Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire: ‘quiet lanes’ to ban traffic on 10 roads
Today, Tuesday, May 19, a pilot set to involve 10 streets was approved unanimously at Oxfordshire County Council cabinet.
The scheme will include physical barriers to traffic as well as 20 mph speed limits.
It will be enforced using experimental traffic regulation orders (ETROs), which will be subject to statutory consultation.
The authority says it plans to use streets where there are alternative routes available, and access would be maintained for residents, farmers, businesses, and emergency services.
A report to the council said the Department for Transport (DfT) evaluations of existing quiet lanes indicate that “signage only approaches generally have little to no impact on traffic volumes or vehicle speeds”.
It added that mixed traffic lanes were “discounted” as they would not “have the desired effect in relation to encouraging active travel or environmental benefits”.
The recently appointed transport boss, Rebekah Fletcher, said: “Quiet lanes are about making sure local roads work for the communities that live there, not as cut-throughs for traffic they were never designed to carry.
“This new approach will help us to prioritise walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding, and give us a clear and consistent way to provide quiet lanes where there is strong local support.
She added: “I look forward to working with parish and town councils and local councillors on this locally led and innovative programme.”
Speaking at the cabinet meeting, active travel champion and county councillor Emily Kerr (Green) expressed her support for the proposals.
She said: “Parish councillors kept asking what they could do next after the 20 miles an hour, and this was really brought home to me in a visit I made alongside Councillor Gordon to a village in her division.”
“There was a floral tribute and teddy bears by the side of the road, and she told me it was where a five-year-old child had been killed by a rat-running driver just a couple of years ago.”
She believes that quiet lanes are a safety measure which would allow “communities to designate fair local lanes as safe for villagers, to walk their dogs, to ride their ponies, to get to the bus stop” that could “change rural lives for the better”.
The county council stated that under quiet lanes schemes, “overall journey times for drivers are usually only slightly affected because suitable alternative routes must be available”.
It will now work with parish and town councils to identify and pilot new sites.
The authority said: “Each scheme will be subject to statutory consultation, which will allow measures to be tested in practice, evidence to be collected and designs refined before any permanent decisions are made.”
Kirtlington Park House in Kirtlington has been listed by Savills, with the property featuring 17 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms.
The house was designed by James Gibbs and refined by John Sanderson and includes the 36-foot-high Saloon and the “world famous Monkey Room”.
READ MORE: Michael Caine’s £10m riverside Oxfordshire manor in another price drop
Its listing states of the room: “The celebrated Monkey Room features a decorative ceiling painted in 1760 by the French artist Andien de Clermont, depicting monkeys engaged in human pursuits in the mid 18th century style known as singerie.”
Termed one of England’s finest Palladian country houses, the manor is set over around 30 acres with a floor space of approximately 36,700 sq ft.
It was built in 1742 for Sir James Dashwood and since then has been restored, including works to the roof and interiors as well as upgrades to plumbing and electrics.
It features a library, dining and drawing room, a games and cinema room, a billiards room, a gym, plant room and wine cellar.
In addition the property includes The Dairy, a one-bedroom cottage in its own garden with a woodland view, and the Stone Barn Cottages.
READ MORE: Iconic BBC show’s legendary £45m Oxfordshire lakeside mansion up for sale
On the garden, the listing states: “The grounds enjoy exceptional far-reaching views across the Oxfordshire countryside towards the Chiltern Hills.
“The landscape includes the celebrated Capability Brown lake positioned in the far distance to create a masterful sense of perspective.”
Mr Brown was a famous 18th century landscape garden architect.
The Teddies Select XI took on Chelsea FC Soccer Schools players at the Premier League club’s Surrey training ground on May 15.
The fixture marks the first community match in the partnership between St Edward’s School in Woodstock Road and Chelsea FC, which was announced earlier this year.
READ MORE: Oxford pupils meet Reece James as Chelsea partnership begins
As well as the independent school increasing its boys’ and girls’ teams, the partnership has seen the Teddies Select XI assembled, a squad of 11- and 12-year-old players drawn from local state schools, clubs and independent schools in the local area.
There are three teams in this Teddies Select cohort – U11 Boys, U11 Girls and U12 Boys – with each team playing a competitive match on professional-grade pitches at Chelsea’s training ground, facing a side from the Soccer Schools department’s Player Development Programme.
The match is intended to be the first of many, establishing a regular fixture that connects young players in Oxfordshire with the leading football club.
Steve Shipp, football projects manager at Chelsea FC, said: “We want to give people from the Oxfordshire area the Chelsea experience, and we couldn’t have done that without Teddies.
“Though our partnership with the school, we are hoping to develop our work and engage with other schools in the local area.”
The warden (head) of St Edward’s termed the partnership “transformational”.
“We are delighted,” said Alistair Chirnside, “to be able to share the expertise with young footballers beyond our school gates in a community programme as part of the partnership”.
Meanwhile dad of Year 7 Chipping Norton School pupil, Toby, called it a “brilliant experience”.
Alex Ward said: “The standard of football on the pitches is high and the Chelsea coaches really have the kids engaged, working hard on a range of skills and having lots of fun.”
Rachel Henshilwood, director of development and commercial partnerships, added that a key aim in the partnership was to bring world-class expertise and coaching to the Oxfordshire community.
She added: “The Teddies Select XI project really embodies those aims, and we look forward to cheering them on as a flagship team for the partnership.
READ MORE: Oxford private school reveals major expansion programme
“We think all players will benefit from this unique experience working together as one team.”
Jen Law, director of sport, said that the popularity of football at Teddies has increased.
She added: “With Chelsea coaches working alongside our own Football Professional, pupils gain access to professional coaching of the highest standard, tailored programmes designed to improve skill development, and pathways that build resilience, leadership and teamwork on and off the field.”
The newly refurbished building at West Witney is due to be handed over to West Witney Sports and Social Club on Friday, June 5.
The refurbishment to West Witney Sports and Social Club is the largest refurbishment of this site in over a generation.
The new facility will include new changing rooms, an energy efficient exterior, an updated bar and social rooms, as well as a new lift to support those with disability issues.
The refurbishment was originally due to be completed on Friday, May 22.
Councillor Thomas Ashby, for Witney West and Ducklington, said: “This marks the most significant upgrade to the facility in over a generation, set to benefit thousands of people across Witney and the surrounding communities.
“Designed for everyone: from local residents to sports enthusiasts, this project is a major win for both the town and grassroots sport.
“Looking ahead, the town council can now focus on planning the new 3G pitch, which will ensure activities can continue year-round, even through the autumn and winter.
“A sincere thank you goes out to the community and the town council staff whose hard work brought this project to fruition.”
West Witney is home to football teams, cricket, tennis, park run, air rifle shooting and bowls.
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