Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/099

Contact: Daniel Round, Locality Manager Tel: (01865) 815623

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Strategy & Infrastructure Planning (CA9).

Connecting Oxfordshire: Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 (the ‘Local Transport Plan’) sets out the Council’s county-wide policy and strategy for transport. It has an important role in helping to secure the infrastructure necessary to support economic and housing growth in the County, by setting out clearly what we want to achieve and why it is necessary.

The new plan has been drafted following internal, stakeholder and public consultation on goals and objectives last summer. The results of these consultations led to some changes to plan goals/objectives and presentation, including placing more emphasis on public transport, cycling and walking, and emphasising the whole of Oxfordshire, rather than focusing more narrowly on the Didcot-Oxford-Bicester ‘Knowledge Spine’.

The plan reflects current Government policy and supports the overarching objectives of Oxfordshire 2030 and the Corporate Plan. It supports the Strategic Economic Plan and the scale of growth indicated in the Strategic Housing Market Assessment. District councils have also been involved in drafting the Area Strategies in the document, to support emerging Local Plans.

The Plan is broken down into a main document, which sets out the county council’s high level policies and strategic approach as well as our area and route strategies, which is supported by a number of supporting strategy documents. The final version of document will also include a programme of Oxfordshire’s priorities for investment in transport schemes. The document is structured around a number of links that enable readers to easily navigate between areas of greatest interest.

This is the consultation draft of the Plan that, subject to approval including any changes agreed, will go forward for public consultation in February/March, returning for final Cabinet approval and adoption by Full Council (as it is a statutory document) by summer 2015. This final version will include a more detailed programme of scheme delivery.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the draft Local Transport Plan for Public Consultation.

Connecting Oxfordshire: Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 (the ‘Local Transport Plan’) sets out the Council’s county-wide policy and strategy for transport. It has an important role in helping to secure the infrastructure necessary to support economic and housing growth in the County, by setting out clearly what we want to achieve and why it is necessary.

Following internal, stakeholder and public consultation on goals and objectives last summer Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to the consultation draft of the Plan that, will go forward for public consultation in February/March, returning for final Cabinet approval and adoption by Full Council (as it is a statutory document) by summer 2015.

Cabinet was advised that the consultation period would be for 8 weeks rather than the 6 weeks referred to in the report.

Mr Braithwaite, Chairman of South Newington Parish Council, spoke on the apparent absence of any definite proposals in the draft LTP4 for reducing HGV use of the A361 between Banbury and Chipping Norton. He stated that the route was an obvious one from Banbury and attracted a significant number of vehicles yet there was no route strategy included in the Plan. This was despite an acknowledgement by officers that it was not suitable due to the route passing through a number of small towns. He asked that the problem be addressed in a coherent way within the plan

Councillor Fooks, speaking as a local councillor, welcomed a number of good things in the plan including the reference to cyclists, the rail strategy (although she would have liked to see a reference to the use of Witney), the Northern Gateway and the strategic link road from the A40. She queried whether another bridge was planned over the ring road to reduce the problems for cyclists attempting to cross it. However with regard to Park & Ride sites she felt that there appeared to be a lack of joined up thinking and that the City Council and County Council could have formulated a better approach together. She added that an index to the Plan would be helpful.

Councillor Hudspeth responded to the points made commenting that as a cyclist he found it easy to cross the ring road at Wolvercote roundabout by getting off his bicycle. The County Council had discussed its plans for Park & ride with the City Council and he explained that the aim was to take the sites outside of the ring road so that users of the Park & Ride were not adding to congestion within the ring road. It had the added benefit of freeing up space for affordable homes.

Councillor Howson, speaking as a local councillor, noted that surface railways were generally more cost effective than tunnels. He recognised the increasing numbers of journeys each day and that, even with increased bus use, traffic problems would continue. He commented on two specific proposals, to ban cross city traffic by 2031 closing the north-south route across the City and to introduce traffic management restrictions on the Banbury Road. He felt that there was a lack of clarity and that the Council could usefully have employed DoT value for money tools, as happened at Lewisham Council.

Councillor Hards, speaking as a local councillor, made reference to the Science Vale parts of the Plan and report. He noted that there was recognition of the need to deal with pinch points and that the work on Milton Interchange would cause problems initially but be helpful over the long term. He expressed concerns over issues of access to Didcot. In particular he drew attention to concerns over future bus access and the threat to current bus arrangements. There was to be consultation over the further phase of Orchard Centre development and it was important that this scheme did not jeopardise the bus service. Councillor Hudspeth agreed that it was important not to lose that link.

Councillor Nimmo Smith in moving the recommendations thanked officers and the cross-party working group involved in the preparation of the draft documents. It was a county wide document with specific strategies and those strategies had been prioritised to areas of most growth or activity. Strategies had not been developed for smaller urban areas such as Henley or Chipping Norton, but should there be development pressures then they could be needed in the future. Dealing with HGV movements was a difficult balancing act that needed to recognise the legitimate rights of vehicles whilst addressing problems. Bev Hindle, Deputy Director, Strategy & Infrastructure Planning confirmed that the Plan contained the flexibility to produce further strategies over time. He gave assurances that officers were aware of the City Council plans for Park & Ride. On the Orchard Centre site officers had been clear about not wishing to lose bus penetration through that site.

During discussion Councillor Biles referred to previous plans to take HGVs out of Chipping Norton. She noted that a chapter on strategies for smaller towns had been removed and that she felt unable to support the Plan until that chapter had been included. Councillor Stratford asked that the lead member and officers liaise closely with Cherwell District Council over the preparation of their Bicester Transport Strategy to ensure that it harmonised with LTP4 and was practical, realistic and deliverable.

RESOLVED:           (on a show of hands by 8 votes to 1) to approve the draft Local Transport Plan for Public Consultation.