Broken bollards open rat-run route into JR

6:00pm Saturday 9th February 2013 in Oxford Photograph of the Author By Jamie Brooks, Contact me on 01865 425422

City councillor Mary Clarkson at the Saxon Way entrance to the John Radcliffe Hospital City councillor Mary Clarkson at the Saxon Way entrance to the John Radcliffe Hospital

BOLLARDS that are supposed to stop cars using a back entrance into Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital have been broken for more than a month.

Motorists have started using the entrance off Saxon Way into the Headington site – and last night managers admitted they did not know when they would be able to fix the system.

The entrance is supposed to be controlled by automatic bollards, allowing only buses and cyclists to use it.

However last month the bollards were put out of action when a motorist tried to drive through them.

The system is run by private company Carillion PLC for the NHS.

Carillion general manager Sam Scott said: “We are working hard to ensure that this matter is resolved as soon as possible.

“We took immediate action to assess the damage.

“Attempts to repair the damage have not been successful and the bollards will need to be replaced.

“An order has been placed and we are waiting for the specialist parts.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to local residents.”

The company’s remedy so far has been signs telling motorists to avoid the entrance, but local councillors and residents say that is not good enough.

Drivers and cyclists fear accidents will happen because they say they don’t expect drivers turning into the junction.

Mary Clarkson, the city councillor for Marston, said she was nearly knocked off her bike as she was cycling in the area on Wednesday morning.

Ms Clarkson said: “It was a bad start to the day. The problem has been getting worse.

“I first reported it on Monday, January 7.

“The hospital were allowed to expand given that they had a bus gate for bikes and buses only.

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“They do have a job to make it a priority.

“Every time I go by, cars are going through it and you don’t expect them to turn there.

“Other vehicles also don’t expect cars to go into the bus gate.

“The bollards should be kept in a raised position all the time.”

Georgina Gibbs, of the Northway Residents Group, said she might campaign for the entrance to be shut completely until the problem was solved.

Miss Gibbs, 49, who lives in Saxon Way said: “The hospital has a responsibility for the safety of the residents. They need to close down the bus route because it is too dangerous.”

Comments (15)

8:15pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Andrew:Oxford says...

The barriers can't possibly have been fit for purpose if they are damaged beyond repair doing their job (which is do damage cars and other vehicles)... Carillion should be taking action against the manufacturers.

Although after seeing a pedestrian stumble as he stepped on a rising bollard in Cornmarket Street - I'm not convinced that they are fit for purpose in any public location.
The barriers can't possibly have been fit for purpose if they are damaged beyond repair doing their job (which is do damage cars and other vehicles)... Carillion should be taking action against the manufacturers. Although after seeing a pedestrian stumble as he stepped on a rising bollard in Cornmarket Street - I'm not convinced that they are fit for purpose in any public location. Andrew:Oxford

1:34am Sun 10 Feb 13

Grunden Skip says...

So all of a sudden a dozen cars a day turning is making the entry a death trap. What rubbish. First rule of the highway code, expect the unexpected. But now that it has been publicised, that you can save yourself 20 minutes during rush hour by nipping out the back, we will now have hundreds of savvy drivers using it.
So all of a sudden a dozen cars a day turning is making the entry a death trap. What rubbish. First rule of the highway code, expect the unexpected. But now that it has been publicised, that you can save yourself 20 minutes during rush hour by nipping out the back, we will now have hundreds of savvy drivers using it. Grunden Skip

9:07am Sun 10 Feb 13

Sandy Wimpole-Smythe says...

Broken bollards open rat-run route into JR.

Thanks for the 'heads up' shall use it tomorrow.
Broken bollards open rat-run route into JR. Thanks for the 'heads up' shall use it tomorrow. Sandy Wimpole-Smythe

10:53am Sun 10 Feb 13

museli says...

Agree with Andrew that the system was probably not fit for purpose if it was put out of action that easily and Carillion should be chasing the supplier.

Meanwhile though, being as Carillion are the beneficiaries of an extremely lucrative PFI deal under which the tax payer hands over a fortune to their shareholders to maintain this facility, perhaps they could be expected to provide a warden to stop selfish drivers abusing this route at peak times.
Agree with Andrew that the system was probably not fit for purpose if it was put out of action that easily and Carillion should be chasing the supplier. Meanwhile though, being as Carillion are the beneficiaries of an extremely lucrative PFI deal under which the tax payer hands over a fortune to their shareholders to maintain this facility, perhaps they could be expected to provide a warden to stop selfish drivers abusing this route at peak times. museli

6:35pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Grunden Skip says...

museli wrote:
Agree with Andrew that the system was probably not fit for purpose if it was put out of action that easily and Carillion should be chasing the supplier.

