Agenda item

Report by Corporate Director, Environment and Place

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve as advertised:

a)    A Zebra crossing at First Turn south of its junction with Mere Road

b)    The no waiting at any time restrictions on First Turn and Mere Road north of the proposed zebra crossing

c)     The no waiting at any time restrictions on First Turn south of the proposed zebra crossing, but with their implementation to be deferred to allow an assessment of the operation of the crossing following construction, with these being omitted if found not to be required, in order to reduce the impact of the proposals on the adjacent parish church premises.

d)    A new pedestrian refuge at Godstow Road approximately 50 metres south west of is junction with the A40 Wolvercote roundabout, and an improved pedestrian refuge north east of its junction with Wolvercote Green.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management, Councillor Gant, considered a report by the Corporate Director, Environment and Place, which recommended approval, as advertised, of –

(a)  A Zebra crossing at First Turn south of its junction with Mere Road;

(b)  The “No Waiting At Any Time” restrictions on First Turn and Mere Road, north of the proposed zebra crossing;

(c)   The “No Waiting At Any Time” restrictions on First Turn, south of the proposed zebra crossing, but with implementation to be deferred to allow an assessment of the operation of the crossing following construction, [the restrictions] being omitted if found not to be required in order to reduce the impact of the proposals on the adjacent parish church premises; and

(d)  A new pedestrian refuge at Godstow Road approximately 50 meters south-west of the junction with the A40 Wolvercote roundabout, and an improved pedestrian refuge north-east of its junction with Wolvercote Green.

The Chair then invited Councillor Sandelson of Oxford District Council who, having made a request to speak on this item, to make her presentation.

Having heard Councillor Sandelson’s presentation, and there being no other presentations, Councillor Gant referred to several points made by Councillor Sandelson, as follows –

(i)    Regarding proposals to remove parking affecting the Church that fell within the area of the parking proposals, it was noted that provision had been made for parking arrangements to accommodate the requirements of the Church in respect of funerals and other services and that these measures had met the concerns of the Parish Council.

(ii)   Of primary importance was the safety and amenity of the nearby primary school including appropriate signage, noting that there was a requirement to replace the existing signage with new signage.

(iii) The recent repainting of road markings was not consistent with the colour of existing road markings and, as this was a conservation area, officers were requested to ensure that road markings were of a consistent colour and in accordance with road marking regulations and best practice.

Regarding the crossing from the school to the church, Councillor Gant proposed that a zebra crossing with a hump would be safer. Therefore, he instructed officers to look at the possibility of installing a zebra crossing with a hump, notwithstanding the additional cost of so doing, given the primary importance of the safety of schoolchildren.

Councillor Gant noted that the scheme had come forward because of the proposed development of Oxford North as a way of facilitating active travel links between Oxford North and Upper Wolvercote. He noted that the proposals included a pedestrian refuge on Godstone Road, which was already under construction. He therefore proposed that there should be a report on why this work had been initiated without the requisite authority.

Furthermore, regarding the amenity that was intended to be delivered by the installation of a pedestrian refuge, Councillor Gant asked that a review be undertaken as to whether this was the best option given the opposition to what was deemed by some to be an inadequate proposal for such a busy road and whether a pedestrian crossing might be a better option.

DECISION: To approve the report’s recommendations subject to reviews on the following matters –

1.     Why the work on the pedestrian refuge on Godstone Road had been initiated without the requisite authority; and

2.    Whether a pedestrian crossing on Godstone Road would be preferable to the current pedestrian refuge that was being installed.

Signed: ………………………………………………………………………….

Dated: ……………………………………………………………………………