Latest on Dunstan Road speed bumps

Ruth attended a site meeting this afternoon with County officers and local residents to examine and discuss the newly resurfaced Dunstan Road speed bumps in Old Headington

The existing road surface had been planed off by one and three quarter inches and a stone mastic asphalt surface now covers the previously uneven road. Measurements showed that the replacement speed bumps conform to the code of practice, however the speed bumps appear to be flatter because cars approach it from a smoother road surface either side.

Residents had raised concerns because they were worried that cars were travelling at higher speeds after the road resurfacing than before. Further work to raise the road bumps would cost nearly £6,000. Yet the response to our emails from residents living near the speed bumps were more mixed, and mainly favoured the status quo.

Indications are that the speed at which motorists will travel across the speed bumps will probably decrease once the new surfaces have been re-lined. The lines will also be painted ‘out’ into the carriageway to give a narrowing effect visually.

The situation re speeding and rat running will be monitored after this work is done, hopefully later next week.

Pupil premium figures for our constituency

Today the Government released the final Pupil Premium figures for every English local authority, constituency and school. Everyschool this year will receive an extra £488 for each child on free school meals they have on their roll. 

Schools in Oxford East are getting an extra £1,247,000 from the Pupil Premium to improve the education of the most disadvantaged children. You can find out what each school in our council area is getting by clicking here.

The Pupil Premium is a policy we devised and campaigned for, and put at the heart of our Coalition negotiations. Now it is more than good policy, it is a reality making a difference to schools in our area. It goes directly into classrooms and will benefit all pupils.

It is also a milestone in breaking the link between poverty and achievement.

Liberal Democrats have always believed that education is the engine of social mobility, now we are making it happen.

Bus route 10 diversion route

Thanks to Ross for comments confirming the no. 10 bus route diversion while the roadworks are in place.

This has now been confirmed by the County Officer too – see below

From our discussions with Stagecoach, they are apparently not using the traffic diversion route via York Road but rather continuing along The Slade, then Wood Farm Road, Masons’ Road and Titup Hall Drive.  Sorry for any confusion.

Timing of Old Road traffic management works

The County officer supervising the Old Road traffic management scheme has explained why these are taking place at this time of the year.

Unfortunately it was not possible to prepare the scheme to enable a summer start.  Carrying out this work solely at weekends would not help either.  Once the work commenced and the existing traffic signals were decommissioned the temporary signals need to be in place until the new permanent signals are ready to be commissioned.  This would extend this element of the works, together with the temporary traffic management for 10 weeks rather than the 4 envisaged and extend the overall programme by a further 6 weeks also.

Timescales: Sites and Housing planning document

The next stage of consultation on the Sites and Housing Development Planning Document (DPD)  is when the full draft for consultation is published. This should happen in January 2012, and is referred to as the Proposed Submission stage. The document will be considered by full Council at the 19 December meeting, ahead of the public consultation. The two parts of the document are to form a single DPD, therefore there will be just one report to cover both Housing Policies and Site Allocations.

Following the consultation,  the final document will be submitted to the Secretary of State (in other words, to the Planning Inspectorate) at which point the document begins to be formally examined. There will be no further full Council meeting at this stage. Its likely that the examination hearings (i.e. when the public etc get to speak directly to the Inspector) would not be until September.

You will recall that the Site Allocations paper will set out the proposals for development for a number of sites in Headington, including Headington Car Park

2012 scheme:outbound bus lane for London Rd.

We are grateful to County Cllr Roz Smith for sending us the following information from County Traffic Planners:

OCC’s successful bid for money from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) includes £500,000 towards an outbound bus lane on London Road (total cost £1 million).  The length of road in question is from the end of Headington shops to the Gladstone Road bus stop from where there is already a short length of outbound bus lane up to Green Road Roundabout.

The programme for the bus lane is as follows:

  • Oct 11 – Jan 12 Outline design
  • Feb 12 – April 12 Consultation
  • May 12 – Sept 12 Detailed design
  • Oct 12 Scheme approval
  • Jan 13 – April 13  Scheme preparation
  • May 13 – Sept 13 Construction

This is an indicative schedule only at this stage.

STOP PRESS Old Road (eastern) road works delayed till Wednesday

Here is the latest on next week’s roadworks and temporary diversions

Temporary Road Closure Notification

Oxfordshire County Council is due to carry out carriageway and footway works at the following location:

Old Road – from Windmill Road/The Slade junction to York Road junction

These works form part of the council’s New Headington Transport Improvements scheme that will provide infrastructure to improve conditions for cycle and pedestrian road users, thereby encouraging people to walk and cycle and helping to reduce the number of car journeys. 

The closure is scheduled to commence on Wednesday 12 October 2011 and be in place for 4 weeks or when the work is completed which ever is the earlier. 

In order to carry out the works safely and efficiently, it is necessary for the road to be closed from house no. 90 to house no. 112a, Old Road.

The closure will be in operation on a full-time basis while the works are being carried out and diversion routes will be signed.

Please click on link below for map

S-000248-IFC-100_005-rev1 06-10-11[1]

Temporary parking restrictions in York Road

Following on from Mike’s earlier comments, we asked officers to make sure there’s enough turning space into York Road from Old Road for diverted buses and traffic. We have now had a response.

 Although there is quite a length of parking restriction in York Road near Old Road, we have requested suspension of a length of parking bay to ease movements on this route.

We’re also seeking clarification re the junction of Margaret Rd and Windmill Rd