A protest is being organised ahead of a meeting on Tuesday (October 17) where councillors will decide whether to make Oxford’s low traffic neighbourhoods (LTN) permanent.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet has been recommended to approve the three LTNs where planters and bollards have restricted motor vehicles. The 18-month trial – an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) – is due to end in November.

However, the officers’ recommendation proposes that many of those obstructions are replaced with ANPR cameras because so many of the plastic bollards have been vandalised or removed. Vandalism has reduced since many were replaced with wooden bollards.

But a report to Tuesday’s meeting concedes that the vandalism has affected its gathering of data. The report states: “As a direct result of the continued removal of bollards and use of the roads by motor vehicle through traffic it has not been possible to fully evaluate the longer-term impacts of the scheme as expected throughout an 18- month ETRO.”

Councillors will be presented with three options:

  • To make LTNs permanent immediately
  • To make them permanent with delayed implementation (once traffic filters are operating in Autumn 2024)
  • Scrap them (although some measures such as cycle lanes may remain)

Protesters are planning to demonstrate at County Hall at 10.30am, ahead of the 11am meeting.

In a mailshot to residents, campaign group Reconnecting Oxford states: “The Government and Department for Transport will also be soon conducting a major independent review into LTNs, including our failed Oxford LTNs.

“As we know from official council consultations, the vast majority of us residents and businesses are opposed to these zealous and damaging road closures, we are all totally fed up.

“Let’s keep up the pressure on the council – we can make a difference. It’s far from being a done deal & we will get the council to remove these LTNs, as they have done in many other parts of the country.”

Image: Google.

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