A MARSTON city councillor has been carrying out his own traffic surveys in an attempt to prevent congestion problems.

Mick Haines, of Croft Road, is concerned the proposed Barton Park housing development will cause gridlock traffic in Headington and Marston.

He hopes his surveys will highlight to developers Grosvenor Developments the issues residents in both areas could face.

Mr Haines said: “No one else has done these surveys at all but I think they are really important.

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“The reason I do it is because the people were kind enough to vote me in as their councillor and the least I can do is work for them.”

“I thoroughly enjoy it. It’s nice to know the people come up to you with their problems and you can try the best you can to sort them out for them.”

More than 800 homes are planned for the new development, which will extend the Barton estate to the west.

It will also include new shops, a primary school, community facilities and a sports pavilion.

Construction is expected to start in 2015 after planning permission was given last year.

Mr Haines said developers needed to provide additional infrastructure to cope with the demands of extra homes before construction began.

He added: “I have done the traffic surveys previously but the reason I am doing them this year is because it’s getting near to when they are saying they are going to put up the houses.”

This year Mr Haines has single-handedly conducted four traffic surveys.

His latest survey, held last Thursday in Marsh Lane, recorded 1,890 cars and vans, 20 lorries, 39 motorcycles, four buses and 14 cyclists passing through between 7.15am and 10am.

His June survey noted 17 fewer cars and vans, 44 lorries, 33 motorcycles, eight ambulances, 15 cyclists, two tractors and two coaches passing along the road.

He also conducted a two-hour survey within Old Marston Village on May 12 from 7.15am, where he recorded 624 cars and vans passing through and 110 cyclists.

This increased to 722 cars and vans, five lorries, seven motorcycles and 81 cyclists on Monday, September 15, at the same location.

Mrs Haines said: “I got quite a shock, honestly. I thought the village would not have quite as much going through as they had, or Marsh Lane; I was absolutely flabbergasted. I couldn’t believe how much traffic came through.

“The traffic situation is really horrendous in this area.

“It shows me that the traffic is getting worse than it previously was.”

He plans to present his results to Oxford City Council planning officers and Oxfordshire County Council officials.

Earlier this year more than 500 residents voiced their concerns and signed Mr Haines’s petition to tackle traffic problems in the area.

More than 900 also signed his petition to tackle sewage and flooding issues.

Mr Haines also wants a sewage station constructed at the Barton Park site to deal with any waste issues.


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