Waterways Management Company Annual Objectives for the Management Committee 2019-20 These objectives were carried over into 2020-21 and 2021-22 because of the disruptions caused by the Coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions 1 Install stone weirs
in the balancing pond of the watercourse and carry out silt clearance as
required. This proposal is in abeyance for the time being as a result of the Coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions. 2 Complete the
transfer of the freehold of relevant parts of the estate freehold from Berkeley
Homes to the Waterways Management Company A draft legal transfer document has been produced by Berkeley Homes but this has not yet been agreed because of the delays by Berkeley Homes in replying to our queries. 3 Renew the paving slabs with a more durable solution in priority areas around apartment blocks. This has been achieved in priority areas and a programme for other areas is being drawn up. 4 Maintain the trees, shrubs and other vegetation of the common parts of the estate. A significant amount of tree work has been carried out, including pollarding the overgrown willows to the north of Cox's Ground, the removal of the dangerous overhanging willows by the green, the removal of the diseased poplars on the green and in the corner of the lake area, and the pollarding and coppicing of the trees along the wildlife corridor. New trees have been planted to replace those removed. The routine shrub and othe gardening work has been carried out as normal to a very satisfactory level during the Coronavirus pandemic. 5 Reduce the alder trees
in Frenchay Road and plant a replacement for the felled tree as an example of
any future choice of tree there. The alders have been reduced and a further alder removed because of root problems. Two Pyrus Chanticleer (ornamental pear) trees have been planted to replace them. 6 Respond as necessary to any proposals for a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) across the estate. The county council proposed and consulted on a CPZ for the esate in 2019/2020 and the scheme was imtroduced in December 2020. So far this seems to have been successful in significantly reducing the parking problems previously experienced in some areas. 7 Keep a watching brief on issues of noise and air pollution from the railway line. In April 2021 East-West Rail issued some proposals to upgrade the Chiltern Railways lines north out of Oxford Station which may have some impact on the west of the estate but further details are required before any meaningful comment can be made. Council Plans for parking across the estate The county council proposed and consulted on a CPZ for the esate in
2020 and it was imtroduced in December 2020. So far this seems to have
been successful in significantly reducing the parking problems previously experienced
in some areas. Character Assessments and Development Guidelines Railway line noise monitoring There has been some concern that Network Rail has not and will not adequately monitor the greater noise levels, particularly from the increased freight trafic, generated by the upgraded Oxford to Bicester and Marylebone railway line that runs by the Waterways estae and through Wolvercote. Therefore in 2018 the Waterways and Wolvercote Action Group, made up of representatives from the Waterways Management Company, the Waterways Residents Association and Wolvercote residents, crowdfunded the money to pay for an expert in the field, Giles Parker of Sound Barrier Solutions, to carry out some authoritative real life noise measurements for a week in the gardens of five properties next to the line, two on the Waterways estate and three in Wolvercote. The group would like to thank most heartily all those who contributed. The report was produced in March 2019 and is listed below as a file beginning Sound Barrier Solutions... The intention is to provide authoratitive base-line figures of actual noise levels experienced now, so that as rail traffic increases, as we expect it to, in the next few years, espeially heavy freight traffic operating 24/7, we will have a way of clearly demonstrating any increase in noise in a way that cannot be challenged and so be able to make a stronger case for increased noise mitigation. In April 2021 East-West Rail issued some proposals to upgrade the
Chiltern Railways lines north out of Oxford Station which may have some impact on the west
of the estate but further details are required before any meaningful
comment can be made. April 2021 |
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