TEMPORARY Traffic Order: Nelson Street, Thame. A Temporary Traffic Order will be in place prohibiting through Traffic in Nelson Street from October 17.
The Order is being introduced because of carriageway maintenance works in Nelson Street and it is anticipated this will take two weeks to complete.
A copy of the Order with a map showing the location of the works, is available to view in the Information Centre in the Town Hall.
KINGS Road / Queens Road, Thame ? Carriageway Reconstruction – Oxfordshire County Council is undertaking carriageway works in Thame on both Kings Road and Queens Road, between its junction with Towersey Road and 20 metres south of its junction with Kings Road. The Council will also resurface the mini-roundabout at the junction of Kingsey Road and Kings Road.
The road works are programmed to commence on 1st August 2011 and are expected to last for approximately six weeks, subject to any bad weather or unforeseen circumstances arising during construction. The working hours for the road works are expected to be from 07:30hrs to 17:00hrs week days and Saturdays.
The programme is dependant on Scotia Gas meeting their programme of works installing a new gas pipeline in the carriageway of Queens Road (between Kings Road and Towersey Road) and Towersey Road.
Road closures of both roads will be required to undertake the work and the order will be in place for the duration of the works. Pedestrian access to properties within the road closure will be maintained at all times. Access for private vehicles will not always be available due to the nature of the works being undertaken and the width constraints of the site.
Vehicle owners of properties along both Kings Road and Queens Road will need to consider usage of their vehicles at certain times of the works when excavation of the road would preclude access. During these times people are asked to park outside of the area of the works in the surrounding estate roads. Individual access requirements will have to be agreed with the site supervisor, once works have started on site.
THERE is no evidence that High Speed 2 will provide significant economic or environmental benefits says the Chilterns Conservation Board in its submission to the public consultation on high speed rail.
The Board says that it is opposed to the Government?s proposals to build a high speed rail line through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It does not believe evidence has been put forward to show that High Speed 2 is in the national interest which would justify damaging a nationally-protected landscape like the Chilterns.
The Board says that it has produced detailed responses to all the questions in the consultation, outlining the many flaws in the proposals for High Speed 2. It also points out a recent EU survey which found 92% of UK rail travellers are satisfied with journey times, undermining the case for building a faster line.
?In a time of austerity it is incredible the Government is even thinking of spending so much money on a railway when there are so many more pressing and urgent economic and environmental issues to resolve,? said Steve Rodrick, Chief Officer of the Chilterns Conservation Board. ?A message needs to be sent that we do not share their belief that spending
PEOPLE in South Oxfordshire are being asked to have their say on proposed changes to district council car parks, including those in Thame.
Earlier this year SODC consulted with residents on a draft car park order, which sets out car park fees and charges for the coming year as well as some other proposed changes at its car parks.
The council says that another consultation is now needed as there have been a number of changes to the proposals contained within the order.
Residents have until 5pm on August 18, to send in comments on anything in the new order, which can be read in full at www.southoxon.gov.uk/haveyoursay or to see a paper copy, call 01491 823423.
Some of the main changes to parking contained within the order include:
– Requiring people to display a ticket to park for the free hour at car parks in Thame (Cattlemarket & beind Co-Op), Didcot, Goring, some car parks in Wallingford, and the free two hours at Goldsmith?s Lane car park in Wallingford.
– Introducing a maximum stay of four hours at the Church Road car park in Wheatley.
– Introducing new charges at the Riverside car park in
Wallingford, including:
– free parking on Sundays
– a new short stay charge of 50p for up to one hour all summer (low and high season) and
AS the weather changes for the better, the Phoenix Trail seems to be getting busier and busier with families out cycling, soaking up the sun and getting some of that vital vitamin D. To improve you or your familie’s biking experience this summer why not get in touch with Haddenham Cycle Training?
The scheme was started five years ago by a small group of volunteers teaching Biking Basics in Haddenham. They now have a monthly Bike Club, varying training levels for different age groups and instructor training.
The team of seven instructors delivers cycle training within Oxfordhsire, Buckinghamshire and other surrounding counties. They focus on schools, training groups, families or individuals and are an Accredited Bikeability Scheme Provider.
