Following the start of the consultation on the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan last week, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) would like to update you on their proposals for a workplace parking levy, traffic filters and expanded city centre zero emission zone in Oxford.

Since announcing the updated proposals in February 2022, OCC has had close to a hundred meetings with stakeholders, including local businesses, schools, disability groups and hospitals. Feedback from the 2019 consultation and engagement from February 2022 onwards have informed the latest revised proposals.

Support from OCC’s stakeholders will be essential to ensure the success of the proposals. A request from many of these groups was to phase the consultation and implementation of the three schemes.

OCC has decided to prioritise the traffic filters and are now proposing to introduce them as a trial next summer 2023.  This will allow them to monitor the impact of the traffic filters on the ground, seek views on how they are working and make changes, if necessary, before any decision is made about whether to make them permanent or not.

A consultation on proposals to introduce the trial traffic filters will start on 5 September 2022 and last for 28 days, ending on 3 October 2022.

If approved by county council cabinet, OCC would expect the trial to start in the summer of 2023 and continue for a minimum of six months. Members of the public and stakeholders will be able to continue to give us their views on the trial during this six-month period. The implementation of the traffic filters is needed to unlock the commitment from bus operators, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach West, and the Department for Transport to invest in 159 new electric buses for Oxford and allow reinvestment into the Oxfordshire bus network.

Please visit OCC’s website to find out more about the traffic filters and respond to the survey: letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022. The survey and supporting documents will be available from 5 September.

OCC will also continue with the assessment and modelling of the likely impact of the traffic filters alongside the workplace parking levy and zero emission zone on the economy, air quality and traffic levels. Public consultation on the workplace parking levy and zero emission zone is likely to take place next year. OCC will continue to engage with stakeholders and members of the public during this consultation period and beyond.

There are several events taking place at North Leigh Library this Autumn. For more information, click here.

Friends of North Leigh Library Update

The Friends of North Leigh Library (FONLL) need a new chairperson.

Oxfordshire County Council Library Service (OCCLS) has a strong record of encouraging local communities to participate and become involved in the work of their local libraries. The resulting groups often operate as “Library Friends” and in 2018 it helped establish the Friends of North Leigh Library. Friends’ groups help support their local libraries in a number of ways and no two Friends’ groups work in the same way as each community is unique.

As many residents will be aware North Leigh Library is a popular, modern branch library and it is well supported by the community, the local school and the parish council. As well as the traditional book lending services our library also offers free WI FI as well as computer and internet facilities. In addition, it hosts a number of activity groups for both children and adults. The aim of FONLL is help build on its existing success by holding fund raising events, developing new services and generally increasing engagement with the community. It would also like to provide volunteers to work in the library to further enhance the available amenities.

The existing FONLL are a small but enthusiastic group who are always keen to recruit and welcome new members. Following the resignation of their original chairperson due to his moving away from the area they are now looking to recruit a replacement. If you are interested in this role or if you would just like to join the Friends, then please contact the library either in person or by calling 01993 882935.

Finally, the library has an author evening planned for Wednesday 9^th November at 19:00. For those of you not familiar with this kind of event it generally involves a local author giving a talk on, or a reading of, one of their recent works. Because of the limited capacity of the library this event is ticketed however the tickets are free, although donations to FONLL would be appreciated, and are available from the library.

In the interests of public safety it will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to close the length of Cuckoo Lane to facilitate A40 STP2 Park and ride scheme. Enabling works (site clearance, trial holes, Bellmouth construction, utility diversions etc.) & construction phase works for deliveries, vehicle movements & safety of general public etc. Finishing works; (vegetation planting, landscaping etc.) works.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is being made to implement the temporary closure and Speed Limit restriction and will operate from 19/09/2022  The estimated completion of the works is 31/12/2023.

(The maximum duration of a TTRO on a road is 18 months and on a footpath is 6 months, or until completion of the works, whichever is the earlier.)

For the notice click here.

Notice of intention to make the Order will be published in the local press.

Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor. 

For the notice, click here.

For diversion map 1, click here.

For diversion map 2, click here.

For the speed restriction map, click here.

North Leigh Parish Council has distributed a speed survey to East End residents. To view the survey, click here.

The Parish Council (PC) has been told by Oxfordshire County Council that a letter has been sent to residents regarding the works on the A4095. The County Council has now forwarded this onto the PC and can be found here for reference to anyone who did not receive it.

The Met Office have now issued a red extreme heat warning for Monday and Tuesday next week, covering parts of Oxfordshire. I have attached the warning to this email for you to see.

Level 4 – Emergency

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/heat-health/?tab=heatHealth&season=normal#?tab=heatHealth

There is a 100 % probability of Heat-Health Alert criteria being met between 0000 on Monday and 0000 on Wednesday in parts of England.

What to expect

• Population-wide adverse health effects experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life. Government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only; seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice.
• Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines will be required
• High risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially leading to localised loss of power and other essential services, such as water or mobile phone services
• Significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents
• Delays on roads and road closures, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays

You may find some useful information and links on the Oxfordshire County Council website. This can be found here: Hot weather across England – warnings and advice issued (oxfordshire.gov.uk)

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/heat-health/?tab=heatHealth&season=normal#?tab=heatHealth

There are also some useful links below for additional advice from the government.

Beat the heat: keep cool at home checklist – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For more information from the Met Office, click here.

For information on caring for children in heat, click here.

As you may have seen, there is an Amber extreme heat warning in place from 00:00 Sunday 17th July to 23:59 Tuesday 19th July 2022. There is also a 90% likelihood that a There is a 90 % probability of Heat-Health Alert criteria being met between 1500 on Wednesday and 1500 on Saturday in parts of England. I have attached the warnings to this email for your viewing, alongside some advice on staying safe which you may wish to share amongst your communities.

Level 3 – Heatwave Action

There is a 90 % probability of Heat-Health Alert criteria being met between 1500 on Wednesday and 1500 on Saturday in parts of England. The latest forecast details can be obtained at the following link: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/#?tab=map

There are also some useful links below for additional advice from the government.

Beat the heat: keep cool at home checklist – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For more information from the Met Office, click here.

For information on caring for children in heat, click here.