Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/057

Contact: Hugh Potter, Group Manager – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by Director for Community Operations (Interim) (CMDE8).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation introduce a 7.5 tonne environmental weight limit in the Easington area of Banbury and raised junction table with zebra crossing at the Springfield Avenue junction with Horton View and Ruskin Road put forward as a result of discussions between the local County Councillor and residents. Firstly to improve road safety and the feeling of security in the vicinity of the two schools on Springfield Avenue (there are a large number of children that travel through this area and a large number of older, vulnerable residents) and secondly to prevent the existing problems of HGVs rat-running through this area, including those from two existing construction sites at opposite sides of the proposed restriction, which are only likely to be exacerbated when a third site opens to the south.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposed 7.5 tonne environmental weight limit in the Easington area of Banbury and proposed raised junction table with zebra crossing at the Springfield Avenue junction with Horton View and Ruskin Road as advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered a report (CMDE8) presenting responses received to a statutory consultation to introduce a 7.5 tonne environmental weight limit in the Easington area of Banbury and raised junction table with zebra crossing at the Springfield Avenue junction with Horton View and Ruskin Road.  The proposals had been put forward as a result of discussions between the local County Councillor and residents to improve road safety and the feeling of security in the vicinity of the two schools on Springfield Avenue and secondly to prevent the existing problems of HGVs rat-running through this area.

Peter Monk had been due to make a statement but in his absence that was read out by an officer:

“I write to point out that the proposals will not produce the benefits sought. There is no dispute that the traffic calming and regulation measures already applied to this area of Banbury have not produced the improvement expected. It is therefore surprising that 'more of the same' is now being proposed. There is no evidence, yet, that penetration by HGV vehicles serving nearby, new housing developments are using Sycamore Drive, Timms Road and Springfield Avenue as an alternative to the Oxford Road - although it is a possible future scenario.

The extension of the existing weight restriction will not, I suggest, make the route less attractive to drivers seeking to save time and avoid congestion - the only things that will do that would be better enforcement of the present measures (unlikely with current police resources) or self-enforcing measures. The latter would be effective but probably bring forth cries of protest from residents - especially those who vociferously advocate 'pouring good money after bad'.

Will a second pedestrian crossing close to the existing one at Horton View / Ruskin Ave be any more of a deterrent than the existing one just north of that junction? He suggested not.

The situation at that point is exacerbated by the 'snack and sweet' shop on the south-west corner (which is very popular with students) and the existence of a 'table hump' at this point which encourages young people to believe that it is an authorised crossing - which it isn't. How there have not been more injuries at that point is amazing.

Better student discipline at this location could be achieved by: -

a)  the schools providing supervision at assembly and dispersal times,

b)  remove the 'table' at this point (or convert it to a 'hump) and extend the guardrails on the east side of Springfield Ave. as far as possible towards the south-bound bus stop and,

c)  convert the existing zebra crossing to a Toucan.

The latter would provide motorists with a visual warning of the crossing position and impose some control over the current careless use by students, both on foot and cycle and also imbue elderly residents of Stanbridge House, and elsewhere, with confidence to use this crossing point instead of crossing randomly, as now.

Whilst the use of the zebra crossing near the BGN entrance is better it could be 'tabled' (as elsewhere) to provide a more discernable speed limit measure OR converted to a Toucan (also as at other schools in the area).

I offer these suggestions as alternatives to those proposed but would also comment that improvements to dwellings in the area are quite frequent and local merchants use three and four axle vehicles for deliveries etc., and I believe these will not be permitted under the weight restriction Order. How will these function in future? 

Presently there is virtually no enforcement so the restriction is generally ignored.”

