Enstone Road X Roads Road Closure

Fri 29 Nov, 15:50

Ultimately, the left turn is technically impossible for an articulated lorry.  The County’s officers know this, and there is a review proceeding (very slowly) of HGV routes following the experimental Burford ban.  That caused some unintended consequences.

(This goes back to the long-abandoned plan to divert traffic round the back of Tollgate Cottage; as the map shows, that left turn wasn’t intended to be part of a through route, and it wasn’t until The Slade was widened).

Fri 29 Nov, 15:09 (last edited on Fri 29 Nov, 15:10)

I've just seen an HGV that looked like it was genuinely attempting to swing out wide and slow enough to clear the new pavement corner, but it ended up driving right over it with its rear wheels in any case. It's going to be an ongoing problem ...

Thu 28 Nov, 13:45

I think a 'pedestrian scamble' sounds like a good idea to keep the crossroads safe for pedestrians. 

It is dangerous to cross and as most of us who use it have experienced because a majority of drivers don't follow the law, whether that is unsafe manoveurs or going over the limit. 

Thu 28 Nov, 13:33

The problems with getting a pedestrian crossing by the crossroads have always been sightlines (the bend on the Slade round from the Ditchley Road junction) and space (there’s not much on the south side of the road).

But if you were to put traffic lights on the junction, you could have a diagonal crossing aka a ‘pedestrian scramble’, when all traffic is halted so that pedestrians can walk across the junction. Apparently there are several of this design in the UK already.

Thu 28 Nov, 12:56

To illustrate the illegal driving at the Crossroads. This is from this morning. 

As you can see, the white van had to stop in the middle of the crossroads because the driver the 4x4 had driven up alongside the silver car and had crossed the white lines. 

Sat 23 Nov, 23:00

If there were permanent traffic lights on the crossroads they would be timed to give priority to the busier roads. The temporary traffic lights were I assume treating all the roads the same so it was sometimes green from the town centre direction and no cars were coming that way. So it wouldn't have to be as disruptive on the slade if there were permanent lights.   

Sat 23 Nov, 22:37

When I first came to Charlbury, I was told that there was a plan to build a slip road from beyond the Toll Gate Cottage to the Slade.  That’s why the houses on one side of The Green face what appears to be the wrong way.  
I have no idea why it was never built built but it would have helped eliminate some of the dangers at the crossroads today.

Sat 23 Nov, 21:01

Thanks all.   So the Ditchley Road was much more important than the track that became the Slade as the land of Highfield Villa (replaced by Sandford Mount?) was sold for residential development.   Is that right?

Sat 23 Nov, 19:18 (last edited on Sat 23 Nov, 19:20)

It's surely marked on the map as "Brown's Lane Gate". 

British History online says: "At the end of the 18th century the roads were improved by the making of the turnpike from Witney to join the Banbury Chipping Norton turnpike at Great Tew; the turnpike passed along the line of Stonyway through Charlbury and Finstock, with gates at Brown's Lane and Baywell. Another branch of the same turnpike ran from Woodstock to Burford through Charlbury, with a gate at Dyer's Hill. The roads were turnpiked between 1798 and 1800 and disturnpiked in 1877"

Stonyway was the road from Charlbury to Finstock over Fawler bridge. Name goes back to 1298 at least. Not a suitable site for traffic lights (alas). It was always a main route. But a pedestrian crossing might help. 

Sat 23 Nov, 19:06 (last edited on Sat 23 Nov, 19:09)

The crossroads is unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. The roadworks made it safer for those of us who live in that area of Charlbury. 

It may not be a "rat run", but it is used and abused by drivers daily. You can see by the state of the road on the left-hand turn towards the Slade. The majority of drivers do not indicate, they speed up as they pass the build-out, the refuse to let you cross (when it's dark it's much much worse), you often see a driver slide alongside next to another driver whose trying to turn left to Enstone, whilst the other is still navigating to go across to The Slade or down to the Co-op. It is really bad.

I know the car is God in the UK like the gun is God in the USA, but you can't get away from the facts: the crossroads needs traffic lights. 

John H - my bet is end of next week the stones start to get dislodged.

Sat 23 Nov, 17:49

Toll House- isn’t it that building at the bottom left of the B of ‘Brown’s Lane’?

Sat 23 Nov, 16:49

So when was the Toll House built then?  I don’t see it on this map? Not a turnpike road then.  

Sat 23 Nov, 15:04 (last edited on Sat 23 Nov, 15:29)

Road construction as we know today ( Tarmac ) invented in 1902 , assuming covering the dirt tracks. We have some dated photographs of Dyers Hill ( framed and hung on our wall ) showing the horse and cart / routes that have developed into the roads , built to accept motor vehicles . Still not a rat run

Sat 23 Nov, 14:42

Here’s the Enstone Road crossroads in 1880. As Carl Benz didn’t start producing cars until 1886, I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say Charlbury’s roads were designed for the use of motor vehicles!

