November 2026
Campaigning for safer streets and better travel choices for everyone
Welcome to our latest newsletter. There is plenty happening across Banbury, with progress on a number of active travel projects and continued efforts to make our streets safer, healthier and more accessible.
This edition is divided into two parts:
- Part 1 – Our Campaigns and Priorities: These key issues and priorities were discussed at our recent meeting with Gareth Epps, the Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Transport, together with the actions we are taking to promote better walking, cycling and public transport facilities.
- Part 2 – Active Travel Project Updates: The latest news on schemes being developed and progressed by Oxfordshire County Council.
We hope you find this update useful and informative. Your support and involvement are important in helping us make Banbury a better place to walk, wheel and cycle. In particular we would like some help from someone who has the time and skills to promote our group and flag up the positive effects of active travel on social media (FB, Insta, TikTok) . . could it be YOU? Do get in touch!
PART 1 – OUR CAMPAIGNS AND PRIORITIES
Making Banbury a better place to travel
Meeting with Gareth Epps, OCC Cabinet Member for Transport, – Key Issues and Actions
At our recent meeting with Gareth, we discussed a range of issues affecting sustainable travel in Banbury. We identified several priorities where improvements could make a real difference to people travelling around the town. Here is a summary of the issues raised and the actions we agreed.
1. Improving Public Transport
Good public transport is an essential part of creating a more sustainable transport network.
We believe better information at bus stops, particularly through passenger display screens showing live bus information, would encourage more people to use local bus services.
We also support better integration between bus and rail travel, making it easier for people to combine different forms of public transport.
Our priorities:
- Install passenger information display screens at bus stops.
- Encourage more bus services to include Banbury railway station on their routes.
- Prioritise benches and shelters at bus stops to make waiting more comfortable and accessible.
- Improve integration between bus and rail services.
2. Secure Cycle Parking in the Town Centre
The availability of secure cycle parking is an important factor in encouraging people to cycle into Banbury town centre.
People need to feel confident that they can leave their bicycles somewhere safe while shopping, working or visiting local facilities.
We are calling for improved provision of secure cycle parking in the town centre.
What we’re doing: We are liaising with Thames Valley Police (TVP) to identify locations already covered by CCTV. This will help us to:
- Support the installation of signage at existing cycle parking facilities covered by CCTV.
- Identify suitable locations for additional secure cycle parking. Can you help with this? Contact us.
3. Making Pedestrian Journeys Safer and Quicker
Pedestrians should have shorter wait times at signalised crossings: traditional highways engineers prioritize vehicle throughput and speed.
We are calling for a review of signalised pedestrian crossings to reduce waiting times and improve the time allowed for people to cross.
It is particularly important that crossing times are sufficient for slower pedestrians, including older people and those with mobility difficulties. This is especially important at crossings without a central refuge island.
What we’re doing: We will identify a number of crossings in Banbury, observe how they operate and collect data to help highlight where improvements are needed. Can you help with this? Contact us.
4. Improving Road Safety and Speed Management
Reducing vehicle speeds is fundamental to making Banbury safer for people walking and cycling.
We believe that better monitoring and enforcement of speed limits, particularly in 20mph zones, would help improve road safety.
We support the installation of more Vehicle Activated Speed (VAS) displays on lamp posts. These signs remind drivers of the speed limit and encourage them to slow down. There are currently very few of these displays in Banbury, and we would like to see their use expanded.
We are also calling for:
- More VAS displays in appropriate locations around Banbury.
- A reduction of the speed limit on Bankside to 20mph, as recommended in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
- Improvements to the cycling provision on Bankside, including the removal of the existing narrow and inadequate painted cycle lanes.
What we’re doing: We will investigate how we can help secure the installation of additional VAS displays across the town. Have a location in mind? Contact us.
5. Tackling Pavement Parking
Pavement parking is a persistent problem in Banbury and has a significant impact on the quality and accessibility of our streets.
Vehicles parked across pavements force pedestrians into the road, putting them at risk from passing traffic. This is particularly dangerous for children, families with pushchairs and older people.
The impact is even greater for blind and partially sighted people and those using wheelchairs or other mobility aids, who may find their route completely obstructed.
There is also a physical cost. Vehicles mounting pavements can damage paving stones and kerbs, creating cracks, uneven surfaces and additional trip hazards.
We believe pavements should be safe and accessible for everyone, and that parking should never prevent people from using them.
What we’re doing: We will compile a list of locations in Banbury where pavement parking is a frequent problem, helping to build a clearer picture of where action is most needed. Can you help with this? Contact us.
6. Side-Road Crossings – Making Streets Safer for Everyone
Side-road crossings are a relatively economical way of improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists at junctions. They are commonplace in urban environments in Europe:
They make drivers more aware that people may be crossing the road and help reinforce the priority of pedestrians and cyclists travelling along the main road.
