Agenda and minutes

To receive and consider apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Trevor Baylis from Stagecoach and Vanessa Scott from West Oxfordshire District Council.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting.  Any member of the public who so wishes may speak, at this point in the meeting, for a maximum of five minutes on any matter relating to an item on the agenda.

The Committee adjourned for Public Participation.

Ronald King addressed the Committee concerning item 7b on behalf of the Richmond Witney Residents Association.

Rae Cather addressed the Committee requesting an update following a presentation on behalf of residents of Church Green, Witney, at the last meeting of the Witney Traffic Advisory (28^th September 2021).

Councillor Jim King stated that he had given apologies for the meeting on 28 September 2021.

Resolved:

1. That, the apology from Councillor King be noted, and,

2. That, the minutes of the Witney Traffic Advisory Committee held on 28 September 2021 be approved and signed by the Chair.

T811 – Community Speedwatch. The Deputy Town Clerk advised Witney Town Council had agreed to work with the County Council on a pilot 20mph speed restriction scheme for the whole of Witney. Community Speedwatch would complement the scheme once it had been established and been through a public consultation. The Chair requested that any updates from the Witney 20MPH Working Party be added to the Action Plan for this committee.

T815 – Avenue Two, Station Lane - The Deputy Town Clerk advised the committee that Witney Town Council were in discussion with the developers at this site to try and improve the safety of the entrance to the Lake & Country Park and provision of disabled parking.

Resolved:

That, Town Council officers will keep this committee updated as the 20MPH for Witney discussions progress.

To consider correspondence from the Richmond Witney Residents Association.

With the permission of the Chair, this item was moved up the agenda so the members of public present could hear the outcome.

The Committee received and considered correspondence from Witney Richmond Village Residents Association concerning the speed of vehicular traffic on the Curbridge Road. The residents of Richmond Village request a Vehicle Activated Sign be installed on the A4095.

Members acknowledged that a VAS can be a good idea, but that speed enforcement was also an issue. Members discussed the inclusion of this area in both the forthcoming 20MPH speed reduction working party and Community Speedwatch programme.

The resident was appreciative of potential future measures but asked that since these could be sometime in progressing, that the VAS continue to be considered as a priority measure.

Resolved:

1. That, the correspondence be noted, and

2. That, this area be referred to the Community Speedwatch task and finish group, and

3. That, this area be referred to the 20MPH speed reduction working party for consideration of inclusion.

To review the current action plan. (enclosed)

Members received the Committee Action Plan of outstanding items.

T700 – Yellow lines at Compton Way and Judds Close – it was confirmed that the line painting was completed last year so this item could be closed on the action plan.

T762 – Concerns on Ducklington Roundabout. The concerns were ongoing. Members requested that at the very least signage could be introduced as a warning for pedestrians, e.g. ‘Look Left, Look Right’ as the current layout was very dangerous for pedestrians. County Council officers confirmed that a crossing had already been ruled out but they would investigate the possibility of an audit for the roundabout and immediate area in terms of walking and pedestrian safety.

T782 – Holloway Road – Traffic Calming. It was requested that this item be removed from the Action Plan as Cllr Coles had spoken to residents and other authorities and there was little else this committee could do at this point.

T794 – Low Traffic Neighbourhood – Burwell Meadow. County Council officers advised that signage had been requested. A study may be considered with an update provided at a later meeting.

T795 – Hailey Road/Farmers Close – Safety Concerns. It was confirmed that the hedge which was causing an obstruction has now been cut back. However, the dropped kerb is in the wrong place for children and families to cross safely.

This is a standing item on the agenda to discuss how the Committee might support the Town Council, which has declared a Climate Emergency.

There were no new items to report at this meeting concerning the climate emergency.

Resolved:

That, Town Council officers contact the Climate Officer at West Oxfordshire District Council to enquire of any updates relevant to Witney.

