Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Travel & Development Strategy

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/073

Contact: Marco Assucena, Programme Lead – South & Vale Tel: 07922 849387 / Helen Powdrill, Programme Lead - Countywide, Tel: 07554 103476 / John McLauchlan, Head of Infrastructure Planning Office, Tel: 07554 103512

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA13).

Following completion of Stage 0 Options Appraisal Report and consultation, to seek acceptance to continue with the design of the identified preferred option.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)               Approve the revised alignment route (figure 1) and approve progression into Design and Procurement Stage 2 of the project.

b)              Approve in principle the use of The Oxfordshire County Council (Watlington Relief Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] in parallel with negotiations for private acquisition, with such powers of compulsory purchase used only as a matter of last resort. If Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is required to deliver the project, we will seek further approval, subject to the scheme meeting all CPO requirements and the paper will be brought back to Cabinet, once the necessary approval has been sought, including public engagement on preferred options and submission of a planning application for the scheme.

Cabinet considered a report seeking acceptance to continue with the design of the identified preferred option.  Before discussing the item Cabinet heard from a number of speakers.

Gill Bindoff, Watlington  Neighbourhood  Plan  Advisory  Board, stated the proposed road provided the only viable option to solve the air quality problem in the town, to conserve the historic town centre and enhance the attractiveness of Watlington for the visitors who support the High Street shops and local businesses which are crucial to its economic sustainability.

In addition, the footpath/cycleway along the length of the Relief Road will make a very useful contribution to connecting the local network of public paths and will support the local strategy for improving opportunities for walking, cycling, health and wellbeing. 

Housing development was already under construction so there should be a sense of urgency in making progress towards delivery.  Gill Bindoff welcomed the opportunities which had already been provided for input but believed that there was scope for a more productive partnership in order to ensure the best outcome for Watlington and for the County.  

Matt Reid sent a written contribution on behalf of both Watlington and Pyrton Parish Councils which was read to the meeting.  Cabinet should be aware that the route laid out before them for adoption today represented a ‘political compromise’.  The arrival at a route that was acceptable to the majority of stakeholders had been facilitated largely by the AECOM phase one optioneering process.

Cabinet should be aware that the planning submissions currently being made to district along the course of this route were dangerously ahead of the planning submission for the road itself.  Cabinet was urged to regain the initiative and do all they can to make sure this project was fully resourced and given appropriate priority.

This was perhaps the first time that a community centric design that alleviated many of the concerns held by both communities had made it this far.  Cabinet was urged to support the recommendations.

Robert Parker, Chairman, Shirburn Parish Meeting, stated that Shirburn was a listed and conservation village with a 13^th century castle located between  Watlington and the M40. The B4009 carried all the traffic from Watlington to the M40 passing through the centre of Shirburn.  There had been no consideration or modelling of Shirburn of any kind during Stage 1. AECOM had indicated that they did not intend to include Shirburn in Stage 2. This despite the road carrying the same traffic as Watlington.

In summary the concerns relate to three areas: incorrect level of Stakeholder Engagement; the AECOM statement that a new road will not generate traffic and referencing the Corporate Policies and Priorities; and the outdated overall approach by AECOM of “Predict and Provide” against the more modern approach to transport planning of “Vision and Validate”.

Cabinet was urged not to approve the recommendation to proceed to Stage 2 until an updated review of Stage 1 has taken place.

Councillor Freddie van Mierlo supported the proposal.  Watlington was a beautiful town with independent shops drawing business in from surrounding villages.  However, choke points in the road through town caused dangerous levels of air pollution and it was difficult to be heard at times.

With more new homes planned it was set to get worse unless the relief road was provided.  There had been many delays already and the compulsory purchase order provision was appropriate.

Councillor van Mierlo believed that the concerns of Shirburn residents could be mitigated and was in discussion with the Parish Meeting regarding suggestions such as putting in a chicane and noted that the relief road will have a speed limit of 30 mph with provision for active travel.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, noted that the Growth Deal with the commitment to 100,000 new houses had put a lot of stress on Oxfordshire.  He criticised the fact that Growth Deal funds could not be spent on active travel options because they did not release more housing potential.  As a result communities were getting more roads which attract more traffic.

However, he supported this proposal in order to take traffic out of Watlington.  He was pleased that the speed limit would be 30 mph and that active travel would be provided but that needed to be connected to the wider area.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, congratulated officers and the parish councils for the work done in getting agreement on the proposal.  He regretted that Shirburn still had concerns but hoped that these could still be mitigated.  He urged proceeding with speed and attention to the project given the new housing development.

Councillor Enright corrected the report where it stated that staff shortages led to a delay.  In fact, it was the need for a compulsory purchase order as that had not been expected.  He agreed to keep Cabinet informed should any risks emerge in the funding of the project.

Councillor Pete Sudbury noted that the latest policies were that new roads should have a 20 mph limit and only low-level lighting for pedestrians.  He hoped that this would mitigate the impact.  He noted the history of flooding in the area and asked that this be taken into account in the design of the road.

RESOLVED: to

a)            Approve the revised alignment route (figure 1) and approve progression into Design and Procurement Stage 2 of the project.

b)           Approve in principle the use of The Oxfordshire County Council (Watlington Relief Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] in parallel with negotiations for private acquisition, with such powers of compulsory purchase used only as a matter of last resort. If Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is required to deliver the project, we will seek further approval, subject to the scheme meeting all CPO requirements and the paper will be brought back to Cabinet, once the necessary approval has been sought, including public engagement on preferred options and submission of a planning application for the scheme.