Roads re-open in Highfield

All Saints Road, Bickerton Road and Latimer Road are now open to through traffic, pending the submission of a planning application by the contractors Vital Energi to Oxford City Council.

A temporary road surface has been tarmacked across the top of the filled in trench as an interim measure. When the pipe is laid and the road surface is reinstated after the works, the finish will be of a much higher standard.

The City Council hopes to receive the planning application and supporting documents early next week.

Thanks to all residents for your forbearance while this is sorted out.

Temporary surface at All Saints Road

County instruction to energy pipe contractors

The Strategic Manager for the County Highway Network has contacted us with the following news.

In answer to your email I am writing to let you know that we have written to VitalEnergi this morning with an instruction to leave the site, fill the dug up trench and reinstate the road with the temporary surface IF they cannot guarantee that they will be in a position to restart their work tomorrow.  If VitalEnergi are planning to restart tomorrow there is no action needed and the work and closures and suspensions continue as now.

In case they cannot guarantee tomorrows’ return and the road is reinstated and opened, TTRO is not going to be suspended and access will be available.  There is no need for suspension of the TTRO nor for Parking Notices as the Order is valid for the period of 18 moths from the start date and is worded in such way that the parking suspension can be implemented as the work progresses.  What it means in practice is that the work can commence and finish within this period as long as it will not go beyond 18 month deadline.  If it does the promoter of the works must apply for the extension to the TTRO.

With regard to parking in the event of work not continuing, the suspension signs will stay in place but the County will not enforce the suspension on any resident parked in the bays with cars displaying valid permit. Change to the information on the actual suspension sign will be made when work starts again and if an extension of the suspension is required.  If however the works will not be restarting within the initial parking suspension time period, as currently shown on the signs, we will then remove all signage and a new application for parking suspension will be required.

PLEASE NOTE If Vital Energi restart their work tomorrow there will be no change to the current situation

For information, the Trust’s position is that this is a matter for the contractor and the local planning authority to sort out.

The City Council’s Planning Dept has written to the contractors explaining what information will be needed if/when a retrospective planning application is made.

 

 

 

Energy link work suspended temporarily

Here is a press release which was sent to us by Vital Energi this evening

“We have received correspondence from the Local Planning Authority of Oxford City Council regarding the energy link which we are currently investigating further. Works associated with the energy link underground utility services and the formation of the service trench have been suspended whilst discussions with the Local Planning Authority continue. We will continue to work closely with Oxford University Hospitals Trust, the Local Planning Authority, Residents and Stakeholders to minimise disruption. Further updates will be provided in due course.”

 

Ashley Malin, Project Development Director, Vital Energi

We are presently trying to find out whether parking suspension notices in Stapleton Rd can now be withdrawn, whether the fencing in All Saints Road can come down, and whether the road closures will remain. We shall update this site as soon as we know more.

HOSPITALS’ ENERGY PIPE NEEDS PLANNING PERMISSION

The Head of Planning and Regulatory Services has sent a letter today to contractors Vital Energi  stating that planning permission is required for the works to install the energy transfer equipment and apparatus on behalf of the Trust.

We asked the City Council to investigate whether this s50 work needed to go through the planning process when details of the project were released.

Our view has always been that the planning process would ensure that residents’ comments were fully taken into account, details of what was proposed would be made clear, and appropriate conditions would be set.

You can see the full letter by clicking this link: vitalenergi final

We are waiting to hear the response from Vital Energi and will update the website when we know more. It appears that an environmental impact assessment may also be needed – that is something else that our residents have asked us to find out more about.

Signage for the Hospital energy works project

Contractors have agreed to put up signs advising cyclists to dismount when using footpaths in roads affected by the works, after we followed up a suggestion from a Lime Walk resident.

We have discussed signage with the contractors at some length, and residents have written to us complaining that traffic is U-turning at the bottom of Bickerton Road. We’ve agreed with Vital Energi that signs off Old Road will advise that the road is closed except for access. Other signs in and around Stapleton Road are also being moved.

If you see any signs that are misleading or placed incorrectly, please let us know.