Importantly, they maintain a level, uninterrupted footway, allowing people walking and wheeling to continue along their natural route without having to step down into the carriageway or take unnecessary detours.
These types of crossings are widely used in European countries and have demonstrated benefits in encouraging drivers to slow down and give way.
By making walking and cycling safer and more convenient, they can also help encourage more people to choose active, low-carbon forms of local transport.
We support the plans to introduce side-road crossings at Brantwood Rise, Elizabeth Rise and Mewburn Road.
What we’re doing: Once these crossings are installed and in use, we will look at other suitable locations around Banbury where similar improvements could be introduced. Any thoughts on this? Do share!
PART 2 – ACTIVE TRAVEL PROJECT UPDATES
What’s happening across Banbury?
There is progress on a number of active travel schemes across Banbury. Some are moving closer to delivery, while others are still at the design, feasibility or funding stage.
Here is a round-up of the latest developments.
1. Queensway – Side-Road Zebra Crossings
We are supporting the introduction of side-road zebra crossings adjacent to Queensway to make it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross at side roads.
The first step is to receive a design from the County Council’s Traffic and Road Safety team for a raised table and build-out on Brantwood Rise, which will incorporate a side-road zebra crossing.
The intention is to use this design as a template for similar improvements at nearby junctions, including Mewburn Road.
The initial designs are expected before the Christmas break.
2. Western Active Travel Corridor
There is encouraging progress on the Western Active Travel Corridor, particularly at the Warwick Road junction.
Funding is now available to deliver this section and move it forward into the delivery programme. This will involve appointing a project manager and securing a place in the delivery team’s schedule.
The scheme is understood to be a priority and is already on the team’s radar. The County Council is currently undergoing a departmental reorganisation, so we hope to have a clearer picture of timescales once this is completed, expected next month.
There is also some funding available for improvements at the Bloxham Road junction. However, additional funding is likely to be needed to deliver meaningful improvements. Plans for this section are understood to be in development, although delivery is unlikely within the next six months.
3. Eastern Active Travel Corridor – St Leonard’s School
We have managed to secure some additional funding to undertake further design work on the section of the Eastern Active Travel Corridor near St Leonard’s School.
The next step will be work with the school through a co-design process to explore possible improvements. Banbury Active Travel Supporters will also have an opportunity to contribute to this process.
We are aware of concerns around safety and accessibility along this section, particularly near the barrier at the Thorpe Way junction. These issues will be important considerations as the designs develop.
We are hopeful that further funding may become available to help take the wider corridor improvements forward.
4. Oxford Road – Corridor Improvements
Work is progressing on developing a brief for design work along Oxford Road, and discussions are underway with the County Council’s Procurement team.
The intention is to make good use of any available Section 106 funding (financial contributions required from property developers by local planning authorities) to deliver smaller improvements along the corridor in the short term.
If funding allows, the Council would also like to commission a design for the entire corridor, including an outline of proposed improvements and associated costs.
This would help establish a longer-term vision for Oxford Road and provide a basis for seeking further investment.
5. Swan Close – Work Resumes
Good news: work on the Swan Close scheme has restarted following a pause while there was a wait for normal traffic conditions to return after the Cherwell Street roadworks, so that reliable traffic data could be collected.
That data collection is now complete. The next stage will involve a full traffic modelling review alongside the development of a corridor design.
As with other schemes, the aim is to identify some smaller interventions that could be delivered in the shorter term, while continuing to develop the longer-term proposals.
6. Hennef Way – Junction and Crossing Improvements
Hennef Way is being considered as part of a wider multi-modal transport scheme, but there are also some opportunities to deliver improvements in the shorter term.
One of the priorities is a new pedestrian crossing on the Lockheed Close arm of the roundabout, which would help improve pedestrian access and safety.
The scheme is due to be discussed with Councillor Epps this month, and we hope to have completed the feasibility stage before the Christmas break.
Keeping Banbury moving towards a better future
It is encouraging to see progress across several active travel projects in Banbury. Some schemes are moving closer to delivery, while others are still at the design, feasibility or funding stage.
There is clearly more work to do, particularly in securing the investment needed to deliver meaningful improvements across the wider network.
From improving pedestrian crossings and tackling pavement parking to providing better cycle facilities and supporting more reliable public transport, our aim remains the same: to make Banbury a safer, healthier and more accessible place for everyone.
As Banbury Active Travel Supporters, we will continue to follow developments, raise local concerns, work with decision-makers and champion improvements that make walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport more attractive choices.
Thoughts on the above? Contact us here: banburycycling@gmail.com
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working together to make a difference in 2027!
Banbury Active Travel Supporters – campaigning for safer streets and better travel choices for everyone.
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