Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/152

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE6).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation extending south westwards the 30mph speed limit on the A361 Bloxham Road by approximately 120 metres in place of the current 50 mph speed limit and which  has been put forward to improve safety of all road users in the vicinity of a new roundabout serving residential development on the south side of the road. 

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposal to extend south westwards the 30mph speed limit on the A361 Bloxham Road by approximately 120 metres in place of the current 50 mph speed limit as advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE5) responses received to a statutory consultation to extend south westwards the 30mph speed limit on the A361 Bloxham Road by approximately 120 metres in place of the current 50 mph speed limit in order to help improve safety of all road users in the vicinity of a new roundabout serving residential development on the south side of the road. 

Councillor Mallon had no issue with moving the speed limit itself only the process insofar as the limit had been put in place prior to proper and full consultation. Installing everything prior to consultation meant that, in his view, the scheme had been ill-conceived, badly implemented and therefore not fit for purpose.  Listing a number of issues including lights which had been installed some time before but which had only been switched on at Christmas, a fenced off crossing forcing people to cross elsewhere and bright red road surface colouring contrary to county policy he reminded the Cabinet Member that this was the busiest east – west road in the north of the county and traffic flow was now impeded by 2 new on road bus stops close to the roundabout causing safety issues from a build-up in traffic. Further development for 300 houses on one side of the road and 1700 on the other made these proposals premature.

Jazcui Cox acknowledged that the red colour surfacing should not have been used and efforts were being made to remedy that. With regard to the establishment of bus stops on a major route she advised that little could be done as that had been a decision taken at planning stage. Funded by the developer it was unlikely that they would now agree to fund resiting. Also bus operators would likely resist anything which required buses having to pull out into the flow of traffic. She confirmed that 30 mph speed limits had to fit in with each development as it occurred which explained the apparent piecemeal approach.

Mr Kirkwood added that with regard to the bus stops it was a difficult balance from a safety aspect but confirmed that the majority of bus stops did not have a layby facility but were nevertheless regarded as being very safe. He accepted that this was an issue relating perhaps to congestion rather than safety but in his view a short delay seemed preferable to buses sitting in a layby and then having to pull out into the flow of traffic.  Adding that the report currently before the Cabinet Member related solely to the speed limit issue and it would be helpful to agree that although he accepted that there were grounds to perhaps review how major developments were dealt with.

Having regard to the information set out in the report before her and the representations made to her at the meeting the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed her decision as follows:

(a)          to approve the proposal to extend south westwards the 30 mph speed limit on the A361 Bloxham Road by approximately 120 metres in place of the current 50 mph speed limit as advertised;

(b)          ask officers to look again at implementation of the whole scheme on A361 Bloxham Road, Banbury in the light of issues raised at the meeting by the local county councillor.