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.

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.

News on meeting with County planners

Ruth has supplied the County planners with a transcript of all the comments we have received from you on the All Saints/Lime Walk junction

Officers have agreed to look more closely at the lighting, drainage and sight line issues

They feel that the corner cutting across dropped kerbs by vehicles will stop when they put up timber bollards at the end of the month (6-8 in total) They will consult Highfield Residents Association on where these should go

The corner cutting is happening at the top of Latimer Road too, so we need to get this sorted out before there is a casualty

Officers want to stick with the idea of not having priority signage as they believe this makes drivers more cautious. This premise was challenged in our meeting!

The possibility of painting 20MPH roundels on the road has not been ruled out, but officers want to monitor the  speed of traffic following the works before a decision is taken on whether or not this is necessary

The County team is meeting reps from Highfield RA on Thursday

Accident figures down for Headington

The County officer responsible for the recording of accident data has confirmed to us that in the 12 months following road improvements in November 2010, the number of recorded accidents in the stretch of London Road between Osler Rd and Wharton Road was 3, compared with an average of around 8 per year in the 5 years prior to the scheme.

It’s difficult to draw definite conclusions from such a small amount of data, and figures can blip quite easily from one year to another, but this is still very positive news

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.

All Saints/Lime Walk junction – is it working?

David and Ruth have been surveying some of the local residents in Stapleton Road, Lime Walk, All Saints Road and Nursery Close about the ‘new look’ junction. We have also consulted New Headington Residents’ Association exec and have emailed out a short survey to residents in Bateman St, Kennett Rd., Piper St., Perrin St., Windsor Street and Gardiner Street to get a balanced view of people’s concerns, and are aware that Highfield Residents’ Association is also in contact with the traffic planners on this issue.

We shall continue to survey residents about the junction over the weekend, and have raised a number of initial concerns with the County Transport Planning team who are looking into them and getting back to us.

The issues we have brought to their attention  already include: 

  • drainage after heavy rain,
  • the need for a kerbed edging at the corners of the junction (concerns for safety of young children scooting into the road without realising etc. and vehicles mounting pavements via dropped kerbs),
  • lighting,
  • signage (including priority arrows), 
  • inadequate lines of sight past parked cars – cars getting ‘boxed in’ behind parked cars and being unable to re-emerge safely, as well as how the junction is likely to be ‘finished off’.It’s important to remember that the scheme is not yet fully implemented as there is more work starting on raised entry treatments and works to Stapleton, Bickerton and Latimer Roads. It is too early to decide whether the scheme  has achieved a reduction in volume and speed of traffic.

 Some pedestrians have told us they are finding it easier to cross Lime Walk, and we have had some positive emails and responses from cyclists. There is some anecdotal evidence that the volume and speed of motor vehicles has lessened, but the worry is that this may have displaced to neighbouring residential streets, specifically Stapleton Road – we won’t be able to gauge the full extent of that properly until the rest of the works are finished.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your views on this issue. It’s important that your ward councillors have an overall balanced view of resident opinion so that we represent you effectively. You can find our contact details under the Contact Us tab on this page. We will update this page when county officers respond

Details of road works starting 9 January Old Road/Lime Walk

Phase 2 of the New Headington Transport Improvements Scheme will be starting on 09 January 2012.  The County Council will be carrying out traffic calming works at the side road junctions on Old Road in Headington and 2 junctions on London Road.  They will write to residents of each road where  they will be carrying out the works to inform them of the road works and the traffic management arrangements they have organised.
 
Road works are programmed as follows:
09 January to 17 January 2012 – junction entry treatments on Old Road (Valentia Rd, Finch Close and Highfield Avenue)
18 January to 27 January 2012 – junction entry treatments on Old Road (Bickerton Rd, Stapleton Rd) + new Zebra crossing on Old Road
30 January to 07 February 2012 – junction entry treatments Old Road/Lime Walk junction + London Road/Latimer Road junction
08 February to 17 February 2012 – junction entry treatment at London Road/Lime Walk junction
 
Works on Old Road will be carried out during ‘off-peak’ hours of 09.30 to 15.30.  Works will be carried out under temporary traffic signal control on Old Road in order to divert pedestrians out of the working area.  Pedestrian access will be maintained to the side roads however.  Side roads will be closed to through traffic for the duration of the works unless they are cul-de-sacs.
 
Works on London Road will involve diverting pedestrians away from the working area and into London Road.  Pedestrian access will be maintained.  They are not anticipating having to use off-peak traffic lights for works on the side road junction off London Road.  Side roads will be closed to through traffic for the duration of the works.
 
A local diversion route will be in operation during each of the road closures.

Please email us if you would like a map

Update on Old Road works

The final road markings for the Old Road/The Slade/Windmill Road junction are still to be completed, including cycle symbols.  They haven’t been completed yet because of additional loop cutting which has been required.

The trench across Rock Edge is a temporary reinstatement (for the new traffic signal duct) – the sub-contractor will put in a permanent reinstatement.

The grass verge on Old Road (east)  will be temporarily fenced off at the top and bottom of the new cutting slope to allow the topsoil and grass seed to establish itself.