(Map from nls.uk.)

Sat 23 Nov, 13:45

Not really a ‘Rat Run ‘ a bit dramatic!

It was and always will be a road , designed for the use of motor vehicles, and as the predominant user, the minority and alternative use, to be accommodating as far is reasonable practicality possible within financial constraints in this historical market town .

Sat 23 Nov, 12:16

Any bets on how long it takes an h.g.v to scuff out those kerb stones?, I reckon before the New Year. Or is that just the sinic in me!. John H

Sat 23 Nov, 11:20

A rat run is defined as "a minor, typically residential street used by drivers during peak periods to avoid congestion on main roads". Between where and where is it being used as a Rat run?

Sat 23 Nov, 10:29

Joshua - it made crossing as a pedestrian much safer.

Not all road users have cars, and none has a greater right to be safe than anyone else.

Charlbury is increasingly being used as a rat run, and so slowing vehicles down will have the added benefit of satnavs sending drivers elsewhere.

Sat 23 Nov, 10:29

Does anyone know the cost incurred with the work undertaken ? The small alteration caused a huge disruption for a prolonged period of time for what looks to be a small job

As the disruption clearly highlights the volume of traffic that passes through this intersection, with the greatest impact from the 5 ways junction down the slade ?

The use of the traffic lights clearly exacerbates the problems of traffic flow.

Maybe the use of a stop / go board (s) would have speeded up the process and been significantly more cost effective ?

Fri 22 Nov, 23:21 (last edited on Sat 23 Nov, 09:05)

The traffic lights were a nightmare for those trying to get in and out of their homes during rush hour.. Add in the school run and you have chaos on The Slade morning and night. The tail back was down near dancers hill every rush hour. Add in a pedestrian filter and traffic simply wouldn’t move which would cause more pollution from idling vehicles. A pedestrian crossing I can agree with but four way traffic lights.. chaos! The fact we don’t have traffic lights keeps traffic flowing. 

Fri 22 Nov, 22:27

Some of us appreciated the traffic lights.

Fri 22 Nov, 17:24

You’ll all be pleased to know that the roadworks have now finished and all back to normal!

Fri 22 Nov, 07:59

I’m also one of those enjoying not being nearly run over.   If only the money were there for a more permanent set of lights with a pedestrian filter, eventually the angry people who use the town as a rat-run and have been busy tooting their horns this week might go elsewhere too.

Thu 21 Nov, 16:21

I will let you know on Monday Alan - almost certainly before the "putters up of yellow notices" get to tell you.

Thu 21 Nov, 16:04

I don't suppose anybody knows whether the work is actually likely to finish tomorrow as (re-)scheduled, do they?  Or whether congestion is likely to continue into the weekend?

Thu 21 Nov, 15:32

I'm sorry Claire, but it doesn't surprise me. 

When the workmen turned up initially on the 4th to begin work, I spoke to them briefly and they said they'd nicknamed the that part of the crossroads "illegal corner" given the amount of illegal driving they'd seen whilst standing there. 

Thu 21 Nov, 14:44

Unfortunately I was nearly runover on the zebra crossing when someone decided to overtake the queue of traffic and speed over the crossing on the wrong side of the road to nip into Ticknell Piece. 

Thu 21 Nov, 13:18

I've really enjoyed not being nearly run over by drivers every time I cross the road who don't think indicating, the speed limit or the highway code applies to them. It's been really nice. 

Thu 21 Nov, 12:07

It was extremely congested there around 9am this morning .

Wed 20 Nov, 17:47

Traffic not moving much at the crossroads 😟

Wed 20 Nov, 13:13

You must have missed the series of 4 or 5 cars jammed trying to turn onto The Slade & those having to reverse back up Enstone Rd to let others turning right out of The Slade then.......moments of chaos & frustration.

Wed 20 Nov, 09:05

Traffic flowing well this morning with the lights switched off!

Tue 19 Nov, 09:56

Tuesday 10 am -  the 4 way lights are working; the trenches dug and full of water but not a workman in sight. Bin men been and gone they are brilliant.

Tue 19 Nov, 08:48

…. and it did!

Fri 15 Nov, 15:25

The work will now start on the 18th until the 22nd, according to OCC.

Fri 15 Nov, 15:05

It would be nice if they just got on and did the work.

Fri 15 Nov, 08:24 (last edited on Fri 15 Nov, 08:51)

The putters up of yellow signs seem not to know why they are put up; thus the takers down of yellow signs seem not to know when to take them down. It is a puzzle. As I said on an earlier thread "I think we should be told" 

Thu 14 Nov, 16:49

The temporary traffic light vans turned up last Monday at 7.30 and presumably left soon afterwards. 

Thu 14 Nov, 16:45

Nothing happened last week.