Councillors reject railway footbridge plan (From The Oxford Times)

Is this really the correct usage of the planning/rejection process?

Surely its the council's responsibility to enhance local services for local residents, rather than (trying to) bully Network Rail into doing it for them.

If they continue to reject the proposals, perhaps Network Rail will see the sense to lower the tracks a few inches when the opportunity arises and give the council the finger.

They are trying to enhance local services, by ensuring that disadvantaged people that require ramp access avoid a long detour along a dual carriageway, or pay for a taxi. Network Rail seem to be above a surprising amount of regulations, including the Equality Act. They should be obliged to assist the local community, or at the very least meet statutory obligations other businesses and Highways would be obliged to

What seems strange is that Oxford City Council hasn't previously ensured that pedestrian railway crossings include full access and usability for people with pushchairs and wheelchairs - why? I'm also surprised that Network Rail hasn't already been forced to adapt all such current bridges for wheelchair access - though similar disabled access issues at railway stations (including Oxford itself) has also been a common problem for years. It shows a lack of responsibility, foresight and planning legislation by successive governments (not just the Coalition) to ensure that all such railway crossings and rural stations have wheelchair and pushchair access as a right, and something which our local MPs and Councillors should be fighting for.

Myron Blatz wrote:
What seems strange is that Oxford City Council hasn't previously ensured that pedestrian railway crossings include full access and usability for people with pushchairs and wheelchairs - why? I'm also surprised that Network Rail hasn't already been forced to adapt all such current bridges for wheelchair access - though similar disabled access issues at railway stations (including Oxford itself) has also been a common problem for years. It shows a lack of responsibility, foresight and planning legislation by successive governments (not just the Coalition) to ensure that all such railway crossings and rural stations have wheelchair and pushchair access as a right, and something which our local MPs and Councillors should be fighting for.

Clearly there should be improvements to access for all when significant work is being undertaken anyway.

Likewise *every* new home should have a wheelchair friendly parking space allocated and closeby. Whilst this probably goes against the green policies - it is often forgotten that simply because the initial owner doesn't have a disability, it doesn't mean to say that they don't have friends, family or visitors that may have mobility difficulties. Given that the house will be standing for at least 100 years, it's highly likely that a person with mobility issues will live there at some point.

Perhaps there should be a comprehensive review of access to South Hinksey from Oxford?

A brand new park & ride accessed via the South Hinksey interchange would shift a great deal of traffic away from the Southern bypass, with a new bus, taxi cycle & pedestrian only road bridge across the railway utilising the current parking area for Hinksey Park as the road. Parking for Hinksey Pool & Park being switched to the P&R side (if you have to drive there anyway, may as well drive a little further).

Andrew:Oxford wrote:

Myron Blatz wrote: What seems strange is that Oxford City Council hasn't previously ensured that pedestrian railway crossings include full access and usability for people with pushchairs and wheelchairs - why? I'm also surprised that Network Rail hasn't already been forced to adapt all such current bridges for wheelchair access - though similar disabled access issues at railway stations (including Oxford itself) has also been a common problem for years. It shows a lack of responsibility, foresight and planning legislation by successive governments (not just the Coalition) to ensure that all such railway crossings and rural stations have wheelchair and pushchair access as a right, and something which our local MPs and Councillors should be fighting for.

Clearly there should be improvements to access for all when significant work is being undertaken anyway. Likewise *every* new home should have a wheelchair friendly parking space allocated and closeby. Whilst this probably goes against the green policies - it is often forgotten that simply because the initial owner doesn't have a disability, it doesn't mean to say that they don't have friends, family or visitors that may have mobility difficulties. Given that the house will be standing for at least 100 years, it's highly likely that a person with mobility issues will live there at some point. Perhaps there should be a comprehensive review of access to South Hinksey from Oxford? A brand new park & ride accessed via the South Hinksey interchange would shift a great deal of traffic away from the Southern bypass, with a new bus, taxi cycle & pedestrian only road bridge across the railway utilising the current parking area for Hinksey Park as the road. Parking for Hinksey Pool & Park being switched to the P&R side (if you have to drive there anyway, may as well drive a little further).

Phonoplug:

Why shouldn't councillors try and get a better deal for us? If NR lower the tracks rather than building a bridge we'll be no worse off, as there's nothing wrong with the old bridge if you're able-bodied. At least we'll be better off if they win.

Myron:

NR is obliged to provide full accessibility at all NEW bridges, which you can see in the immense structures built to serve the new platforms at places like Charlbury and Honeybourned on the North Cotswold Line. As Hinksey is not a new bridge but a replacement one, NR are NOT obliged to provide accessibility, so it's up to councillors to try and pressure them into doing so.

Andrew:

THere is no need to build an accessible parking bay by each new house as this will result in huge overprovision of parking in some places where you really don't want to encourage it. If you're disabled you can get the council to mark a bay outside your house, there's a lady on my street who's got one, and my street is all Victorian terraces.