Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/087

Contact: Tim Shickle, Group Manager – Traffic & Road Safety Tel: 07920 591545/Jim Whiting, Principal Officer – Parking Tel: 07584 581187

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM7).

New Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) are being proposed across Oxford to address numerous local issues, along with helping to support the delivery of wider transport initiatives across the City and will become increasingly important if policy proposals such as demand management mechanisms e.g. traffic restrictions, or promoting higher density development in the city, are agreed.

Following an informal consultation in October and November 2020 the former Cabinet Member for Environment on 17 December 2020 approved proceeding to formal consultation on a CPZ in Old Marston village (the part of Old Marston accessed from Oxford Road north of the Marston Ferry Road and from Elsfield Road from the A40 slip road) also approving implementation of a CPZ in the adjacent roads within Old Marston which had been the subject of previous consultations; this latter scheme was implemented in June 2021. This report now presents the consultation responses to the CPZ proposal for Old Marston village.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve:

a)        the proposals as advertised for a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in the Old Marston village area;

b)        the proposed additional no waiting at any time restrictions at Oxford Road, Gordon Close and Rylands within the recently implemented CPZ in Old Marston outside the village area.

New Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) are being proposed across Oxford to address numerous local issues, along with helping to support the delivery of wider transport initiatives across the city. Following an informal consultation in October and November 2020 the former Cabinet Member for Environment on 17 December 2020 approved proceeding to formal consultation on a CPZ in Old Marston village (the part of Old Marston accessed from Oxford Road north of the Marston Ferry Road and from Elsfield Road from the A40 slip road) and also approving implementation of a CPZ in the adjacent roads within Old Marston which had been the subject of previous consultations. The latter scheme had been implemented in June 2021 and the Cabinet Member for Highway Management was now being asked to consider the consultation responses to the CPZ proposal for Old Marston village.

County Councillor Mark Lygo advised that he was very much in favour of CPZs but, having regard to the responses received to the consultation and having spoken to many residents, felt in this case it would be sensible to defer tes scheme to the New Year to allow time to address some of the technical points which had been raised such as displacement of vehicles from the previous Old Marston CPZ. He appreciated the amount of time that had gone into developing these schemes but Old Marston was different to other areas in the City and a deferral now would show residents that the County Council was prepared to listen to their concerns.

Officers confirmed a statutory consultation had been carried out and if following any deferral amendments were then made to the scheme that would be require further consultation. They confirmed that the scheme included a 2-hour period of waiting for non-permit holders with exceptions for funerals but any specific exemption scheme would need careful consideration.  The “Access to Elsfield Road“ restriction had been in place for a long time and was now accepted as being unenforceable and any moves to resolve that would be best carried out in the context of an LTN approach rather than as part of a CPZ.

Mark Burgess who had been scheduled to make an address via Teams had been unable to join at the agreed time. In his absence the Cabinet Member read out the following statement on his behalf:

“I have lived at 2 Park Way, Old Marston, Oxford, OX3 0QH continuously since2010 when we bought our home, and there have never been any problems at all for my family in parking. In addition, I have not observed any issues with my neighbours regarding parking outside their homes. This is because there is ample space. Therefore, there is absolutely no need whatsoever to impose either Controlled Parking Zones or Parking restrictions in Old Marston.

Our son is severely disabled with spastic quadriplegia caused by cortical dysplasia. As an integral part of his Care Plan funded fully by the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group continuing care, nurses have to come to our house to work Monday-Friday from 8.30am-5pm. The proposed parking restrictions would cause severe problems for the delivery of our son's essential care package, as nurses his nurses need to park outside our home in the daytime 260 days a year (52 weeks x 5 days). The proposal of a mere 50 days’ worth of parking permits for visitors is utterly inadequate. If the proposal proceeds and impacts negatively on the ability of Continuing Care to deliver the legally required care for our son, we would be forced to take legal action against the Oxfordshire County Council. His care plan could be checked and he was happy to provide evidence of his disability and care needs. I believe the results of this consultation (in which 157 responded) were that 59% opposed it, only 29% supported it, and 12% had no opinion either way. Therefore, this proposal should have stopped there and then, and it is shocking and dismaying that council members ignored the democratic will of the people of Old Marston in pursuing this. I am aware that your logic may be that the housing development in Old Marston off Mill Lane will result in some people parking outside other people's dwellings, but according to the submitted plans, adequate parking spaces will be provided, therefore this argument does not stand up.”

With regard to the care requirements referred to by Mr Burgess officers advised that adequate provision would be possible and suggested that Mr Burgess contact the county parking team to discuss what arrangements would work best for his family.

The Cabinet Member thanked everyone for their comments.  The recent traffic chaos highlighted the need for the County Council to take bold steps to support delivery of its wider transport initiatives across the city. That process would not be easy or straightforward, but we needed to look at the overall picture and how these initiatives helped to deliver a greener and safer city. Therefore, having regard to the information set out in the report before him as well as the representations made to him at the meeting confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve:

a)           the proposals as advertised for a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in the Old Marston village area;

b)           the proposed additional no waiting at any time restrictions at Oxford Road, Gordon Close and Rylands within the recently implemented CPZ in Old Marston outside the village area.

Signed…………………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Highway Management

Date of signing…………………………………