In previous submissions the Society has put forward six key themes to help deliver the aims of the Society and the Local Transport Plan. The main thrust of this response is in accordance with the Society's perception of how the proposed LTP will help deliver those. References are made, where appropriate, to paragraphs in the Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2030 - Draft for consultation October 2010.

GENERAL POINTS

There are a number of general points that the Society would like to see addressed in the draft document.

1. Dates, priorities, timetables

There is generally a dearth of dates, priorities and timetables for most of the proposals.

2. Cooperation with other authorities

There is little indication of willingness or the need to cooperate with other authorities such as the District Councils, the police, and other enforcement authorities, which will be essential for many of the objectives to be achieved.

3. Regions of Oxford covered

Most of the proposals in Chapter 13 cover either the Eastern Arc or the City centre, or both. They need to relate to the remaining areas of Oxford as well, where appropriate.

4. Oxford and Oxfordshire

There is very little in Chapter 13 about travel between Oxford and the county outside, and vice versa. Oxford depends massively on commuting from towns and villages around it. Many also travel out from Oxford, and these needs should be addressed.

5. Coordinated maintenance

Maintenance, particularly road maintenance, can offer an opportunity to carry out other smaller projects (such as for pavements and cycleways) at the same time, with minimum extra cost and disruption, and it should be County policy to take maximum advantage of such opportunities.

6. Electronic indicators

The Society believes that poor use is being made of the electronic indicators that have been installed on major traffic routes into Oxford. Information about the number of parking places available in various locations would be very useful to motorists.

OCS KEY THEMES

Each italicised item below appeared in the Oxford Civic Society's earlier submission as an objective within its related OCS theme.

Key theme 1: Develop the Park & Ride sites

1.1 Extending the role of Park & Ride sites to enable them to serve a wider range of travel requirements.

We welcome the proposals (13.52) to extend existing P&R sites.

We regret that no action is proposed to use P&R sites as bus service hubs to improve bus connectivity.

We regret that no action is proposed to increase the use of P&R sites as terminals/ interchanges for longer distance coaches, which would reduce their environmental impact in central Oxford.

We welcome the proposals (12.28) to encourage the use of P&R sites as hubs for cycling by providing cycle parking and safe and direct access.

1.2 Provide additional Park & Ride sites further away from Oxford than the present sites

The Society supports the existing policy (11.11) to develop a ring of 'remote' Park & Ride sites (13-49-13.52), but notes that no specific sites are yet proposed. The provision of extra parking spaces at rail stations, coupled with improved rail services, could help to provide these.

Key theme 2: Create a City-wide Cycling Network

2.1 Remove the impediments to cyclists travelling safely and deliver specific projects to create a continuous network where cyclists have preference over other vehicles

2.1.1 Cycle network

We welcome the suggested investigations (12.28 and 12.29) that may help to create a convenient and continuous cycle network, but would like to see a greater commitment to fulfilling these objectives, with a timescale for achieving them, including access (routes, parking etc.) to hospitals, retail parks, non-central workplaces and other similar locations.

We oppose the proposal (12.27) not to continue the concept of a dual cycling network.

We regret the absence of any measures to reduce or eliminate obstruction of cycling infrastructure by parked vehicles (12.21).

2.1.2 Cycle parking

More emphasis needs to be placed on providing more secure cycle parking of a variety of types than is presented in 12.28 and 12.30, to encourage cycling in the city and to reduce street clutter and footway obstructions caused by badly parked bicycles.

The Society would like to see more commitment to providing more and better cycle parking at strategic places such as transport interchanges, not just investigations (12.28).

A firmer commitment is needed to work with city planners to ensure that sufficient off-street cycle parking is provided in all new developments for workers, residents and visitors (12.26, 12.28 and 12.31).

The Society is dismayed to see no commitment to appointing a Council officer with responsibility for delivering improved cycle networks and cycle parking.

