From barrier to bus gate

At a County Council meeting on August 6, the Council officers will recommend the removal of the Walton Street traffic barrier. This is because, as part of Covid-19 measures to reduce through traffic in Oxford and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, they are proposing to install a temporary bus gate within the Worcester Street/Beaumont Street area. Like the barrier, this would also have the effect of reducing through traffic in Jericho and Walton Manor – so they believe they do not need both measures.

However, while the barrier could be removed in week commencing August 17, the bus gate is only likely to appear sometime in September. So Jericho residents can anticipate the return of heavy traffic along Jericho’s main artery – at least for a few weeks.

You may remember that we had a consultation on whether the Walton Street barrier should stay or go. Some 51 per cent of respondents voted for the barrier to stay while 43 per cent objected to it. There were also two petitions—with apparently around the same number of people voting for and against.

Another consideration has been the diversion of traffic through St. Bernard’s Road. Although were attempts to mitigate the effects using various barriers and signs it seems that these did not work. You will find the full officers’ report on this issue by clicking here.

Barriers and gates can also be considered as part of a wider efforts for low-traffic neighbourhoods across the city. The officers also reported on a presentation by a local group for a Jericho Low Traffic Neighbourhood. This proposes the pedestrianization of part of Walton Street, but also says that, providing there is a bus gate, the Walton Street barrier could be removed. So, although the recent arguments around the Walton Street barriers have been polarized, with local groups enthusiastically for, or in the case of Jericho Connections, vigorously against, the picture is now more complex, with more areas for debate. This is no longer an open and shut case.

The next stage in the process will be a meeting of County Council Cabinet on August 6. Requests to speak this meeting should be sent to sue.whitehead@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

 
https://oxon.cc/CMDE06082020
 
The second link takes you to the papers on the web site:
 https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=931&MId=6350&Ver=4

Note that you can still vote on the introduction of the bus gate. The consultation closes on 9 August. You will find more details on how to comment by clicking here.