Oxfordshire County Council has published revised proposals to improve walking and cycling through Abingdon town centre after taking account of feedback from last year’s public consultation.
The scheme, funded through the UK Government’s Active Travel Fund, originally had a budget of £1.47 million. It has since received a further £269,000, allowing the council to make several changes in response to concerns raised by residents and businesses.
The original plans included a contraflow cycle lane along East St Helen Street, new pedestrian and cycle crossings, and changes to the busy junction linking High Street, Bridge Street and Stert Street.
Following consultation, several aspects of the scheme have been revised. The illustrations below are my own mock-ups based on photographs taken today to help show the changes. They are not the council’s official drawings, so if you want to see the precise layout you should look at the plans on the council’s consultation webpage.
The main changes are:
* No net loss of residents’ parking spaces. Parking spaces that need removing will instead be relocated. New residents’ parking will be created on Lombard Street and St Helen’s Court, while some shared visitor/residents’ spaces on East St Helen Street will become residents-only. To accommodate these changes, Lombard Street would become one-way eastbound for motor vehicles while remaining open to westbound cyclists.
* More loading space for businesses has been included.
* The proposed planting along East St Helen Street has been removed, allowing wider passing places along East St Helen Street.
* A new pedestrian crossing is proposed between Parasol Restaurant and The Punch Bowl.
* Another pedestrian crossing would be provided outside St Helen’s Church.
* A protected southbound cycle lane is added on West St Helen Street, linking St Helen’s Court with East St Helen Street. This would require the removal of four parking spaces.
How to comment:
The council is currently asking for feedback only on these revised changes, with comments open until 1 September 2026. See: : https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/east-st-helen-street-active-travel-update
Later this autumn or winter, the council expects to hold a formal consultation on the complete revised scheme, giving everyone another opportunity to comment before any final decisions are made.
at the previous meeting i challenged the council rep that this would go ahead regardless of the consultation, he said no that wasnt the case, he refused my ten pound bet….to go to charity…
Absolutely crazy
Lets strip out the little remaining character of this historic town by putting bollards, coloured tarmac, flashing crossing lights and even more road signs right in the centre of the town
Who could possibly need a pedestrian crossing between the Parasol Restaurant and The Punch Bowl.. It’s hardly a busy road.
So that’s six new crossings, in addition to the lights on the High Street, Stert Street and Bridge Street.
Hi John
Anyone in a wheelchair, mobility scooter or wheeling a pram are likely to be the main beneficiarys.
Currently, there’s not a dropped curb, and there are parked cars.
So, currently, access from the market square, to this side of the street is restricted.
If they want to put in a new pedestrian crossing there’s a desperate need for one where Bath Street (north) meets Stratton Way. But that’s outside the designated area.