Agenda item

(Notice of such matters would be appreciated and should be sent to the Town Clerk).

Further to the updates from Committee Chairs, the Mayor opened the floor to questions from the public.

Q1. Is anything being done to address the problems around the new cycle lanes in Corn Street? They are not currently safe, and buses cannot pass each other safely.

The Mayor thanked the member of public for the question and referred to fellow councillors R Smith and D Enright.

It was confirmed that feedback and questions had been passed on by the Town Council at the consultation stage for this project, which was part of an active travel package delivered by the County Council. There had regrettably, been a short time frame on consultation due to time constraints in spending the funds and the result was narrower, and not necessarily safer lanes.

There was agreement this was a work in progress, and unfortunately not everything is right first time. The County Council was currently creating a Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) which would attempt to produce a plan. There would also be further consultation when additional funding became available.

Q2. 20mph Speed Limits. People do not know Corn Street has a 20mph limit – what can be done? Drivers might take more notice if signs are on the road

The Mayor advised this information would be fed back to Oxfordshire County Council who were responsible for implementing the scheme. As a wider issue, it was advised that lots of footpaths and cycle paths were overgrown so there was work needed on the ground to clear these. Police representatives suggested the Police Community Payback Scheme may be able to assist with this.

Q3. What is the Town Council role in assisting vulnerable people and riparian ownership of land in conjunction with flooding?

The Mayor advised the Town Council’s Planning Committee, members recognised and commented on new developments, large and small where ground is tarmacked over. Thankfully, these comments were being listened to increasingly at District Council. Everyone was beginning to recognise the sewerage problem which tied into this issue.

Cllr Andrew Coles, West Oxfordshire District Council commented that there were a number of reasons why flooding happens. Government thinking was that not enough properties flood and therefore no funding is provided to invest in defences and mitigations. What was being done was a sticking plaster approach. The floods two years ago highlighted many failures, it was the worst time for affected residents and community agencies were not ready. Therefore, much more needed to be done.

Q4. What is happening to our 500-year-old Market town? Is it becoming a suburb of Oxford?

There was agreement that shopping habits had changes as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic and further investment was needed in the town centre. Members advised there would be an opportunity to come together and talk about the future of the High Street during the coming months.

Q5. Are you disappointed with the turnout for this evening’s meeting?

The Mayor advised it was disappointing only a small number of the public had attended but the meeting had been advertised in all the usual ways, Witney Gazette, website, poster, and social media. In response to an attended, the Mayor said the Town Council could look into the communications in the future.