EAST OXFORD has been divided both physically and in opinion following the installation of roadblocks as part of a six-month trial to reduce traffic, a councillor calling the scheme an ‘appalling’ betrayal of public trust.
Fourteen roads in the Divinity Road, St Clement’s, and St Mary’s areas saw bollards put up on May 20 as part of the East Oxford Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) trial.
Since the first day the measures were implemented traffic 'chaos' has been described at peak times on Cowley Road with Oxford Bus Company terminating early and seeing delays of up to an hour.
READ MORE: Traffic 'carnage' after LTN rollout but some business owners are optimistic
Residents struggling to get children to different schools on time, concerns about emergency services and East Oxford communities unable to get to evening prayers at Central Oxford Mosque have been reported to senior Oxford city councillor Shaista Aziz.
Ms Aziz, the council's Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities, said: "I'm not anti- LTNs, but I'm not pro these LTNs. I'm appalled by what's going on.
"The county council is losing people's trust in the system."
READ MORE: Councillor SLAMS LTNs as 'appalling' betrayal of public trust
A county council survey conducted last year showed most businesses opposed to the East Oxford scheme with 80 per cent, objecting to the plans – 90 per cent of them saying it would create more traffic on nearby roads.
Reports of this traffic have continued through the week, with one concerned resident saying: “My father is extremely elderly and suffers from multiple health problems.
“My biggest fear is that if we need help, it won’t get here in time. I feel powerless”
Before the East Oxford LTNs were installed the emergency services raised concerns that increased traffic on arterial routes would add to emergency response times.
READ MORE: Oxford LTNs: Every concern raised by the emergency services over new bollards
On this topic, a South Central Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We have not had any further issues raised by staff where any active travel scheme has delayed a response to patients.
"SCAS is very supportive of these schemes to ensure we reduce carbon emissions and promote the public’s health and wellbeing."
READ MORE:
- 'People are angry': LTN smashed down on its first day standing
- Traffic chaos and vandalism as even pro-LTN individuals share trial doubts
County councillor for Iffley Fields & St Mary's, Damien Haywood condemned the vandalism of the bollards and said: "I think people were listened to on the first consultation. The majority of people who live in the area were for LTNs. It was a small majority but consultations are not a referendum.
"We do make changes if need be."
READ MORE: Uproar from both sides as new LTN trial faces public resistance
A county council consultation of residents living in the areas affected, saw a majority of residents vote for the new measures, with the majority of residents outside of the direct area against them.
Cowley Councillor Charlie Hicks, who initially denied that additional traffic had been caused by the LTNs said: "It’s not surprising that there is disruption initially as people adjust their travel patterns. I’m confident that through the summer we will see the positive changes of reduced traffic."
READ MORE: Cowley councillor denies traffic chaos is caused by new LTNS
A petition set up last week by Mossy Rana, a Cowley resident, has already received over 3000 signatures to remove both the East Oxford and Cowley LTNS.
On why he set it up, the 41-year-old said: “If only 50 people had signed the petition then that’s maybe nothing. But [thousands] signed it which shows there is a major concern.”
Recently appointed county council Cabinet Member for Highway Management Andrew Gant said: "It's simply not possible to say what the contributing traffic impact has been as it is only the first week of the trial.
"There has been an impact. The proposal is to make changes to the roads.
"Doing nothing is not an option."
READ MORE: ‘He’s a wonderful act to follow’: New highways councillor praises Tim Bearder
An Oxfordshire County Council Spokesperson said: "The east Oxford LTNs have been implemented as a trial, which allows us to continually monitor them on a site-by-site basis and evaluate their impact.
"A decision on whether to make the trial scheme permanent, extend or remove it cannot be made without engagement with those affected and we want to hear all views.”
The County Council consultation can be engaged with at letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/east-oxford-ltns-2022.
Read more from this author
This story was written by Shosha Adie.
She joined the team in 2022 as a digital reporter.
To get in touch with her email: Shosha.Adie@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter: @ShoshaAdie
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