Latest news from meeting on traffic scheme

A site meeting was held this morning by County officers concerning the new road traffic layout, and Ruth attended together with Patrick Coulter from Highfield Residents’ Association. Here are some notes of what was debated/agreed.

Signage

  • Better/clearer signage needs to be put out at both ends of Lime Walk pending roadworks to alert motorists – County investigating
  • New road junction layout signs in Lime Walk need to be more visible to make sure drivers see them well in advance of the junction, County checking this
  • County officers will not introduce priority direction signs as they believe the current arrangement cuts down traffic speed

Lighting/visibility

  • County officers will carry out a check on lighting at night on this junction. Street lighting have already made some recommendations and budget checks are being made
  • The type of lamps used may be changed, one lamp column may need moving but the number of lamp-posts will remain the same
  • Extra reflectors to be added to bollards (see below)

Bollards

  • Two extra bollards will be installed on each of the corners where there are none at present to protect pedestrians and stop traffic cutting corners – these to have reflectors on three sides
  • County officers will investigate whether reflectors can be put on additional sides of the existing bollards so they show up for traffic from All Saints Road
  • Meanwhile temporary bollards will be set up here as corner cutting by vehicles is perceived to be a significant issue by residents

Build-outs

  • There is a possibility that planter(s) may be fixed here in association with the HRA DIY traffic calming scheme
  • Meanwhile temporary bollards of some kind or a keep right sign will be set up

Speed monitoring

  • The location of the monitoring equipment was discussed. Officers are willing for a local resident to lead on location for this near the top end of Lime Walk midway between the entry points and the All Saints junction and there will be “before” and “after” checks at sites previously used
  • Officers noted that this cut down traffic scheme focuses primarily on helping pedestrians and cyclists by reducing speeds at specific conflict points, rather than reduce volume and speed of traffic throughout the whole area

Latimer Road

  • It’s acknowledged that residents are concerned about vehicles cutting corners on entering Latimer Road from All Saints Road and potential transfer of traffic from Lime Walk. The County is therefore considering how these two concerns could be dealt with inside the budget
  • It would be possible to construct  build-outs in All Saints Rd either side of the entry to Latimer Rd. This would reduce road space to one vehicle at a time
  • There is a concern about whether there would be enough turning space for large vehicles
  • Options will be considered, but in the meantime, one temporary build-out will be set up as a pilot on the Stapleton Rd side, and residents nearby will be informed before the pilot starts

Road safety issue

  • In response to a resident’s question about priority on ‘yellow brick roads’, it was confirmed that if a pedestrian has already started to cross the road then the motorist should give way. Otherwise the driver has priority.

We understand that HRA is holding a meeting to discuss suggestions for further improvements shortly, for example a change to some on road parking (rather than half-on, half off road as at present) in some residential streets, and a meeting on this will be held with the relevant County officer at a later date.

Decision Thurs 16 on change to cycle by-pass Old Road-Gipsy Lane

The agenda papers have just been released by the County Council for the Cabinet Member for Transport’s Decision Meeting on Thursday 16 February – click here to see the agenda document, and you can then click on the links to the accompanying report

Approval is sought to allow the legal use of part of the footway by cyclists. If approval is not given, minor works will provide a widened footway for use by pedestrians only

This applies to the stretch of road at the junction of Gipsy Lane and Old Road and would enable cyclists to turn left into Old Road avoiding the traffic lights

Next phase of Highfield traffic works begins

We are informed by County that the junction of Old Road with Lime Walk + London Road with Latimer Road should be completed by tomorrow, subject to weather conditions.  They will be starting the final junction entry treatment at the junction of London Road with Lime Walk on Wednesday 8 February for 9 days, subject to favourable weather.

They will also be re-visiting the Lime Walk/All Saints cross road junction for 1 day on Monday 20 February (again, subject to favourable weather) to complete the installation of the red coloured imprint material at the pedestrian crossing points.  They will have to close-off both legs of Lime Walk at the cross roads, but  will keep All Saints Road open.

Consultation period starts for Barton West

The six-week consultation period for both the Barton Area Action Plan and for the Sites and Housing Development planning policy will run from Friday 10th February to Friday 23rd March.

Consultation at this stage will be more formal than at the previous stages, as Council has now agreed the draft plans and is seeking representations on the soundness of those plans.  They will be running a ‘duty officer’ type of arrangement on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons throughout the consultation period so that members of the public with queries about either document can come in to the customer service centre at St Aldates Chambers to talk through their questions/concerns with an officer.   They will be doing a large mail out (electronically where possible) to organisations and individuals on their consultation databases, and in addition will be circulating a leaflet to all households in the Barton Area Action Plan area to keep them as informed and up-to-date about the AAP as possible.

Following the consultation, officers will produce a summary of the representations received and the main issues that were raised.  This will accompany each document, and the supporting evidence base, when it is submitted to the Secretary of State for examination.  It’s intended that the  Barton examination will go first and may be completed before the main summer holiday period (although this will of course depend on the number/complexity of representations received, and how the Inspector wishes to handle the examination).   The Sites and Housing examination would then follow in the autumn, although again the precise timetable is dependent on the Inspector.

Want to hold a street party for the Jubilee?

St Andrew's Rd street party 2002

Oxford Streets for People is hosting a number of informal street party discussions. Please encourage anyone you think might be
interested to come along, find out more and exchange thoughts and ideas.

Where to start…

  • organising a party?
  • road closures and insurance?
  • bunting, gazebos?
  • themes and activities?
  • need tips from people who have run street parties before?
  • how to encourage neighbours to join in – especially older residents?

Monday 20 February
7.30pm
Baptist Church, 78 Old High Street, Headington

Just turn up – no need to book – though it will help if you let them know you are coming!

info@oxstreets.org.uk
oxstreets.org.uk

Safety fears in Highfield

Lime Walk closed

With the closure of Lime Walk and further works affecting Latimer Road, Highfield traffic levels through Bickerton and Stapleton Roads are causing much distress, noise and inconvenience to local residents.

The volume of traffic passing through Stapleton Road in particular has increased and it is noticeable that many vans and minicabs are using this route.

Speeding and safety concerns in Stapleton Road

Oncoming traffic weaves in and out between parked cars, and vehicles are moving far too fast in this 20 MPH area in order to try and reach the other end of the street to ‘beat’ traffic coming the other way.

Those with drop kerbs for off road parking are finding their drives blocked by vehicles pulling in to let others pass.

We have contacted Thames Valley Police and they have set up increased patrols to sort out traffic problems. We are working with Highfield Residents’ Association to arrange a meeting with private hire and taxi companies to try and tackle speeding. We have asked the Oxford Pedestrians’ Association for support, and have lobbied the Cabinet Member Cllr Rodney Rose and the traffic planners to make improvements.

One of our paramount concerns is that county transport planners are intending to place timber bollards 450mm back from the edge of the dropped pavements at All Saints Junction to allow “wriggle room” for vehicles turning. It cannot be safe for vehicles and pedestrians to share footway. We have asked for advice from the officer who ensures highway safety but he has supported the traffic planners in this. We continue to battle on.