Sandy Lane Crossing Closure Plans
The Council opposes Network Rail's plans to close the Sandy Lane crossing to vehicle traffic. We are calling for the direct route between Yarnton and Kidlington to be maintained for light vehicles, either by keeping the crossing or by building a new road bridge over it.
Closure would force cars and vans to travel round by Frieze Way or Langford Lane beween Yarnton to Kidlington, a journey two miles longer each way. Traffic on the A44 and the A4260 will be increased even more; junctions and roundabouts will be more congested. Businesses will have to bear an extra cost in time and travel. Customers may be reluctant to travel the extra distance to go shopping or seek services in the Village centre.
Speed Limits
Oxfordshire County Council’s Transport Strategy encourages walking or cycling as a means of exercise and travel, but pedestrians and cyclists feel intimidated by HGVs and cars travelling too fast on residential streets. Although there are 20mph speed limit zones in parts of Oxfordshire and Oxford City we are joining the campaign to extend this to all towns and villages where vehicles mix with pedestrians and cyclists.
The Parish Council supports the County Council's plans for 20 mph limits across Kidlington except on the main arterial roads, but including the Oxford Road from Yarnton Road to Benmead Road; and for a 30 mph limit between Yarnton Road and just North of Sainsburys roundabout. See further details on the 20's Plenty for Us campaign.
Find and report road or street problems
The County Council is the authority responsible for streets and roads. Use their Fixmystreet website to find and report road or street problems.
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Civil Parking Enforcement
As many residents will know the enforcement of parking is low on the police agenda and the Parish Council has been pushing for parking in Kidlington to be decriminalised. From late 2022 this will no longer be dealt with by the police but by officers employed by Cherwell District or Oxfordshire County Councils, the same arrangement that currently exists in Oxford City and West Oxfordshire. In practice it will mean that in areas where there are parking restrictions they will be enforced on a more regular basis.
Traffic Advisory Committee
We also have a Traffic Advisory Committee where councillors meet regularly with County Council and other officers.