Commenting on Mr Monk’s submission Councillor Kieron Mallon felt the alternative proposals he had mentioned in his submission would not be viable. He advised that his proposals were, however, trying to pre-empt the effects of planned development of up to 2,000 houses in this area and had been requested by the schools and many local residents and there had been no objections from local businesses. Outlining the history of Old Easington from its inception in the early 1920s to provide council houses for soldiers returning from war and their families it had a road layout designed for the traffic of the day, with narrow roads, sharp junctions and in some cases poor visual splays and was not designed for modern traffic. Some remedial work had been carried out in the 1960s on Springfield Avenue, as even then, it was used as an easy cut through to/from two south Banbury main roads namely the Bloxham Road.(A361) and Oxford Road (A4260) for cars but since then there had been no further major engineering works undertaken.

Old Easington had one of the largest secondary schools in Oxfordshire namely Wykham Park Academy (formerly Banbury Grammar and Banbury School). Also on the same campus is The Space Academy with the largest Roman Catholic Secondary school in Oxfordshire, Blessed George Napier, next door. It had the Queensway, Harriers View and Bishop Loveday Primary Schools bordering on it with thousands of pupils per day using the paths and roads in this location to access these schools. The former Banbury Grammar School building had been extended and converted into elderly sheltered housing, with over a hundred residents using and crossing the increasingly busy and potentially dangerous residential roads to access the Post Office, small shops and bus stops. As a result of an existing weight limit restriction on the Timms Estate in South Banbury and to avoid the corridor of traffic signals on Oxford Road, large vehicles and HGVs had been using short cuts through the Easington area when travelling from Oxford Road to Bloxham Road or vice-versa. There was also increasing use by construction traffic traveling to and from the new developments on Bloxham Road and the absence of a weight limit meant this route was shown on “sat-navs” as an acceptable alternative.

The large Banbury 17 (Saltway) designated housing area in the local plan would see 1,500 plus houses built at both ends of Old Easington to the West, between the A361 and the A4260. That was well under way and construction traffic and HGVs were already using these inappropriate residential Easington roads as a short cut to avoid the traffic lights on the main Oxford Road. This would become far worse when phases 3 and 4 of Banbury17/Saltway development started. Therefore, potential for conflict with parents, children, pedestrians and cyclists was greatly increased.

He had witnessed these problems and been approached by residents with numerous complaints of large vehicles and construction HGVs using this residential area, leading to noise and potential air pollution, debris and dust falling from construction HGVs, safety issues, damage to highway infrastructure and highway verges due to the size and increasing numbers of large vehicles. Major concerns from the local schools had led to him as the local member attending site visits with Head Teachers and there had been numerous visits by OCC Officers to assess the situation. The current proposal was to erect signs at all possible through-route entry points, namely Grange Road, Farmfield Road and Horton View on the A4260, and Easington Road and Springfield Avenue on the A361. There was a suitable alternative route via the A4260 and A361 at South Bar.

There was considerable support for the scheme from all local elected members at Town, District and County level and neighbouring County Councillors and schools as well as the majority of residents and verbal support from local businesses.  Funding for consultation and signage had already been secured through S106 contributions from developers and as a comprehensive package to improve safety in the area it met the criteria of the OCC Walking and Cycling strategy, better ways to schools strategy and the emerging Covid 19 walking and cycling safety government scheme and for all these reasons he asked that the Cabinet Member approve the proposal.

He undertook to speak to objectors and also to Mr Monk.

Officers confirmed that advanced signing would be provided.

The Cabinet Member noted that the local member having consulted widely on the scheme as part of a larger strategy would continue to meet with objectors including Mr Monk. She noted the widespread support from schools and that local businesses had not objected.  It was S106 funded and was being promoted in anticipation of further development and that seemed eminently sensible.  Therefore, having regard to that and to the information set out in the report before including the representations made to her at the meeting she confirmed her decision as follows:

to approve the proposed 7.5 tonne environmental weight limit in the Easington area of Banbury and proposed raised junction table with zebra crossing at the Springfield Avenue junction with Horton View and Ruskin Road as advertised.

Signed…………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………….