We have taken action on your behalf to clarify issues about the temporary closure of Osler Road for resurfacing, and here is an update.

Osler Road works.

We met the city council works managers on site to discuss and clarify the process and a letter has gone out to some residents in Osler Road from the Council. We have just been told that the street closure notices which will be put up on Thursday state that Osler Road will be closed for 6 weeks, this is incorrect and the road will only be closed for 3 weeks. This error was discovered by Council staff too late for corrections to be made.

The work on phase 1 from the JR to the London Road end of Osler Road will take 2 weeks. A 30mm tarmac overlay will be applied to the area between the JR and St Andrew’s Road and this will happen in week 3.

From Day 1 on 2^nd June, work will start on the piece of road outside the JR entrance. Work will move further down the road each day in 50m-70m sections. It is expected that initial work removing eight inches of the base course will reach the opticians by Friday of Week 1.

Three ‘layers’ will be built:

• a construction layer
• a base course
• a running layer

There will be gatemen at either end of the works who will advise drivers of diversion routes to the JR , and will only let in people who live in Osler Road or who have carers visiting them.

The road will be closed to buses and the alternative route to the JR will be via Headley Way. The pavement on the JR side will remain open. The pavement on the Croft side will be closed to pedestrians. Cuckoo Lane will remain open, but cyclists will be advised by gatemen  to walk their bikes along the pavement.

It is expected that no weekend work will be required unless there is a major hold-up due to adverse weather conditions or unexpected problem. Work will take place from 07.30-16.00.

The road will not be open to any vehicles only for the duration of the works but access to frontages will be allowed for residents.  Residents will be able to access their drives throughout (though may need help from City Council operatives) except for those periods when work is taking place immediately outside their homes. Residents will be notified when this is likely to happen as the project team will put a leaflet through the door the day before.

At all times, Osler Road residents should be able to park somewhere in Osler Road (the top spaces next to the JR wall will also be available) unless there is work immediately outside their gates. As access to the road is barred to vehicles belonging to non-residents, there should be space elsewhere in the road to park. If anyone finds their access is blocked, the police can be contacted using the 101 non-emergency number to remove the offending vehicle.

With regard to the parking consultation, a section 58 notice will be served which stops utilities companies digging up any part of the newly surfaced road for five years, unless it’s an emergency.

Some wooden posts have been salvaged from the Lime Walk/All Saints junction; several of these will be put in on verges approaching the London Road junction to discourage vehicles mounting the pavement.  Drainage issues there are being investigated by a council works team on Friday. The kerb opposite the opticians will be 2-3 inches higher than it is now to discourage vehicles from mounting the pavement. Other wooden posts more in keeping with those already near the JR will be put in on verges where vehicles have clearly mounted pavements and spoilt the grass.

It is just possible that the collection day for rubbish and recycling may have to change, if this is the case residents will be informed by letter drop the preceding day.

We think we have covered all bases! If you have any further concerns, please let us know!