100 signatures reached
To: Oxfordshire County Councillors: D. Henwood, S. Malik, B. Baines. Support sought from A. Gant, Oxford City Councillors, and A. Dodds MP.
Make the junction safe at Rose Hill / Church Cowley Rd / Henley Ave.
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We call on Oxfordshire County Council (and Oxford City Council) to ensure the junction at Rose Hill, Henley Avenue, and Church Cowley Road, plus the roads approaching the junction, are safe for the community.
Traffic has increased at this site, with vehicle flow changing in recent years since LTNs. Impatience, frustration, risk-taking, and near-misses are rising. Drivers routinely ignore speed limits, and at every light change between one and five vehicles jump the red lights.
This includes traffic without a right-turn filter from Rose Hill to Church Cowley Road, as well as traffic from Church Cowley Road and Henley Avenue. The behaviour is not limited to motor vehicles; cycles, scooters and e-bikes also frequently run the lights, especially downhill from Rose Hill. In addition, the junction layout, with the gentle left turn from Henley Avenue onto Church Cowley Road, contributes to vehicles entering quickly and running changing amber or red lights.
Traffic has increased at this site, with vehicle flow changing in recent years since LTNs. Impatience, frustration, risk-taking, and near-misses are rising. Drivers routinely ignore speed limits, and at every light change between one and five vehicles jump the red lights.
This includes traffic without a right-turn filter from Rose Hill to Church Cowley Road, as well as traffic from Church Cowley Road and Henley Avenue. The behaviour is not limited to motor vehicles; cycles, scooters and e-bikes also frequently run the lights, especially downhill from Rose Hill. In addition, the junction layout, with the gentle left turn from Henley Avenue onto Church Cowley Road, contributes to vehicles entering quickly and running changing amber or red lights.
There are no pedestrian crossings on any of the three crossing points at Rose Hill, Church Cowley Road and Henley Avenue, and there is a lack of speed limit and traffic light enforcement.
What we are asking for:
What we are asking for:
- Install at least two pedestrian crossing points at the junction,
- Install red-light cameras on all three junction arms,
- Enforce the speed limit on Rose Hill, Henley Avenue, and Church Cowley Road. (Speed monitoring indicates frequent speeding by all vehicles, including HGVs: https://telraam.net/home/location/9000007291),
- Introduce measures to reduce stop-start bottleneck congestion and dangerous road user behaviours in the times between the queues,
- Add effective measures to slow cycles and scooters on the downhill approach,
- Improve pedestrian refuge islands so they are usable for families, wheelchair users, and cyclists walking bikes,
- Review junction design, including to reduce high-speed turns and late light-running from all three points, and to prevent the service road alongside Rose Hill (even numbers) being used by rapid vehicles seeking a congestion-avoiding shortcut,
- Add an additional pedestrian crossing on Church Cowley Road (near Eleanor Close),
- Carry out an urgent formal safety assessment and site visit.
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The petition is directed to:
Oxfordshire County Councillors David Henwood (Rose Hill & Littlemore), Saj Malik (Cowley) and Brad Baines (Isis), who represent residents and roads affected by this junction, and seeks the support of Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management at Oxfordshire County Council. It also seeks the backing of Oxford City Councillors Susan Brown, Linda Smith and Nigel Chapman (Rose Hill & Iffley ward), Barbara Coyne, Andrew Coles and Mark Lygo (Cowley ward), and the MP for Oxford East, Anneliese Dodds.
The petition is directed to:
Oxfordshire County Councillors David Henwood (Rose Hill & Littlemore), Saj Malik (Cowley) and Brad Baines (Isis), who represent residents and roads affected by this junction, and seeks the support of Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management at Oxfordshire County Council. It also seeks the backing of Oxford City Councillors Susan Brown, Linda Smith and Nigel Chapman (Rose Hill & Iffley ward), Barbara Coyne, Andrew Coles and Mark Lygo (Cowley ward), and the MP for Oxford East, Anneliese Dodds.
Why is this important?
The situation is dangerous and getting worse.
- There are no pedestrian crossings on any of the three crossing points.
- There is a lack of effective speed limit and traffic light enforcement.
As a result, some residents feel trapped in their own homes because it is too dangerous to cross the road, including parents with children, elderly people, and those with limited mobility or disabilities.
The pedestrian refuge islands are too short for a bicycle, too narrow for a parent with children, and inconsistent for those using mobility aids, making safe crossing impossible.
Without safe crossing and speed management, residents cannot safely access essential services including schools, GP and dental services, pharmacy, the Iffley Turn bus stop, shops, library, sports facilities, Florence Park, and community spaces.
Some residents report waiting several minutes for a safe gap to cross. Most have experienced dangerous situations. Many residents feel forced to drive even very short journeys because walking across the junction feels unsafe.
Some residents report waiting several minutes for a safe gap to cross. Most have experienced dangerous situations. Many residents feel forced to drive even very short journeys because walking across the junction feels unsafe.
Near-misses happen, and it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. The safety of this junction must be the paramount priority.
This has been previously discussed with councillors, with reassurances made, but it only resurfaces as a topic when local elections approach.
This petition is about basic safety and dignity. People should not be trapped in their own neighbourhood because crossing the road has become too dangerous.
Sign to demand action before someone gets hurt.
How it will be delivered
We will deliver the petition to Oxfordshire County Council and the relevant county councillors once signatures have been gathered. It will be shared electronically with all named representatives, and we would welcome the opportunity to meet or speak with any of them to discuss solutions.
