Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the Oxfordshire County Council Place Planning Team.

The Committee received and considered the Oxfordshire County Council reports which included updates on the Shores Green project, Witney High Street improvements, Bridge Street Area options, Fiveways roundabout, Windrush Place Active Travel Schemes and Madley Park improvements. In addition, witney road traffic accident data and parking enforcement figures were provided to the Committee for information.

Members welcomed the report and attached accident/parking enforcement data. With regard to the enforcement data, it was felt further information was required for the figures to be meaningful.

The accident data was welcomed as the figures were generally low and appeared to show a reduction during the previous year which potentially correlated with the introduction of lower speed limits. For information, the TVP representative noted that 300 parishes across Oxfordshire had now reduced speed limits to 20mph following the County Council’s policy on lowering restrictions had been introduced three years ago. As with the enforcement data, further clarification on the nature of the accidents would be helpful.

The Committee was pleased the Shores Green project was progressing, but Members were concerned there may be a delay due any change of Secretary of State after the election.

There was frustration from the Committee on a further delay to the Witney High Street scheme with further public consultation being postponed until September. The Chamber of Commerce had published a position paper and felt the current scheme was neither a re-opening, nor a closure and something needed to happen. The consultation would be on a single design and communications would be sent out nearer the time.

There were questions on breakdown of costs, the project design brief, enforcement and on the compliance with the active travel grant which was funding the scheme which would be fed back to the County Council’s project team.

In relation to Corn Street and the Fiveways roundabout, it was advised that Corn Street would be looked at separately in its entirety  under the Feasibility design, Capability and Ambition Fund) as it was a clearly defined projects.

Members welcomed updates on Windrush Place bridleway surfacing and on funding for Madley Park path improvements. At Windrush Place, Members agreed the work at Windrush Place was a huge improvement; it was confirmed it would be maintained by the County Council public access team until such time it was transferred to Highways.

The Committee also raised concerns regarding the other footway alongside Wood Green School and a footway behind Windrush Health Centre which were suffering from poor drainage and surfacing.

A further item in the report regarding keep clear markings at dropped crossing points on Harvest Way was raised by a Member. Lining had taken place in this area but only at one end of the road, and not at Lime Walk which was the worst area for cars impaired visibility. It was advised the area had been looked at again and the work would be completed within the next two months.

The report also informed the Committee of the County Council’s current position on access protection markings and requests for mirrors on the highway.

Resolved:

1.      That, the report be noted and,

2.      That, the road traffic accident data and parking enforcement data be noted and,

3.      That, clarification is provided by the County Council on the questions raised regarding Witney High Street improvements and,

4.      That, County officers look at the footways alongside Wood Green School and Windrush Health Centre and,

5.      That, County officer follow-up on lining at Lime Walk/Harvest Way.