Category Archives: traffic

Revised Mini-Roundabout Plans for Fairacres Retail Park

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A new planning application has been submitted by M&S Foods Ltd to install a mini-roundabout on Nuffield Way. The proposal follows an earlier application that was withdrawn after concerns were raised by Oxfordshire County Council.

According to the application, the mini-roundabout is intended to improve access and make it easier and safer for vehicles leaving the retail park.

One issue highlighted during consideration of the earlier proposal was road safety. Nuffield Way includes a long, straight stretch where vehicle speeds can increase. The revised design introduces a more pronounced bend on the approach to the mini-roundabout, with the aim of encouraging slower speeds and improving safety.

Vale planning application: P26/V0816/FUL

Since the arrival of M&S Food, the retail park has become noticeably busier, with increased traffic movements in and out of the site.

Which works better: the carrot or the stick?

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Movable speed indicators have been in Abingdon for nearly two years, but this is the first time I’ve seen one working so close to a long-standing speed camera. This is on Audlett Drive in Abingdon, where the limit has recently changed from 40 mph to 30 mph.

While I watched for a couple of minutes, all the cars were at or under the 30 mph limit.

Which works better: the carrot or the stick?

Queues Return – Briefly – to West St Helen Street

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Looking out of the window at around 11 am, there was a queue of traffic heading up West St Helen Street. One driver said she had not moved for 15 minutes. This was the first traffic problem in the street after weeks of relative quiet during the road closure, and it occurred during half term, when traffic is usually lighter.

On this occasion, the disruption was caused by an accident or medical emergency.

Traffic tailed back along Bridge Street, Stert Street, The Vineyard, and Stratton Way.

Within about an hour the incident had been dealt with and traffic was moving freely again. For a while, a person from the company who look after the car parks on behalf of Vale of White Horse District Council took on the role of directing traffic at the junction of West St Helen Street.

Summer Gas Works bring Drayton Road Delays

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Gas Mains replacement works near the Ock Bridge on Drayton Road are scheduled to run from 4th August 2025 for two weeks. Although the timing coincides with the Summer school holidays, when traffic is usually lighter, the introduction of temporary traffic lights is causing delays.

The impact has not been limited to Drayton Road. St Helen’s Wharf, Marcham Road, Ock Street, and surrounding routes are all seeing slower traffic than usual.

This is part of a wider programme of gas mains replacement work. Drayton Road is known to be one of the more sensitive locations for traffic disruption. Lets hope there is not an accident on the A34 that forces more traffic down that road.