Experimental Traffic Management - Oxford: North Parade Avenue
Consultation has concluded
An 'Experimental' Traffic Regulation Order has been made in order to create a gated safe area in North Parade Avenue for businesses to provide retail facilities to the public by prohibiting vehicles from part of the street. The measures will facilitate safer pedestrian movement and the safe use of tables and chairs by the adjacent hospitality businesses, and exemptions are included for emergency vehicles and those requiring access to specific adjacent properties.
UPDATE: a modification to the order came into force on 01 January 2022 and will remain in force for the remainder of the Experimental Order. The modification amends the hours of operation (Restricted Hours) as follows:
- November to March - all days between 10am and 6.30pm
- April to October - all days between 10am and 9pm.
(The previous hours were Sunday to Thursday between 10am and 6.30pm, and on Friday and Saturday between 10am and 7.30pm)
What is an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order?
Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO) are used when it is difficult to assess the impacts of the scheme beforehand, but the cost of implementation is relatively low. In an ETRO, the Council introduces the scheme as an experiment first and there is then a six-month period after the scheme is introduced when the public can see for themselves the impact of the scheme and the Council can monitor its impacts. At the end of the six-month period, the Council assesses the impacts, including any letters of support or objections, and decides whether to confirm, cancel or extend the ETRO for up to 12 months longer (18 months in total) to allow further consultation and monitoring.
The Experiment will be closely monitored during its operation and any comments/complaints that are received will be given due consideration with a view to deciding whether the experiment, or any part of it should become permanent.
Please read the detailed information provided on this consultation, and take the time to complete the survey as your views and opinions matter. Your response should be completed and returned by Friday 01 July 2022.
Whilst we will endeavour to answer simple queries during the course of the consultation, any more complex questions/issues will be appraised and dealt with as part of consultation process.
What happens next?
The County Council will review the responses and if necessary (i.e. if objections are received) prepare a report to be presented to the Cabinet Member for Highway Management at a meeting scheduled for later in 2022. This will be public meeting at which members of the public may apply to speak. The agenda and reports for meetings will be made available on the Oxfordshire County Council web site about a week before the meeting. Please note that occasionally it is necessary to defer reports to a later meeting, and it is therefore advisable to check the agenda ahead of attending a meeting, the Forward Plan of decisions meetings can be viewed here
