NOTHING TO BE DONE ABOUT HGVs
says Oxfordshire's Tory Leader

Last Thursday Keith Mitchell - Conservative Leader of the Oxfordshire County Council - was asked on the Bill Heine Show by a caller from Chippy whether it wasn't time for something to be done about the volume of HGVs going through towns like Chipping Norton.  Mr Mitchell said he knew all about this problem from his experience in Bloxham which is on his patch. There were a lot of heavy goods vehicles wanting to travel from the west to the east of the UK and there were no motorways so this traffic found its way along unsuitable country roads and through small country towns. This was a national problem. There was nothing that the County Council could do about it. Well thanks Keith. Now we know what Conservative policy is.

Just a few comments. Bloxham shares the A361 (Swindon-Banbury) with Chippy. But this road only accounts for 20% of Chippys  HGV traffic. Chippy's main problem is the A44 Oxford - Evesham traffic. Chippy's HGV problem is many times greater than Bloxham's. Has Keith Mitchell ever been here Over recent years, as huge roads like the M25, M42 and A34 have become increasingly jammed Chippy has started featuring on all sorts of cross country alternative routes. (Ask a lorry driver to show you what his satnav advises as the best route from Swindon to Peterborough avoiding the M25)  And to make matters worse  - recently Warwickshire have been sending their HGVs from Coventry to Oxford  through Moreton in Marsh and Chippy to avoid Shipston on Stour.

There are three things Mr Mitchell which your County Council needs to do immediately.
1. Tell your friends in Warwickshire to take down the signposts for lorries sending them through Moreton and Chippy. These have only gone up recently and someone in your Transport Department should have been watching our interests.
2. Put up the lorry route signs from Oxford to Evesham directing HGVs along the A40 through Northleach. You promised to do this three years ago. Gloucestershire have done it from their end and as a result HGV traffic through Moreton has dropped by 10%. It all helps.
3. Your officers have to produce an Action Plan to reduce emissions in Horsefair. The only way of doing this is by cutting down the number of HGVs. They have produced some draft ideas including restrictions on HGVs through the town (by weight or emission efficiency). You really must finalise and submit these plans to consultation urgently.

You have obviously given up on this problem Mr Mitchell. Its by far and away the top environmental issue for people living in the town so don't be surprised if they give up on you and your party!

HORSEFAIR AIR QUALITY ACTION PLAN
NOW THE DEBATE STARTS IN EARNEST

In order to meet government standards Nitrogen Oxide emissions in Horsefair have to be reduced by a whopping 40%!
(Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO) are both oxides of nitrogen, and are collectively referred to as nitrogen oxides (NOX). All combustion processes produce NOX emissions, largely in the form of nitric oxide, which is then converted to nitrogen dioxide, mainly as a result of reaction with ozone in the atmosphere. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can affect our health. There is evidence that high levels of it can inflame the airways in our lungs).
The County and District have to produce an Action Plan on how they propose to do this. They have just published a first draft which is still missing lots of data and cost/benefit analysis - but what this draft does do is list the ideas for reducing emissions in Horsefair which have been generated so far. (READ THE DRAFT) It doesn't take much nous to see that the favoured option is likely to be a one-way system using Albion St and High Street. Time to start getting our arguments together about why this is not a good idea. A much better option would be a restriction on HGV's.  Road User charging is a new and very interesting  idea. 25 to drive an HGV through the town might start cutting lorry numbers! Why should it be "very high cost". One toll barrier across Horsefair would surely pay for itself very quickly. The following are the options on which financial calculations and feasibility studies will be done. There will then be an "initial" consultation.

HIGH IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY/MEDIUM COST

Create a one way system splitting the traffic between Albion St and High St and Horse Fair.
Low emission zones or other HGV restriction. 
Restriction of vehicles to those which are Euro 111 or Euro IV compliant.

HIGH IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY/VERY HIGH COST

Investigation and implementation of route for new road bypassing Chipping Norton
Road user charging

MODERATE  IMPACT/ MEDIUM COST
Access control & clear zones
MODERATE IMPACT/ HIGH COST
Queues relocated to the edge of town with traffic control on  routes through town centre.
LOW IMPACT/HIGH COST
Re-routeing and road hierarchy Establishment of bus and cycle lanes
VERY LOW IMPACT/LOW COST
Review of signposting to town centre to encourage alternative routes
VERY LOW IMPACT/VERY HIGH COST
Physical traffic management: speed & flow 20mph limit High Street and Horsefair.
VERY LOW IMPACT/VERY HIGH COST
Compulsory purchase