Experimental School streets (phase 2) - Didcot & Oxford

Oxfordshire County Council has made an Experimental Traffic Order that introduces ‘School Streets’ (timed road closures that prohibit access for motor vehicles at school drop-off and/or pick-up times) in the vicinity of five schools in Didcot & Oxford - which legally comes into force on 13 May (the individual schools may decide the exact date when to implement the measures). The aim is to create a safe, welcoming and attractive environment where children, parents and teachers can walk, cycle or scoot, or park away from and walk to school with less risk of concentrated air pollution and traffic congestion.

The closures will operate Monday to Friday during term time only, and the scheme will run for a maximum period of 18 months, following which a decision will be made on whether it becomes permanent. Exempt motorists include emergency services, residents and visitors, blue badge holders, school buses/transports, and deliveries. The experiment will be monitored by the County Council, with findings to be reported to the Council`s Transport Committee meeting after at least 6 months. This monitoring will help ensure the right decision is made about whether to make the arrangements permanent. The effect of the experimental order is to place temporary supervised barriers to close roads at the following locations and times to prevent motor vehicles from entering:

1. Didcot: (8:20am to 9:20am & 2:30pm to 3:30pm):

1. Manor Primary School (SS09): Lydalls Close (western section) – at its junction with the B4493 Foxhall Road, due to start on 3rd June.

2. Oxford: (8:00am to 9:00am & 2:30pm to 3:30pm):

1. St Mary & St John Church of England Primary School (SS05): Bedford Street – at its junction with Argyle Street, due to start on 13th May.
2. Tyndale Community School (SS07): Barracks Lane – at its junction with Hollow Way, due to start on 13th May,
3. New Hinksey Church of England Primary School (SS08): Lake Street – at its junction with the A4144 Abingdon Road, and Vicarage Road – at its junction with the A4144 Abingdon Road, due to start on 13th May.
4. Sandhills Community Primary School (SS06): Terrett Avenue – at its junction with Merewood Avenue, due to start on 4th June.

During closure times at school ‘pick-up’ and ‘drop-off’ (Monday to Friday during the times above), roads around the school sites will be closed to motor vehicles. A lead steward assisted by volunteers from the school and local community will manage and marshal the road closures by operating temporary barriers and opening them for any exempt vehicles. Exempt motorists include school buses, residents visitors, blue badge holders, emergency vehicles, plus council organised school transport for students with additional needs. Work will continue during the experiment with the schools to ensure that anyone with specific needs is not adversely affected.

Further information on the School Streets active travel measure is available on the county council’s website here

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.

Have your say.

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 5pm on Friday 15 November 2024.

Whilst we will endeavor 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. 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.