Roads
A40 Park and Ride to Wolvercote
The revised HIF2 plans are now in the public consultation phase. There are drop in events on 25 November in Cassington and on 4 December in Eynsham. Information on the scheme and on how to comment is at letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Those with long memories may remember that my predecessor as your county councillor Charles Mathew and I both opposed the plans to build the park and ride and focus on A40 bus travel as the way to make the A40 work, as we neither thought it was going to be effective. However, the previous administration set up the scheme, and we need to make it work as effectively as possible. We will do that by focussing on the junctions, to make sure that they are as efficient as they can be. Improvements to the Eynsham roundabout and to the Cassington junction will make a huge difference. We will also ensure that the bike lane between Eynsham and Wolvercote is upgraded. There will be additional bus stops, and bus lanes for much of the length of the road. The Park and Ride – built to budget – will come into operation.
Unfortunately, the funding for the scheme from central government is insufficient for what was originally envisaged, and we have to make the most of what we have been offered.
Barnard Gate
There is work in Barnard Gate to strengthen the bridge on the old A40. Once that is finished, the County Council will address the ongoing problem at the more westerly junction with the A40, which is both dangerous and difficult to use. It is likely that only left turns will be allowed at the junction, which may inconvenience a high proportion of current users, or at least require them to take a different route.
Bus improvement
There continues to be a lot of work with the bus companies to make services as useful as possible. The H2 service is being doubled in frequency and is a brilliant way to get to the JR and to Headington. The government has awarded additional money for Oxfordshire, mainly for capital projects such as buying new buses, rather than to allow support for fares; and has of course increased the cap on fares from £2 to £3 from next year.
Budget
The budget cycle at the County Council is well underway [a consultation on the draft runs until 2 January], although the government is being unhelpfully opaque about what money will be available for local government. We have not, for instance, been told whether the rebate of the Employer NI contributions for council employees will be made from grants already announced. We certainly don’t expect reimbursement for the additional costs being incurred by suppliers and partners, for instance in adult social care. Our proposals for the budget will be published once the government settlement is made in December, and consultation will be open in January. The budget has to be agreed by the council in February.
Winter Fuel Allowance
Winter Fuel Allowance is now means-tested, at a level of about £13,000pa. This will affect far more people than is fair. Only those in receipt of pensioner credit will get WFA. Despite opposition from the Labour group at the County Council, we agreed to write to the Chancellor to ask her to review the policy, and to ensure that we financially support organisations helping pensioners to claim what they are entitled to. We work with, among others, the excellent Citizens Advice in Witney. Please do point people in their direction if they need assistance.
Recycling Centres
The County Council is going to introduce a booking system for household waste and recycling centres, including Dix Pit, in order to reduce queues and improve efficiency. It is likely to come into operation before the Redbridge site, in the City, is closed for refurbishment.
As ever, please contact me on dan.levy@oxfordshire.gov.uk