reviewed in order to keep it up to date and relevant. Cabinet had before them a report that  updated five of the area strategies within the LTP3's implementation plan: these are for Banbury, Bicester, Carterton, Science Vale and Witney.

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment queried why there was no update for the Oxford area. He welcomed the proposal to ease traffic on the A40 near Witney and queried the timescale. He also commented on the Park & Ride at Eynsham and on the bus lane from Witney. The Leader replied that the Local Transport Plan was a strategic document and that these were particular areas in need of update now. However all areas would be updated over time. Councillor Nimmo Smith responded to the particular points made stressing that the Witney Transport Strategy provided a clear and coherent approach to the issues identified. He added that work was ongoing to formulate the Local Transport Plan 4 and that this picked up new housing numbers.

Councillor Hards, Local Councillor for Didcot West, welcomed the large scale plans included but asked that the small schemes that made a difference to local people not be forgotten. He highlighted the impact of the continued development of Great Western Park over the next 15-20 years and that small highway improvement and road safety schemes would be needed. He added that in relation to the proposals to improve cycling and walking the Harwell Bicycle User Group were keen to talk to officers and to be engaged in the process. He was concerned that there was no master plan of cycle routes. Councillor Nimmo Smith responding agreed that there needed to be a balance between micro and macro schemes.

Councillor Harris, Local Councillor for Didcot Ladygrove, stressed that it was vital that the ring road be completed as a priority. Local residents had done a survey of the stretch of road and found that there was heavy use of the road including by heavy goods vehicles. The amount of traffic adversely affected the local residents of Ladygrove and he invited Cabinet Members to visit the area to see how vital the work was to local people. The Leader commented that he had visited the area on many occasions and the Cabinet Member for Environment noted that the piece of road referred to was in the updated plan.

Sarah Rawlinson, Didcot Resident, supported the views expressed by Councillor Harris and spoke of the noise and disruption local residents suffered. The road was not designed for the weight of traffic nor the size of vehicles and the completion of the northern perimeter road was long overdue.

Councillor Price, Local Councillor for Witney South & Central, welcomed the inclusion of Shores Green but asked for more detailed information on timing. In general she would have preferred to see a more holistic approach taken to Witney’s transport problems. She referred to the high impact low cost schemes could have for pedestrian and cyclists and the importance of engaging with the bike user groups in Witney. The Leader explained that with regard to Shores Green the Council was waiting on the developer as until he put in an application there was no funding for the work. Councillor Nimmo Smith gave an assurance that there were local cycle schemes under consideration and these would be discussed at locality meetings.

John Disley introduced the contents of the report. The Leader responding to comments from a Cabinet Member noted that the updates did not take account of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment and that this would need to be reflected in LTP4.

RESOLVED:             to approve the removal of the existing area strategies for Banbury, Bicester, Carterton, Science Vale and Witney from LTP3 and their replacement with the updated strategies in Annexes 1 to 5 of the report.