Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy (AbITs)

The Oxfordshire County Council, as highway authority, are responsible for developing and implementing the Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy (AbITS).

The County Council have undertaken this project in partnership with both Abingdon Town Council and the Vale of White Horse District Council.

The County, District and Town Councils adopted an Integrated Transport Strategy for Abingdon in June 2001.

The overall objectives of the strategy are to:  

• Reduce the reliance on motorised traffic in general 
• Remove all but essential traffic from the town centre 
• Promote the use of public transport for journeys both within the town and to other destinations 
• Promote safer, more pleasant and more convenient conditions for pedestrians and cyclists 
• Improve accessibility to facilities, particularly for non-car users and those whose mobility is impaired 
• Promote road safety and reduce the number and severity of road casualties 
• Promote, and where appropriate, establish the efficient management and operation of all types of traffic and related activity, including parking 
• Promote community safety and reduce crime and fear of crime 
• Reduce airborne pollution (taking account of the UK National Air Quality Strategy) and noise levels throughout the town in general, and in areas of high incidence in particular 
• Preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the town's Conservation Areas, its stock of listed buildings and particularly the historic town centre 
• Improve accessibility between Abingdon and the surrounding countryside for recreational purposes 
• Sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre as an attractive place for shopping, business, leisure and tourism 
• Protect and enhance the town's sound economic and employment base 
• Take account of public opinion and gain widespread public support for any proposals through effective publicity, information, consultation and education. 

Much of this will be achieved by controlling traffic flows and reducing dependence on cars by offering safe alternatives that will encourage travel on foot, by bicycle or public transport, whilst recognising that many journeys require a car.  

Since 2001 a range of schemes outside of the town centre have been implemented as part of the overall ABITS strategy, including:

• New commuter signing
• Right-turn lane at Peachcroft Road
• Improvements to junction at Bolter Drive
• Premium cycle route network
• Various signal controlled pedestrian crossings
• Marcham Road widening – phase 1.

In September 2005 work started on the first stage of the town centre scheme. The work included: 

• Installation of linked traffic signals on the three main approach roads (note: the traffic lights for Bridge Street have been located in a temporary position as a trial, and are shortly to be relocated)
• Changing Stratton Way to a two-way traffic flow
• Improving bus waiting facilities in Stratton Way and providing real-time bus information.

The second stage of the town centre scheme started in July 2007. This involved a range of environmental improvements in the town centre including:

• Narrowing the carriageway in Stert Street and creating wider pavements
• Providing loading areas and disabled parking
• Providing new pedestrian crossings
• Narrowing the  Broad Street carriageway  and creating wider pavements
• Providing a new access to the multi-storey car park.

The District Council has made a financial contribution to this part of the scheme to enable the use of higher quality of materials to complement the design and materials used in the recently completed Abingdon Market Place.

It was originally planned that  environmental improvement works would be carried out in High Street next year. However the working group has decided to delay this phase of the project in order that it can first monitor the impact of the completed Stert Street works.

The next significant works planned are at Marcham Road where widening of the road and improvements to the two roundabouts will increase the capacity of this important section of road and therefore help to reduce congestion.

A Members' Working Group is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the strategy and monitoring the effects of each scheme. The Working Group consists of representatives from the Vale of White Horse District Council meets regularly. The meetings are open to any member of the public. The minutes of the Working Group meetings can be found on the County Council's website. 

More information about ABITS can be found on this page of Oxfordshire County Council's website. 

Artist's impression of Abingdon High Street after proposed improvements

An artist's impression of Abingdon High Street after proposed improvements