2.1.3 Cycle training

The proposals (12.17) to increase cycling training are welcomed. It is suggested that these are carried out to the national 'Bikeability' standard, and are extended to temporary Oxford residents, particularly students.

Key theme 3: Create an Integrated, Attractive and Easy to Use Bus Network

3.1 Improve access to/from buses

We welcome the commitment to develop safe and comfortable pedestrian routes to and from bus stops, including street crossings, in the Eastern Arc (13.59) and elsewhere (13.60). This should be extended throughout the city.

3.2 Improve cross-city travel by buses

We regret the absence of any objective to improve connectivity between city bus services, as proposed in the Society's 'Bus Connectivity' report. This is a major disincentive for many to use bus services.

We welcome the introduction of route 20 from Rose Hill to Cowley Centre as part of an orbital bus service, and the suggestion of a "rapid transit system" for the Eastern Arc, though more details are needed (13.44).

We regret that there are no proposals to improve connectivity between rail and bus services. The Society sees major advantages in having a rail/bus interchange at a new station at the Oxpens

3.3 Improve electronic information and bus stop standards

We welcome the improvements already made in providing real-time information as well as timetables at bus stops (11.25) and proposals to extend them. We recommend that maps of the local area are provided at all bus stops, to help visitors after they have alighted from the bus.

We welcome the commitment to high-quality bus stops (11.22 and 11.23); this should include seating and shelter from inclement weather.

3.4 Improve public transport inquiry services

We regret the absence of any proposals to provide an integrated service for information about all bus and rail services in Oxfordshire.

3.5 Implementation of Quality Partnerships with bus operators

We regret that no use of Quality Partnerships is proposed to improve the frequency of bus services for longer periods during each day (11.4).

We regret the absence of any commitment to use Quality Partnerships to improve connectivity between public transport services.

3.6 Improve ticketing arrangements

We welcome the improved ticketing arrangements (smartcards, interoperability of tickets across different operators' services) already in place and promised (Policy PT2iii and paragraph 11.27), and urge that means are provided to make these tickets and cards more easily available.

Key theme 4: Improve the Street Scene and Make it Easier and More Attractive for People to Choose to Walk

4.1 Create a convenient and continuous walking network in Oxford which can be used in all weathers, and without discontinuities or abrupt changes of level

We welcome LTP3's acknowledgment (paragraphs 12.4-12.13) of the importance of this, but we object to the lack of any specific actions.

4.2 Provide a budget for community-led low cost schemes for residents to re-design their own streets, making them safer and more attractive places to live

We are pleased that the value of public involvement in such schemes appears to be acknowledged in paragraph 12.11, but more commitment from Council highway engineers is required, and an annual budget should be provided.

4.3 Introduce more shared spaces in residential areas

We object that there is no mention or commitment to the Manual for Streets or to giving priority to pedestrians in residential streets.

4.4 Introduce more Restricted Parking Zones, where yellow lines can be eliminated

We regret the absence of any specific commitment to introducing more RPZs, such as in New Inn Hall Street.

4.5 Speedy introduction of appropriate controlled parking zones where needed which cater adequately for resident, shoppers and local work and activities

We welcome the proposal to extend Controlled Parking Zones in the Eastern Arc (13.57), but they need rapidly to be extended throughout Oxford.

4.6 Provide allocated on-street and off-street spaces for shared 'car club' cars

We welcome the commitment to this in paragraph 13.72.

4.7 Remove car parking from Broad Street

We regret the absence of any specific proposal to remove parking from Broad Street as part of improving the street scene and implementing Transform Oxford.

4.8 Address the issues of permeability for walkers, e.g. by providing more and better crossings of the ring road for walkers and cyclists

We regret the lack of any measures to provide more and better crossings of the ring road for walkers and cyclists such as are proposed in Access to Oxford and advocated in Manual for Streets 2.

