Improving Transport in Didcot and the surrounding area Consultation Response Report
Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) held an online consultation from 2nd November until 25th November 2018. The online consultation focused on a package of strategic improvements that could include:
• A4130 capacity improvements – dualling of the A4130 between the A34 and new Science Bridge, including new and improved pedestrian and cycling measures.
• Science Bridge – a new road link from the new dualled section of the A4130, over the A4130 at Purchas Road, including pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
• Culham to Didcot River Crossing – a new road between Culham near the Science Centre to Didcot’s A4130 perimeter road, including pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
• Clifton Hampden Bypass – a new road between the A415, Abingdon Road, at the Culham Science Centre and B4015, Oxford Road, north of Clifton Hampden village.
• A number of other options considered were also presented.
The online consultation was supplemented with two exhibitions on 7th November at the Didcot Civic hall and 17th November 2018 at the Cornerstone, both in Didcot. Around 300 people attended the public exhibitions.
Feedback forms were provided online and at the public exhibitions. The feedback forms provided space to write a response to the following question:
Do you have any comments on the proposed package of strategic transport improvements for Didcot and the surrounding area to support planned growth?
We received a total 307 responses of which 13 did not provide any comments. The submission method and number of responses is shown in the table below.
Submission Method Number of responses Online 236 (11 did not provide any comments) Exhibition 56 (2 did not provide any comments) Post 1 Email 14
To note: a number of people sent a response twice via different methods, only 1 has been counted to avoid double counting. Each response to the question above has been put into a category that best summarised the response. The number of responses in each category is shown in the table below:
Category Number of responses Support package of schemes 89 Object to the package of schemes 16 A mix of object and support for the package of 4 schemes
Support for 1 or more of the individual schemes 33 Object to 1 or more of the individual schemes 7
Support Culham to Didcot river crossing but not the 29 preferred alignment Support A4130 capacity improvements but not the 2 preferred option Support Science Bridge but not the preferred option 1 Support capacity improvements 3
There should be more focus on improvements to 18 walking/cycling provisions and public transport The schemes should include good cycling and 7 walking provisions
Concern over location of Clifton Hampden Bypass 4 to the village of Clifton Hampden Concern over location of the Culham to Didcot River 12 Crossing to the village of Appleford Concerns over the impact of the schemes on other 11 villages and junctions
Concerns over the potential impact on the 8 environment Concerns over how the Oxford to Cambridge 4 Expressway will fit in with the package of schemes
Further evidence required 11 It is a little too late 1 Support the schemes but more is needed 8 Other issues/comments 26
A summary of the main topics mentioned in the consultation response is shown below.
Culham to Didcot River crossing: • Impact of Alignment 1 on the village of Appleford • Alignment 1 would require 2 roundabouts on the A415 • Alignment 3 and or 4 would link closely to Culham Science Centre (CSC) site and the proposed Clifton Hampden Scheme • Consideration of an alignment further west of Appleford using the existing Haul road
Clifton Hampden Bypass: • Clifton Hampden bypass should be further north or designed to be further away from properties
Science Bridge: • There should be connections into Milton Park
A4130 Capacity Improvements: • Dualling should be extended further • Bus lanes along the A4130
General: • More focus on public transport/walking/cycling • Consequential traffic problems in Nuneham Courtenay, Stadhampton and Chiselhampton and Golden Balls Roundabout • Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and how that will fit in with the schemes. • Schemes should be delivered quickly and before houses • The A34 needs to be improved • The schemes do not go far enough • Concerns that new roads may encourage more traffic (increased demand) • No traffic modelling/ traffic data to show how the schemes will help – consultation didn’t include the traffic modelling/traffic data evidence to show how the schemes will help • Concerns about the impact on the environment
Next Steps OCC are going through the process of securing £218m from the Housing and Infrastructure Fund.
OCC will now begin to develop and progress schemes with further public and stakeholder engagement. There will be informal and statutory consultations on each of the schemes in due course and this will provide the public with opportunities to provide further comments on the individual schemes.