Consultation on Woodstock Road Improvement Works

The County Council is currently holding a consultation on a set of proposals aimed at improving the Woodstock Road for buses, cyclists and pedestrians. The work involves:

• A new Zebra crossing (for use by pedestrians only) – to be located approximately 20 metres south of the junction with Bevington Road.
• Side Road Entry Treatments (SRETs) – comprising of raised table traffic calming features, with ramp gradients of no greater than 1:15, to be located at the following junctions: South Parade, St Margaret’s Road (east), St Margaret’s Road (west), Farndon Road, Canterbury Road, Leckford Road, Plantation Road, Bevington Road, St Bernard's Road, Observatory Street, and Little Clarendon Street.
• Segregated off-road cycle/pedestrian path – (making use of existing footway space) to be located on the west side from its junction with Frenchay Road, southwards to its junction with St Margarets Road (west).
• Bus stop clearway (which will prevent parking except for buses at all times) - to be located within the existing bus stop, approx. 25 metres south of its junction with Little Clarendon Street.
• Alteration of bus lane at the north end of Woodstock Road (to ease congestion for those leaving the city due to the bus filter implementation) - The current southbound bus lane will be removed and a northbound one will replace it. This will only affect the very northern section of the Woodstock Road (down to Squitchey Lane) and will also necessitate the removal of a bus stop on the southbound side.

If you would like to comment and have not yet done so, you can do so with this link. The deadline is 5th June.

New guide for energy efficiency and carbon reduction in heritage properties

The energy used to heat our homes, to produce hot water, to cook, to light rooms and power appliances all makes a contribution to carbon emissions where this is sourced from fossil fuels. As such, the City Council recognises the important role of retro-fitting existing buildings for energy efficiency so as to reduce their impacts on climate change and the environment. It also recognises that we have many buildings with a unique historical character and as such is seeking to give guidance on how that can be protected while increasing energy efficiency.

The City Council has just produced a new guide for residents wishing to alter heritage assets - including older and historic buildings, and buildings within conservation areas .

You can access the guide here.

Planning Updates

The planning application for two houses at the former builders yard at 1A Southmoor Road has been granted (one being the conversion and extension of the Victorian canalside workshop and the other a new house on the site of the previous offices and storage). There were numerous local objections. The developer did make some changes to the scheme in response, particularly lowering the height of the lift entrance which would have been visible in the gap between no 3 and no 5.

An application has been submitted for conversion of the Gibson Building just south of Observatory Street (between the GP Surgery and the Radcliffe Observatory).

We have been told by Savills that a new application has been submitted to the Council for the former Party Shop at 179 Kingston Road but it is not yet available on the Council website. We will review this once it is publicly available.

Run Jericho

The annual 1 mile/5km /10km race that raises money for St Barnabas' Primary School is taking place on Sunday 9th June.
See here for details.

Wishing you all a joyous June and hoping that the weather improves so we can get out and about.

The WMRA Committee