First road closure in All Saints Road

First road closure in All Saints Road

 

Temporary Traffic Orders for energy pipe works

Here is the wording of the TTRO:

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

Section 14(1) & (7)

Notice of Temporary Traffic Order Oxford, Various Roads Headington Temporary Traffic Prohibitions

Date of Order: 29 December 2015 Comes into force: 4 January 2016

This Order is being introduced because of works to install ducting for a hot water steam system, communications and high voltage electricity for a joint hospitals energy link – which is anticipated to take variously until the end of June 2016 to complete. The effect of the Order, when appropriate traffic signs are displayed is to temporarily prohibit parking/waiting and to close to traffic various sections of road and junctions as follows, and the works to progress as shown below:

Closures                                           Dates             Diversion

All Saints Road Between Latimer Road andStapleton RoadLatimer Road from

All Saints Road for approximately 15 metres north-westward

Stapleton Road from

All Saints Road for approximately 15 Metres

Monday 4 to Sunday 17 January To access Stapleton Road:All Saint Road, Lime Walk, Old Road and vice versaTo access Latimer Road:

All Saints Road, Lime Walk, A420 London Road and vice versa

To access All Saints Road (West):

All Saints Road, Lime Walk, Old Road. Bickerton Road and vice versa

Stapleton Road – Entire length progressively in stages north to south between All Saints Road and Old Road Monday 11 January to Tuesday 15 March All Saints Road, Lime Walk, Old Road, Bickerton Road  and vice versa
Latimer Road – Phase 1.Between A420 London Road and Latimer GrangePhase 2. Between Latimer Grange and All Saints Road Monday 21 March to Thursday 30 June A420 London Road, Lime Walk, All Saints Road and vice versa for both Phases
Sandfield Road –North to south in three phases: Phase 1. Between Woodlands Road and Beech Road Monday 1 February to Tuesday 22 April Sandfield Road, A420 London Road, Headley Way, Woodlands Road and vice versa
Phase 2. Between Beech Road and the southeast property line of No.1 Sandfield RoadPhase 3. Between the Southeast property line of No 1 Sandfield Road and the junction withA420 London Road As above when appropriate traffic signs are use A420 London Road, Headley Way, Woodlands Road, Sandfield Road and vice versa.

 

All Resident Permit Parking, Shared Parking, Disabled Parking and other Restricted Time Parking Bays at the following locations on both sides of the road and footway will be suspended when shown by appropriate traffic signs and cones. As the works progress parking bays will be made available.

Parking Prohibitions                                                         Dates

All Saints Road – Between Latimer Road and Stapleton RoadLatimer Road – from All Saints Road for approximately 15 metresStapleton Road – from All Saints Road for approximately 15 Metres

 

Monday 4 to Sunday 17 January 2016
Stapleton Road – Entire length progressively in stages north to south betweenAll Saints Road and Old Road Monday 11 January to Tuesday 15 March 2016
Latimer Road Phase 1.Between A420 London Road and Latimer GrangePhase 2. Between Latimer Grange and

All Saints Road

Monday 21 March to Thursday 30 June 2016
Sandfield Road – Progressively north to southPhase 1. Woodlands Road to Beech Road Monday 1 February to Tuesday 22 April 2016
Phase 2. Between Beech Road and the southeast property line of No.1 Sandfield RoadPhase 3. Between the southeast property line of No.1 Sandfield Road and junction with A420 London Road As above when appropriate traffic signs are use

Exemptions are included for emergency services, the works and essential access.

This Order will remain in force for a maximum period of 18 months or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner.

The relevant parts of the following Traffic Regulation Orders (as amended) will be temporarily suspended as required for the duration of the works: The Oxfordshire County Council (Headington West) (Controlled Parking Zone) Order 2000;The Oxfordshire County Council (Headington Central) (Controlled Parking Zone and Various Restrictions) Order 2005;The Oxfordshire County Council (Disabled Persons Parking Places – Oxford) Order 2010.

Traffic Regulations Team (Ref. ACP/T3091/T3092/T3093/T3094) for the Director for Environment & Economy, Speedwell House, Oxford OX1 1NE. 0845 310 1111.

There are maps of the road closure areas in .pdf form, please click on the required link to view and please credit Headington Lib Dems if you will use this information in any social media message

001 All Saints Road Part 1 002 All Saints Road Part 2 007 Latimer Road Part 1 008 Latimer Road Part 1 019 Stapleton Road Sandfield Rd Part 1 (2) Sandfield Rd part 2 (2) Sandfield Rd part 3

 

Trust apologises for poor comms with residents over energy project

Last night’s public meeting was well attended with over 100 people turning up.

Residents received an apology for the lateness of the communication.

All residents were given the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers who were from the Hospitals’ Trust and from the contractor, Vital Energi.

There appears to be a further delay in responding to residents because the project team at the Trust has a vacant post to fill, but residents and councillors stressed the need to have much more detailed information as quickly as possible.

The Trust has stated that residents in affected areas will be notified by letter at least two weeks in advance of work starting in their area.

