Further to our post of 26th April, we have been in contact with the County Council about the re-surfacing of London Rd from Headley Way to Osler Rd and the related closures. There are two main issues. First, the simultaneous closures of Lime Walk, Latimer Road and Sandfield Road. We are now told that the hope is not to have them all closed at the same time, and that it does not take a full five days. I’m not sure how reassuring that is: it might be better to know all the roads are closed that having to leave it to guess work!

Second, and at least as important, is the impact of the night-time working on residents on or near London Road. This has already been a problem further up for the dormitories at Headington School. Our main concern now is for the residents of the sheltered accommodation that lines London Road. We have been assured that a letter has gone to each building but we are urging the County to try to make contact with individual residents in those blocks. If you know any residents in London Court, Victoria Court, McMaster House or any of the other residences around there, do help us make sure they are aware of the unfortunate (but necessary) disruption that’s going to occur.

Many residents have commented to us despairingly about the London Rd roadworks. They have taken much longer than was anticipated and have been far from well-managed. And I’m afraid, from what we’ve just learnt, things are going to get worse before they get any better.

You will have noticed that the road is going to be re-surfaced (at long last). The works to do that are to occur at the beginning of May with a night-time speed restriction of 10mph. At the same time, a letter sent from the County announces that there is going to be a temporary road closure ‘to the junctions of London Road with Sandfield Road, Latimer Road and Lime Walk. This will operate for 24 hours from 5 May 2009 and the estimated duration of the works is 5 days.’

This sounds to us as a potential recipe for chaos. We have contacted the County questioning whether a week with no exit from either side of London Road between Headley Way and Osler Road is really essential. We have also asked for reassurance that all residents will be fully informed about what is happening. I would hope that that would happen as a matter of course, but as the County has not handled this at all well, I wouldn’t want to put any faith in that.

We will keep you informed as the situation develops.  It certainly seems to me that some hard questions need to be asked of the County Council about their handling of this whole scheme.

Recently, it’s been hard not to notice the poor state of Dunstan Road: the road humps have become so delapidated to be dangerous. We have raised this issue with both Councils. As you may have seen, just over a week ago, the humps were patched up by the City Council helping deal with the immediate problem. But this isn’t enough: we do need more large-scale work to be done. For that, we will need the co-operation of the County. As yet, they have not committed anything to deal with this problem but, be sure that we will pursue it!

Plans are being drawn up for the next stage of the London Road ‘improvements’. Whatever you feel about the first phase, which has seen disruption around the Headley Way junction, the next stage, from Osler Road to Bury Knowle Park, will be all the more high-profile and will have a significant impact on the area. Ruth and I both think that the opportunity should be taken really to improve the whole area, in conjunction with the changing shop-face of the centre. First of all, though, there needs to be real consultation on what the County is proposing.

At present, there are some controversial proposals from the County: having a raised junction at Windmill Rd but keeping the present layout for cars crossing the junction, moving bus stops, decreasing the taxi rank, changing the parking arrangements and — most controversial of all — removing the underpass and replacing it with a pedestrian crossing, just west of Stephen Road.

As you know, your local councillors have worries about getting rid of the underpass, which many elderly people, and young mothers, tell us is the only way they feel safe crossing the road. A crossing would not solve all those problems, as some who are slower of the mark feel pressured by the limited timespan of the green man. On the other hand, I have heard people also say they would like to see a crossing permanently where there is a temporary one now — next to Osler Road. So, perhaps this should all be re-thought.

But, at this stage, Ruth and I want to hear your views. Please do send us your comments, writing them here or sending us an e-mail. At this point, we want to get as broad a range of opinions as necessary. Let’s make this into a big conversation!