4.9 Increase the provision of cycle parking to prevent footway obstruction by badly parked bicycles

We welcome the envisaged increase in provision of cycle parking (12.28), but suggest that street furniture might be designed so as to avoid it being used to secure cycles. It should also be stated that this needs to be coordinated with other agencies, as appropriate. (See 2.1.2 above)

Key theme 5: Improve air and environmental quality across the city

5.1 Implementing the redesign of Frideswide Square ahead of developments in the West End and at Westgate

We do not believe that a redesign of Frideswide Square will improve conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and other traffic without other changes to transport routes and interchanges (13.55).

5.2 Reducing the environmental impact upon Headington of motor traffic associated with local hospitals; in particular improving access to the JR for all modes of travel

We welcome proposals to expand the Thornhill P&R site (13.52), improvements in public transport in the Eastern Arc, and reductions in workplace parking (13.44), that should help reduce the environmental impact.

5.3 Enabling coach services in the city centre to be reduced by providing more attractive options for travel at the Park & Ride sites

We object to the omission of any specific proposals to reduce coach services in the city centre in paragraph 13.65 by providing more attractive options for travel at the Park & Ride sites, especially in view of the strong public support for reducing the impact of buses and coaches in the city centre referred to in paragraph 13.52.

5.4 Creating a direct A34/A40 link, by-passing the Wolvercote roundabout

We object to the omission of any proposal to create this link.

5.5 Better managing the intrusion of goods vehicles into the city centre

We note that the County is aware of the problems (10.22-10.30), but object that there are no policies to improve management of goods vehicles.

5.6 Extend Air Quality Management to all vehicles and to areas beyond central Oxford

We are pleased to note that the County and City Councils will develop a citywide Air Quality Action Plan (13.34), and look forward to its early implementation.

5.7 Encouraging electrically powered public transport, including local tour buses

We regret the absence of any specific commitment to encourage the adoption of electrically powered public transport. We are surprised that the forthcoming electrification of the railway to Paddington, and possibly elsewhere, is not included, nor is the development of a station and bus interchange at the Oxpens, to take full advantage of the electrification and the expected increase in rail services and passenger numbers.

5.8 Measures to encourage use of electric vehicles in Oxford

We welcome the installation of charging points for electric vehicles in the city (13.69), and request that provision is also made for electric bicycles.

5.9 Removing traffic management signs and apparatus rendered unnecessary by introduction of the 20 mph limits, to improve environmental quality

We are disappointed that the County does not appear to wish to take advantage of the 20 mph limits to remove some signs and apparatus, including some traffic lights.

Key theme 6: Improve access to the rail station

6.1 Restore good connections between city bus services and the station by implementing the recommendations of the Society's report on 'Bus Connectivity'

We welcome the intention in paragraph 13.53, and look forward to its speedy implementation.

6.2 Develop high quality, continuous pedestrian and cycle routes crossing the city via the station, including a new link between Jericho/North Oxford and the rail station

While we welcome the intention to investigate improved cycle links (13.53), we object to the lack of any specific proposals.

6.3 Consider the relocation of the rail station to the Oxpens as part of Network Rail's 'Route Utilisation Strategy' plans to increase the number of through platforms from two to four

We deplore the absence of any reference to this proposal, particularly in view of the cancellation of Access to Oxford, the problems of access to the existing railway station, the growth of traffic in Frideswide Square that will be associated with development of the West End and the Westgate, and the forthcoming electrification of the railway.

6.4 Encourage Network Rail and the train operators to provide more, and a wider variety of, cycle parking at the station

We are pleased that better parking facilities are to be investigated (11.49 and 12.28), but object that there is no commitment, or any reference to train users

6.5 Encourage the provision of local rail services as well as long distance services, so as to relieve road pressures

We welcome a commitment to improving regional and inter-regional rail links (11.48), but seek specific commitments to local rail services

6.6 Explore using the Cowley rail line for light rapid transit and to demonstrate the potential for light rail to provide other services

We welcome the discussion in 13.44 of the possibility of using the Cowley line, and introducing other light rail services, and look forward to a formal study of these prospects.