On the first Saturday of every month they run a Bike Club with an exciting programme made to appeal to young cyclists of all abilities and experience. Activities include great local cycle rides, mountain biking, BMX cycling, bike maintenance, try-a-bike with different bikes such as folding bikes, unicycles, ordinary and racing trikes, tandems, racing bikes, recumbent bikes and games and competitions. You do not have to live in Haddenham to be a part of the club.
If you are interested in becoming an instructor, HCT have been granted Instructor Training Organisation status by the Department of Transport. They are one of only 18 ITO’s in the UK accredited to deliver Bikeability Instructor Training.
This new status recognises the fact that HCT has been assessed by the government and can deliver instructor training in line with the national standards.
The scheme is a non-profit organisation and use any surplus to improve the cycling facilities at Haddenham’s schools and within the community. They are always interested in more volunteers especially dads or granddads as they are primarily a group of working mums at present.
For more information on dates, training courses and bookings visit www.haddenhamcycletraining.org
NOW that Spring is here at long last, why not dust off your bike and get out in the beautiful Chilterns countryside?
There are lots of promoted cycle routes in the Chilterns both on and off-road, and many of them are signposted. They range from short day-rides to the 173 mile Chilterns Cycleway, a popular new route through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is easily split into Day Rides or two-day short breaks. Some ready-made itineraries can be downloaded off the Chilterns Cycleway web site www.chilternsaonb.org/cycleway. A guide book is available with detailed maps of the whole route, price
THE road has now re-opened both ways at the junction of the A4129 Kingsey Road in Thame with the B4012, following an earlier Road Traffic Incident.
A car left the road at about 8.15 am this morning, and ended up on its side in a hedge. The one occupant was trapped for a while, but was able to walk to a waiting ambulance, and has only minor injuries.
17.00 hrs
LOCAL MP, John Howell, has welcomed Government plans to help end the nightmare of HGV lorries being directed along roads in the constituency deemed unsuitable.
John said: ?I have received many complaints from constituents about this issue. The residents of villages such as Aston Rowant, Kingston Blount and Chinnor have been campaigning relentlessly to stop HGV lorries trying to get to Thame along the B4009 after coming off at Junction 6 of the M40. This is a chance to make our views count and I urge everyone to participate in the consultation.
“Under new proposals, the power the Department for Transport only to set a road classification eg an A or B road, will be swept away. Local councils will be given the power to downgrade a road or to up-grade one if they think it makes better sense for that road to be used as a primary route. Councils will no longer have to get approval from the Department for Transport.”
John added: ?Local people are best-placed to decide the classification of local roads. This could help councils beat the pockets of congestion we all know exist. However, it also needs action to be taken to make sure that Sat-Navs reflect this and do not send lorries down routes that are not suitable. I am glad, therefore, that the consultation on these proposals is asking for ideas to solve this problem. I understand major Sat-Nav producers are keen to solve this problem as well, but, at present it seems to take too long for Sat-Navs to change when a member of the public reports a route as unsuitable.?
Local authorities will be required to send a formal record of any changes to its road network to DfT but reporting will be streamlined, with the current eight forms replaced with one.
The consultation can be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2011-02/ and will continue until May.
SOURCE: Press release 03/02/11
PHOTI: Copyright APEX – This driver got wedged in a coutry lane when he followed the instructions given by his SatNav. Full story – Mail On Line: http://tiny.cc/btyup
THE A329 near Milton Common, Thame, has reopened after it was closed to traffic yesterday afternoon because of flooding from the nearby River Thame.
According to the Environment Agency the River Thame is still on flood alert, but they were not expecting any damage to properties though property owners should remain vigilant.
A temporarary road closure will apply to a part of Thame Park Road, Thame, whilst carriageway drainage works are carried out. The works are expected to run from March 01, 2011 for an estimated two weeks.
Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and those residents within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works.
Full details of the Order and a copy drawing showing its extent and also the alternative routes for traffic are available for viewing in the information centre in the Town Hall.
For further information or if you have any queries, please contact James Wright at Oxfordshire County Council on 01865 815551.