Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the Lead Officer/Team Leader – Place, Planning and Coordination West.

Members received and considered the reports of Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), which were delivered by the lead OCC Officer, where present. These included updates on the Shores Green Project and the proposed redesignation of the A4095 as part of the those works.

Additionally, the Committee was updated on path and road crossing improvements for Madley Park, Windrush Place and Deer Park Road; OCC also shared the upcoming lining refurbishment schedule for various areas in Witney.

Also, a recent road safety incident on New Yatt Road was brought to the Committee's attention, along with updates on a white lining issue at Ralegh Crescent, the West End Link Road, plans for the Fiveways roundabout, Corn Street design changes and an accreditation awarded to a local school.

Access to Witney – Shores Green

OCC Officers shared a presentation providing a project and construction update on the Shores Green slip road, the project was progressing on schedule and was expected to be completed mid-2026. It was confirmed that vegetation removed during the works would be replaced as part of the landscaping and reinstatement phase.

A series of road closures would be required to facilitate the next stages of works, the first of these would be on 7th July, with a complete closure of the A40 slip road for five nights, between 8:30pm and 6:00am. WTC Officers confirmed the formal notice of these closures had been shared via the Town Council's social media channels to inform residents.

OCC Officers advised that data from the temporary traffic lights on-site was monitored weekly and alternations made to minimise disruption. Members heard that regular updates on the scheme were available to those registered on dedicated OCC webpage.

As part of the project, the A4095 was being redesignated to assist the rerouting of traffic around Witney optimising the new Shores Green slip road. This change would remove the A-road designation from the centre of Witney, helping to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in Bridge Street and the town centre, and signage would be updated accordingly to reflect the new routing.

A Member raised concerns regarding the implications of changing the road classification from an A road to a B road, specifically about road maintenance. OCC Officers advised the Committee that there would be no changes to the existing gritting schedule for the affected roads.

Witney Paths (Madley Park/Windrush Place), Deer Park Road crossings

OCC Officers provided an update on the footpath improvements at Madley Park and Windrush Place, along with the crossings at Deer Park Road. A revised programme for these works were currently in progress, with plans to appoint a contractor later in the year.

A Member raised concerns regarding the timescale, questioning why these improvements had taking longer compared to other similar projects. In response, OCC officers explained that safety considerations, particularly regarding lighting, have influenced the schedule. Additionally, officers expressed a preference to avoid carrying out major works during the summer holidays to minimise disruption for residents, which had also contributed to the extended timeline.

Lining Refurbishment Schedule

A schedule for white lining refurbishment in various areas of the town was shared, with work planned to improve road markings and safety. This included the removal of the lining at Langdale Gate that was raised at the previous meeting.

A Member also raised an issue with cross-hatching at Burford Road…

New Yatt Road – Road Safety Incident:

Following a report of a road safety incident submitted to OCC by WTC, OCC had reviewed the footpath linking New Yatt Road to Vanner Road with consideration for the possible installation of a barrier to enhance pedestrian safety. Officers informed the Committee that currently, there was no funding for these changes, the scheme had been added to the potential future schemes, pending the availability of either OCC funds or another external funding source.

Members noted that similar barriers installed at Moorland Road had been effective in improving safety and acknowledged the importance of preventing injury however, emphasised that any barrier installation must ensure that access for all was maintained.

White Lining – Ralegh Crescent

OCC Officers advised that the resident of Ralegh Cresent had been informed of the process to apply for an advisory white line across their driveway however no request had been received.

West End Link/ North Witney

OCC Officers reported that there was no update at this time regarding the West End Link Road, communication was ongoing with the North Witney developers, who were in the process of updating their Transport Assessment that supported the live planning application. It was noted that this updated Transport Assessment was expected to be made public later in the year through the standard planning processes managed by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC).

Fiveways Roundabout – Vision Zero Programme

Officers confirmed that the preliminary design for a raised parallel crossing on the Welch Way arm of the Fiveways roundabout had been completed, funded through the Vision Zero programme and confirmed that informal stakeholder engagement was open until 11^th July. The crossing aimed to slow traffic and included a tactile (anti-skid) surface.

A Member asked whether the tactile surface could be extended around the roundabout to include traffic entering from Tower Hill and suggested the consideration of rumble strips on the other arms.

Corn Street (Feasibility Design, Capability and Ambition Fund)

OCC officers provided an update on the ongoing feasibility design work for Corn Street, specifically the section between Holloway Road and Market Square. Contractors had completed initial design proposals aimed at improving the route for people walking, cycling, and enabling two-way bus travel. At this stage, officers were reviewing the design work internally and engagement with key stakeholders was expected to follow once the internal review process was complete.

Fiveways Roundabout – Dedicated Space for Cycling (Feasibility Design, Capability and Ambition Fund)

Officers shared a summary report which outlined the public engagement undertaken and set out the proposed next steps. As the scheme currently had no allocated funding, the priority was to explore and secure appropriate funding sources to enable progression of the project.

School Travel

Members were informed that Witney Community Primary School participated in Walk to School Week in May and successfully achieved their ‘Approved’ Travel Plan accreditation. This reflected the school’s ongoing commitment to promoting active and sustainable travel among pupils and families.

Resolved:

That, the updates from OCC officers be noted.