Meanwhile though, being as Carillion are the beneficiaries of an extremely lucrative PFI deal under which the tax payer hands over a fortune to their shareholders to maintain this facility, perhaps they could be expected to provide a warden to stop selfish drivers abusing this route at peak times.
There is no traffic order in place to gives anybody the power to stop traffic, that was provided by the bollard, just sticking a sign up is not enough.
[quote][p][bold]museli[/bold] wrote: Agree with Andrew that the system was probably not fit for purpose if it was put out of action that easily and Carillion should be chasing the supplier. Meanwhile though, being as Carillion are the beneficiaries of an extremely lucrative PFI deal under which the tax payer hands over a fortune to their shareholders to maintain this facility, perhaps they could be expected to provide a warden to stop selfish drivers abusing this route at peak times.[/p][/quote]There is no traffic order in place to gives anybody the power to stop traffic, that was provided by the bollard, just sticking a sign up is not enough. Grunden Skip

6:39pm Sun 10 Feb 13

museli says...

Grunden Skip wrote:
museli wrote:
Agree with Andrew that the system was probably not fit for purpose if it was put out of action that easily and Carillion should be chasing the supplier.

Meanwhile though, being as Carillion are the beneficiaries of an extremely lucrative PFI deal under which the tax payer hands over a fortune to their shareholders to maintain this facility, perhaps they could be expected to provide a warden to stop selfish drivers abusing this route at peak times.
There is no traffic order in place to gives anybody the power to stop traffic, that was provided by the bollard, just sticking a sign up is not enough.
It's a private road isn't it!
[quote][p][bold]Grunden Skip[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]museli[/bold] wrote: Agree with Andrew that the system was probably not fit for purpose if it was put out of action that easily and Carillion should be chasing the supplier. Meanwhile though, being as Carillion are the beneficiaries of an extremely lucrative PFI deal under which the tax payer hands over a fortune to their shareholders to maintain this facility, perhaps they could be expected to provide a warden to stop selfish drivers abusing this route at peak times.[/p][/quote]There is no traffic order in place to gives anybody the power to stop traffic, that was provided by the bollard, just sticking a sign up is not enough.[/p][/quote]It's a private road isn't it! museli

7:02pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Arnold.Brewer says...

These routes should of course be closed down - the decision to let buses in through Osler Road has caused untold damage to that road and now we have the farcical situation in Saxon Way.
CLOSE IT ALL NOW!
These routes should of course be closed down - the decision to let buses in through Osler Road has caused untold damage to that road and now we have the farcical situation in Saxon Way. CLOSE IT ALL NOW! Arnold.Brewer

9:58pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Feelingsmatter says...

The decision to expand the JR when it was already such a nightmare to get to was ridiculous. I spent 25 minutes in a a blue-lights ambulance with my son, who had a suspected brain haemorrhage, because traffic through Headington was gridlocked. If anyone decides they are better than the rest of us, and decides to bash down barriers for a short-cut, then I hope their care was terminally damaged. Selfishness and idiocy has no place on a hospital site.
The decision to expand the JR when it was already such a nightmare to get to was ridiculous. I spent 25 minutes in a a blue-lights ambulance with my son, who had a suspected brain haemorrhage, because traffic through Headington was gridlocked. If anyone decides they are better than the rest of us, and decides to bash down barriers for a short-cut, then I hope their care was terminally damaged. Selfishness and idiocy has no place on a hospital site. Feelingsmatter

2:07pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Grunden Skip says...

Feelingsmatter wrote:
The decision to expand the JR when it was already such a nightmare to get to was ridiculous. I spent 25 minutes in a a blue-lights ambulance with my son, who had a suspected brain haemorrhage, because traffic through Headington was gridlocked. If anyone decides they are better than the rest of us, and decides to bash down barriers for a short-cut, then I hope their care was terminally damaged. Selfishness and idiocy has no place on a hospital site.
It is the opposite feelings. If the back gate had been open for traffic other than Buses (quite why that is I fail to see, are buses more important than patients) your Ambulance could have gone down Barton Road, Barton Lane, St Andrews Rd, Dunstan Rd, and Saxon Way, and got you there in less than 5 minutes. So maybe it is the bus priority over 999 patients that is to blame.
[quote][p][bold]Feelingsmatter[/bold] wrote: The decision to expand the JR when it was already such a nightmare to get to was ridiculous. I spent 25 minutes in a a blue-lights ambulance with my son, who had a suspected brain haemorrhage, because traffic through Headington was gridlocked. If anyone decides they are better than the rest of us, and decides to bash down barriers for a short-cut, then I hope their care was terminally damaged. Selfishness and idiocy has no place on a hospital site.[/p][/quote]It is the opposite feelings. If the back gate had been open for traffic other than Buses (quite why that is I fail to see, are buses more important than patients) your Ambulance could have gone down Barton Road, Barton Lane, St Andrews Rd, Dunstan Rd, and Saxon Way, and got you there in less than 5 minutes. So maybe it is the bus priority over 999 patients that is to blame. Grunden Skip

3:09pm Mon 11 Feb 13

King Joke says...

Grunden, blue light ambulances have priority over everybody, so bus priority can hardly slow them down. I'm sure ambulances are allowed to use the bus gates anyway.