The speakers agreed to hold regular meetings with a residents liaison group and we are setting dates for this today

If anyone wishes to join this residents and contractors liaison group, please let Ruth or Roz know

Your Councillors are working on the following issues:

  • set dates for liaison meetings before Christmas
  • ask the County Council for assistance with temporary relaxation of parking on DYLs or ask if temporary resident parking permits can be issued while works are ongoing in closed off roads
  • enquire who is liable for damage caused to cars parked on street rather than off road in terms of insurance claims, also whether residents need to inform their insurance companies that this change of arrangements is being made and whether this request would incur a charge
  • investigate arrangements for disability access while works are happening outside the property
  • ask the Trust and Vital for a copy of the impact assessment made prior to the works
  • liaising with the Trust’s energy team on financial information supporting the project

Oxford Brookes University has offered to make parking space available for residents overnight at Headington Hill Campus.

120m of trench will be open at any one time. Each section of works will be fenced off, dug, the pipes will be welded together in 12m lengths and laid in the trench with the cable, the trench will be closed and backfilled, then onto the next section

There are plans to keep a disabled parking pick up point available at the end of the trench, and a turning point there is also being considered.

Emergency vehicles will be given access at all times. Refuse collections will continue but earlier than usual, and residents should move their bins to the gate by 7am for collection.

Works will be carried out between 8am and 5.30 pm. Contractor parking is confined to the hospital compounds.

Issues and problems should be reported to the following contacts, preferable accompanied with a photo:

hospitalenergyproject@ouh.nhs.uk

01865 220600

@ouh_estates #energy

copy to Roz, Ruth and Altaf (see contact details above)

.pdf maps of road closures will be posted on this site later today

Public meeting about the hospitals’ energy project

PUBLIC MEETING

Wednesday 9 December

7:00-9:00 pm

All Saints Church House, New High Street, OX3 7AL

​Works are due to start on trench digging in residential roads from 4th January but there has been an embargo on communications until the press launch earlier this week.​

We know our residents are worried because they don’t know what’s going to happen or when, and there will be a number of road closures during which no through traffic will be allowed, although footpaths will still be accessible.

We are pleased to say that reps from both the hospitals’ trust and the contractors have agreed to come along and answer questions from the public, so it should be a very lively meeting

The Trust has published answers to our residents’ list of questions on their website

We are sorry there hasn’t been much notice of this meeting but we want to hold it as soon as possible given the levels of anxiety shown at last week’s Ward Focus meeting

 

Road closures latest (hospital energy project)

As you know, councillors were very concerned that a number of major roads would be closed at the same time during the energy project works.

County Cllr Roz Smith took up cudgels on our behalf and has received the following welcome news from the County Council:

After discussing at length  there will not be two sets of traffic lights at the same time on Old rd and London rd, however to avoid using three way lights on London rd we will use two way lights when Latimer Road is closed. We have been in contact and had meetings with Vital Energi (contractors for the project) and we are in contact with them on daily basis.

Reaction to hospital energy project briefing

All three Headington councillors attended the briefing today and asked questions about the project.

Fibre optic cables and high voltage cables will be laid within the trench containing the energy pipes.

Roads will be closed at either end while works are being carried out, however footpaths will remain open. The timetable for road closures has been discussed with Oxfordshire County Council and are as follows:

All Saints Road 4/1/16-27/1/16

Stapleton Road 11/1/16-15/3/16

Old Road 23/2/16-13/4/16 (part: controlled by traffic lights)

Sandfield Road 1/2/16-22/4/16

London Road 9/3/16-14/4/16 (part: controlled by traffic lights)

Latimer Road 21/3/16-30/6/16

When complete road closures take place, roads will be closed from either end with no through traffic.

We gave your 20 questions (see earlier post) to the Trust’s Director of Planning and Information and he has undertaken to post the answers up on the website as Frequently Asked Questions

We are trying to arrange a public meeting at All Saints Church House, New High Street on Wednesday 9 December from 7:00-9:00pm and will confirm this shortly. The Trust and Vital Energi (the contractor) have been invited to this meeting which is being arranged with assistance from Highfield Residents’ Association and have expressed interest in attending

We remain concerned that road closures are so long, and that several main routes will be closed at the same time. We are also concerned that Access to Headington roadworks may coincide with the energy project works. At this time we have no information about alternative arrangements for parking for affected residents and there are many questions still unanswered. We note that the Trust has apologised for the lateness of its communications – we believe that much of the anxiety by residents could have been minimised if consultation had happened months ago when the road markings were first apparent.