Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/028

Contact: Tim Shickle, Group Manager – Traffic & Road Safety Tel: 07920 591545 / Daniel Mowlem, Engineer – Road Agreements Team C&W Engineering 1

Report by Corporate Director Environment and Place (CMDHM8).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on the proposed extension of the 40mph speed limit on the A4095 at North Leigh and introduction of turning restrictions in conjunction with the construction of a new access on the A4095 for Eynsham Hall as part of approved development. The matter had previously been brought to the Cabinet Member for Highway Management at his delegated decisions meeting on 3 June 2021 when, following consideration of the consultation responses and additional representations made by County Councillor Liam Walker, the local member, he had deferred a decision to allow for further consultation with Eynsham Hall on provision of additional measures and funding for those additional measures.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve:

a)     the proposed extension of the 40mph speed limit on the A4095 at North Leigh; and

b)     the proposed turning restriction prohibiting vehicles turning from the A4095 into new access for Eynsham Hall;

as originally advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management considered (CMDHM8) responses received to a statutory consultation on the proposed extension of the 40mph speed limit on the A4095 at North Leigh and introduction of turning restrictions in conjunction with the construction of a new access on the A4095 for Eynsham Hall as part of approved development. The matter had previously been deferred by the Cabinet Member for Highway Management on 3 June 2021 following representations made by County Councillor Liam Walker, the local member, for further consultation with Eynsham Hall on provision of and funding for additional measures.

District Councillor Harry St John had, as a resident of North Leigh for 25 years, seen traffic levels grow with regular speed watches also providing evidence of excess speed.  Discussions in the past to extend the 40mph speed limit from Freeland to Common Road had been unsuccessful but he saw this latest development as a great opportunity to achieve that and secure a reduction in the speed of vehicles on this section of A4095.  Accesses such as Eynsham Hall (hotel and visitor facilities being expanded at present), North Leigh Football Club on bend, Boddington Lane, Cuckoo Lane (leads to Salt Cross 2200 homes), Mears site (40 new homes nr Freeland), Freeland Turn also leading to Salt Cross), and Pye Homes site 190 homes (access is inside 30 mph zone) Common Road (also footpath crossing), Bewley Devt (50 new homes), Park Road (with extra 126 new homes) meant that the road was much busier than five years ago and the significant development now being undertaken at Eynsham Hall would only increase the level of risk. There were plans for a cycle-way east to the Park Road junction which would enable a more user-friendly cycle way from Witney to Long Hanborough and the rail station encouraging more commuters to cycle/train to Oxford or London.  Having a 40mph limit would make for a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and cars and less confusing for drivers and more enforceable.  Comparisons with the B4044 from Witney to Charlbury were very relevant as between the edge of Witney and Hailey there were some blind bends but fewer turnings or junctions and yet that section of road was all 40 mph and then after Hailey and Delly End/Crawley crossroads it went to 50mph until Finstock and the Ramsden turn where it reverted to 40mph again.  There was much more traffic and HGV movements on the A4095 than the B4044 and so reducing speeds on this section of the A4095 made sense on all counts.

County Councillor Liam Walker thanked the Cabinet Member and officers for their further work on this. It was disappointing that the developers had declined to fund this low-cost extension when you considered the cost of the Eynsham Hall development itself. There had been a great opportunity to secure these improvements on this section of road and having seen the road safety audit, which had highlighted a number of issues of interest he hoped that there might be future opportunities to secure these restrictions possibly through his own priority funding.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management acknowledged and accepted the concerns of both speakers that speed was an issue but further discussions had failed to secure more funding from the developer. He hoped that these specific restrictions might, in the future, be secured through different means but In the meantime and having regard to the information in the report before him along with the representations made to him at the meeting he confirmed his decision as follows

to approve:

a)           the proposed extension of the 40mph speed limit on the A4095 at North Leigh; and

b)           the proposed turning restriction prohibiting vehicles turning from the A4095 into new access for Eynsham Hall;

as originally advertised.

Signed…………………………………………

Cabinet Member for Highway Management

Date of signing………………………………..