It is highly irresponsible of the OM to publicise the short cut though. If a cash machine was dishing out £50 notes in lieu of fivers they wouldn't do the same.
Grunden, blue light ambulances have priority over everybody, so bus priority can hardly slow them down. I'm sure ambulances are allowed to use the bus gates anyway. It is highly irresponsible of the OM to publicise the short cut though. If a cash machine was dishing out £50 notes in lieu of fivers they wouldn't do the same. King Joke

3:49pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Andrew:Oxford says...

King Joke wrote:
Grunden, blue light ambulances have priority over everybody, so bus priority can hardly slow them down. I'm sure ambulances are allowed to use the bus gates anyway.

It is highly irresponsible of the OM to publicise the short cut though. If a cash machine was dishing out £50 notes in lieu of fivers they wouldn't do the same.
Surely that is something that a city councillor would have considered prior to the photo opportunity?

Looking at the signs on Google Street view, it says "Except buses". Surely cyclists are banned too...
[quote][p][bold]King Joke[/bold] wrote: Grunden, blue light ambulances have priority over everybody, so bus priority can hardly slow them down. I'm sure ambulances are allowed to use the bus gates anyway. It is highly irresponsible of the OM to publicise the short cut though. If a cash machine was dishing out £50 notes in lieu of fivers they wouldn't do the same.[/p][/quote]Surely that is something that a city councillor would have considered prior to the photo opportunity? Looking at the signs on Google Street view, it says "Except buses". Surely cyclists are banned too... Andrew:Oxford

3:54pm Mon 11 Feb 13

King Joke says...

If the sign is the 'low flying motorcycles' one it refers to motor vehicles only. There is a specific sign to ban cyclists, as there are on Cornmarket and Queen Streets.

Yes, the councillor in this case is equally culpable. THis one really is best resolved behind the scenes. Carillion could take months to fix the problem.
If the sign is the 'low flying motorcycles' one it refers to motor vehicles only. There is a specific sign to ban cyclists, as there are on Cornmarket and Queen Streets. Yes, the councillor in this case is equally culpable. THis one really is best resolved behind the scenes. Carillion could take months to fix the problem. King Joke

6:11pm Wed 13 Feb 13

cuckoo says...

Just one road entrance/exit for staff/out patients/visitors.. in cars.. to JR site (especially is it is now so large and heavily used) is, at least, inadequate. On many days the roads on the site, plus Headley Way/Marsh Lane and London Road are almost gridlocked. Wouldn't it make sense to have a secondary public entrance/exit?? If only, say, between about 4pm and 6pm!
Just one road entrance/exit for staff/out patients/visitors.. in cars.. to JR site (especially is it is now so large and heavily used) is, at least, inadequate. On many days the roads on the site, plus Headley Way/Marsh Lane and London Road are almost gridlocked. Wouldn't it make sense to have a secondary public entrance/exit?? If only, say, between about 4pm and 6pm! cuckoo

6:39pm Wed 13 Feb 13

cuckoo says...

Feelingsmatter wrote:
The decision to expand the JR when it was already such a nightmare to get to was ridiculous. I spent 25 minutes in a a blue-lights ambulance with my son, who had a suspected brain haemorrhage, because traffic through Headington was gridlocked. If anyone decides they are better than the rest of us, and decides to bash down barriers for a short-cut, then I hope their care was terminally damaged. Selfishness and idiocy has no place on a hospital site.
Not quite sure what your point is here Feelingsmatter..in general most drivers try their hardest to allow a "blue light" ambulance a swift path thro even the heaviest traffic.
Maybe, just maybe, if the JR had more access points for the general public and staff ....( eg: a, once ago proposed, direct route from the bypass skirting the Northway Estate and entering the JR site at THAT entrance at the very top of Saxon Way) the heavy traffic on Headley Way, Marsh Lane, London Road might reduce significantly. Can understand why residents in Osler Road just hate that no. 10 route tho!!
[quote][p][bold]Feelingsmatter[/bold] wrote: The decision to expand the JR when it was already such a nightmare to get to was ridiculous. I spent 25 minutes in a a blue-lights ambulance with my son, who had a suspected brain haemorrhage, because traffic through Headington was gridlocked. If anyone decides they are better than the rest of us, and decides to bash down barriers for a short-cut, then I hope their care was terminally damaged. Selfishness and idiocy has no place on a hospital site.[/p][/quote]Not quite sure what your point is here Feelingsmatter..in general most drivers try their hardest to allow a "blue light" ambulance a swift path thro even the heaviest traffic. Maybe, just maybe, if the JR had more access points for the general public and staff ....( eg: a, once ago proposed, direct route from the bypass skirting the Northway Estate and entering the JR site at THAT entrance at the very top of Saxon Way) the heavy traffic on Headley Way, Marsh Lane, London Road might reduce significantly. Can understand why residents in Osler Road just hate that no. 10 route tho!! cuckoo

7:46pm Wed 13 Feb 13

King Joke says...

The JR has plenty of access points for patients and staff, it's just that to use Osler Rd or Saxon Way they'll have to be on a bus, as many of them are.
The JR has plenty of access points for patients and staff, it's just that to use Osler Rd or Saxon Way they'll have to be on a bus, as many of them are. King Joke

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