To receive and consider the report of the Principal Officer – Traffic Schemes Area Operations (North)

The committee received and considered the report of the Principal Officer concerning updates on several projects underway in Witney. Included within this were updates on the Witney Active Travel Scheme, a potential road crossing in West Witney, the Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan, a Low Traffic Neighbourhood Scheme at Burwell, and the emerging Local Transport & Connectivity Plan.

Members discussed the new active travel measures in operation on Corn Street. A query was raised around the type of lines that have been marked and whether there is an issue around adequate space for vehicles. Further, residents have complained to Councillors that the absence of white lines in the middle of the road have made it confusing for vehicular traffic.

Members were updated that an engineer had reviewed the visibility exiting from Corndell Gardens to Corn Street and it was confirmed that the implemented scheme had not altered visibility. There was potential for cyclists to be traversing this section with increased confidence and probably speed, and potentially this put them at higher risk from vehicles exiting Corndell Gardens. Further, it was requested a date when the incorrect signage on Corn Street will be removed.

Resolved:

1. That, the report be noted; and,

2. That, County Council officers confirmed that the cycle lane road marking on Corn Street should be dashed lines, not solid lines so they would check the cycle lane road markings on Corn Street and ensure that the designs have been implemented as planned; and,

3. That, County Council officers understood that the signage for Corn Street had already been corrected but would follow this up.

To consider correspondence from a resident regarding safety concerns at the roundabout on Tower Hill.

The Committee received and considered correspondence from a resident of Witney concerning the safety of pedestrians and cyclists at the roundabout at the bottom of Tower Hill.

Members were sympathetic to the concerns and were disappointed the resident had received no response from West Oxfordshire District Council or Oxfordshire County Council. County Council officers and the Thames Valley Police representative were asked if accident data could be made available for this committee and members agreed that the roads leading to the roundabout should be considered by the new 20mph for Witney working party.

It was advised that the Traffweb system that police reports are fed to is approximately 6 months behind on accident data. County Council officers confirmed that statistics can be organised for specified areas.

Resolved:

1. That, the resident correspondence be noted, and

2. That, the Chair of this committee would write to the resident directly, to include details on relevant forthcoming measures, and,

3. That, County Council officers request statistics for this roundabout, and,

4. That, these roundabout and surrounding roads will be considered as part of the LCWIP, and,

5. That, the roads leading to this roundabout will be referred to the 20MPH Working Party for possible inclusion in the reduced speed area.

To consider correspondence from a resident regarding pedestrian safety, following the vehicle restrictions in High Street.

The Committee received and considered correspondence from a Witney resident regarding pedestrian safety, following the vehicle restrictions in High Street.

Members agreed that the current setup required improvements to make it clearer and safer for all users of the High Street.

Members discussed the Oxfordshire County Council update provided in the officer’s report. An assessment visit was due to take place in the next week to review the measures needed, and that engagement with all users of the High Street would continue to inform the design stage.

Resolved:

1. That, the correspondence be noted, and

2. That, the Chair of this committee will write to the resident directly.

To receive and consider any pressing matters from members which may be added to the next meeting agenda for consideration.

A member raised the issue of parking for residents at The Crofts and asked whether this area could be considered for a residents parking permit scheme.

The Deputy Town Clerk brought attention to an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) in Corn Street, concerning the removal of unrestricted parking. The first review of the order was due in June, both the Town Council and this committee would review the consultation before that time.

Resolved:

That, Witney Town Council writes to the Parking Manager at West Oxfordshire District Council for an update to the next meeting.

To note that the next meeting of Witney Traffic Advisory Committee is scheduled for Tuesday 22 March 2022 commencing at 2.30pm.

Members were advised that the next scheduled meeting of this committee would be on Tuesday 22^nd March 2022. Officers would continue to the monitor the situation with the Covid-19 pandemic and arrange accordingly.

Resolved:

That, the date of the next meeting be noted.