Consultation Launched on Oxfordshire’s Draft Transport Blueprint
Residents and organisations across Oxfordshire are being offered the chance to help shape the transformation of transport and digital connectivity across the county in a new consultation from 15 February to 28 March on a draft blueprint for the future. It is important that people’s views are given on the campaign to introduce a 7.5T weight limit for Henley for those HGVs who are not delivering in the town.
With the need for climate action, helping create healthy communities and addressing air quality at the heart of council thinking, the new local transport and connectivity plan (LTCP) sets out a vision for Oxfordshire that will contribute to developing a zero-carbon economy for the county and transform the health and wellbeing of residents.
Councillor Yvonne Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “The future of our transport matters not just because we need to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality; the options we propose in LTCP are aimed at fundamentally improving the quality of our lives. Oxfordshire is a great success story, but its ongoing performance must address how we travel in a way that can reduce congestion, improve our health and help develop active, connected communities. We need and will value your input about how we can best do this, working together, so please take time to review the consultation and offer your views.”
The LTCP vision is the first step in developing a long-term transport and digital connectivity plan for Oxfordshire. The goal of developing a transport vision is to set out the overarching policy direction and ambition for transport and specific schemes in the county.
The vision has been developed following analysis of engagement work with many organisations and through an analysis of transport data and evidence from a survey in March 2020.
This consultation will offer residents a chance to give feedback on the content of the plan.
The areas of focus for the new plan are:
- Commitments to de-carbonise the transport system by 2050
- Reducing the need to travel
- Discouraging unnecessary individual private vehicle use by promoting use of public transport and active travel such as walking and cycling
- A push towards quality digital gigabit and/or full fibre connectivity for all
- Enabling the economy to develop, supporting the Oxfordshire local industrial strategy agreed in July 2019
- Public transport operations and network changes amid the impacts of COVID-19.
By focusing on these areas, the LTCP vision seeks to protect Oxfordshire’s rich and varied natural and historic environment as well as improving resident’s health and wellbeing, social inclusivity and education access. A second consultation due later this year will cover the development of the full LTCP including an updated vision and goals.
Residents can have their say by visiting the county council’s consultation site.
I would like to have the opportunity to comment on the transport system in Henley. My main cause for concern are the giant HGV’s crossing our precious bridge. Most are not destined for the town but making a detour through it. They must be banned.
Make sure you click on the link in this article and comment on the consultation.
I am concerned that in the short time I have lived in the centre of Henley, I have noticed a vast increase in the amount of large and heavy HGV’s using our town as a scenic rat run, rumbling over our ancient bridge and through our narrow streets. The noise and pollution, let alone the damage to our roads and historic buildings, is a real worry and the town will be the loser in this if we don’t do something about it soon. I am backing the 7.5 ton weight limit proposal and hope this can be activated in the near future.
I’m interested in limiting HGVs through Henley-on-Thames as they damage our ancient buildings , clog our narrow streets , are dangerous to pedestrians in some our tight corners and pollute unnecessarily as there are alternative routes.
I’m also interested in controlling the amount of traffic in town and encouraging public transport.