Road improvement project set to start in Banbury neighbourhood

Officials with Oxfordshire County Council is set to start works to improve the footways next to the kerbs on Easington Road and Easington Gardens.

The works also include the replacement of the narrow areas of grass with a tarmac surface, and the footways will be resurfaced – including the application of a specialist material over mature tree roots, which have been lifting areas of the existing footways.

The work is being funded through the councillor priority funds of two Banbury members, Cllr Kieron Mallon (Bloxham & Easington) and Cllr Eddie Reeves (Banbury Calthorpe) – money allocated to each councillor to pay for projects in their local areas.

Work is due to begin tomorrow, Thursday February 11, a day earlier than originally intended. The finishing date has been put back to early March as some of the work cannot be carried out in sub-zero temperatures, which are forecast.

People are asked to make sure all parked vehicles on the roads and verges are removed on weekdays between 8am and 4pm while the work is carried out. Barriers will be in place to protect the workforce.

Cllr Kieron Mallon, who represents the Easington area, said: “The works on Springfield Avenue are to provide an extra crossing point for all residents, but particularly elderly residents of Stanbridge House and pupils of the local schools.

"This is at a natural crossing point that is currently heavily used but the addition of a zebra crossing will make it safer, all these works are part of an ongoing programme to improve the safety of pedestrians in Easington.”

Cllr Eddie Reeves, who represents the Calthorpe area and is Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Delivery and Operations, said: “The works will be inconvenient in the short-term, but they will be worthwhile in the end.

"They will make a huge difference to mums and dads looking to get their children safely to and from school.

"They will also hugely improve the quality of life for local residents who, increasingly, haven't been able to make full use of the paths when out and about on a walk."

Contractors on site will be able to give residents details about any changes to access arrangements, but we would ask them to observe the two-metre social distancing guidelines when interacting with the workmen.

Residents are also asked to cut back any private vegetation overhanging the footway, which is likely to impede to workers, before the starting date.

Next week, work will begin in the Springfield Avenue/Horton View/Ruskin Road junction area of Banbury, to install a zebra crossing and raised table. Work will begin on Monday, February 15, and is expected to last for two weeks.

A full road closure is required for certain surfacing operations which should be completed within three to four days during construction. Vehicle access will be maintained for residents within Ruskin Road whenever possible, however, this will be limited and only when safe to do so, with access being controlled by traffic marshalls.