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.

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.

Update on works at All Saints/Lime Walk junction

Ruth and colleagues have been listening to the views of residents in Lime Walk, Stapleton Road, Cecil Sharp Place, Nursery Close and New High Street concerning the ‘new look’ junction near All Saints Church.

We are collating responses we have been given and have scheduled a meeting with County Transport Officers on Tuesday morning.

The line markings have helped a great deal but there is still concern from motorists about right of way and sight lines, and some pedestrians have witnessed vehicles mounting pavements via the dropped kerbs as they turn.

The timber bollards are on order but have not yet arrived. Ruth and David have agreed with County Officers that gully emptying and drainage problems will be resolved and that the lighting at the junction can be re-tested

We are working alongside residents’ associations on this issue. If you have not yet been emailed a survey or been in when we called to see you, and you want to tell us your comments, please contact us as soon as possible.

Old Road traffic works update

We have reported the state of the Old Road pavement to County officers as we believe that these need proper reinstatement – they are very uneven after having been dug up by utilities companies

The County Council is aiming to get the permanent signals at the junction of Old Road / The Slade /Windmill Road up and running on Friday 11 November.  The new vehicle detection loops installed as part of the junction upgrade works will need configuring in order to optimise the signals, therefore it will take a few days for the signals to settle down.

Osler Road residents’ group gets results!

Busy Osler Road traffic

Congratulations to Louise and Jonathan for getting some action to make Osler Road safer when parents drop off and collect  children at the Nursery.

After the residents’ meeting that Ruth had facilitated with agencies including the bus companies, the Trust and the County, the residents’ group  has secured an agreement for an officer to

“instigate the work to install two sections of pedestrian guard rail on the public footpath outside the nursery, subject to a survey…before the end of July”

Another initiative resulting from this meeting is that a county member of staff will come and talk to the nursery children about road safety.

What a great result from our most recently set up residents’ group in Headington!

Good news for Margaret Road/York Road residents

The corners of this junction are going to be tightened, so that pedestrians crossing York Road at the junction will have a shorter crossing, and vehicles turning left into York Road will go more slowly, reducing the risk of accidents.

Where pedestrians cross Margaret Road, the kerbs will be lowered and tactile paving will be laid. On the east corner, the existing footway will be rebuilt, and on the west corner the existing footway will be resurfaced.

The junction alterations are part of the “Better ways to school” initiative, its main aim is to encourage pupils to walk or cycle to school rather than to travel by car. Best of all, the efforts of Cllr Roz Smith and I in having a School Crossing Patrol have succeeded, and s/he will help school pupils and escorting adults to cross Margaret Road safely.

The work will start on 24 February and is expected to finish on 5 March

Icy pavement outside the NatWest Bank

We are aware that a water leakage from the building occupied by the NatWest Bank is causing health and safety hazards as the water turns to ice overnight. The County Highways Department has been alerted as this is a possible infringement of the Highways Act.  We are working with Thames Water, the County Council and the assistant manager at NatWest to resolve this situation as soon as possible, and we hope to contact the property owner shortly to make sure that the drainage system and down pipes are replaced or upgraded

In the meantime, please take great care if you are using the cash machines in Stephen Road

Pavement Trips Cost Council

 County Cllr Altaf Khan inspects a pavement in Franklin Road    franklin-altaf.JPG

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats under Freedom of Information show that Oxfordshire County Council spent half a million less than the average last year on pavement maintenance, compared to the other 19 county councils who provided figures. Perhaps as a consequence, there were 88 claims for compensation in Oxfordshire last year, 56 of which have not yet been settled.

These figures come as the Liberal Democrats reveal that 90 councils have paid out over £82m in compensation following pavement trips and falls over the last five years.

Cllr Purse, Shadow Cabinet member for Growth & Infrastructure, said, “It is not just the compensation that councils have to pay out that concerns us, but the additional costs of treatment that inevitably fall on the health service if people are injured by falling on uneven surfaces. And even more important for the individual concerned is the potentially serious loss of mobility and confidence. It is for that reason that the Liberal Democrats have proposed additional sums for road and pavement maintenance for each of the last four years in our draft budgets – it is a shame that this has not been taken up by the administration.”

Cllr David Turner, Shadow Cabinet member for Transport Implementation, said, “The failure of the Conservatives to support our proposals for more weed control on pavements is creating a big future bill to repair pavements crumbling under the pressure from uncontrolled weeds.”

Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Patrick added, “National studies show that the average time spent walking is no down to just 11 minutes day. We want to encourage more walking and good quality and well-maintained pavements are just as important as road surfaces. We have welcomed the concept of increasing pedestrianisation in Oxford City, but we hope that people are taking particular care whilst the works for this are going on in Queen Street. We don’t want to see the figures for falls and trips increase dramatically this year.”

What do you think of the London Rd plans?

It was good to see so many people at the exhibition on Saturday morning! If you haven’t yet seen the County Council’s plans for upgrading the London Road, please click on this link

If you haven’t yet submitted comments/feedback on the new scheme, please do so online here

Please note: you will need to click on Next to complete the feedback form.  David and I are very keen that everyone fills this in.  Among the concerns that were brought to my attention on Saturday were the lack of attention given to cyclists, the narrowing of Old High Street at its junction with London Road in respect of the advent of Waitrose, safety concerns about the London Road/Windmill Road junction, and the removal of the subway at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds.  People were also concerned about the lack of planting in London Road