Traders hit back after East Oxford LTN recommendation

Oxfordshire County Council officers have recommended that the trial LTNs in Divinity Road, St. Clement’s and St. Marys should continue despite significant opposition from traders and members of the public.

Their report comes before a cabinet decision on Tuesday (October 17) over the future of the traffic calming measures.

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The East Oxford LTNs have been recommended for approval at next Tuesday's cabinet meeting (Image: Ed Nix)

The recommendation has been met with fierce backlash and a protest has been planned outside County Hall on the morning of the decision.

The council’s highways chief Andrew Gant argued that LTN areas had seen an increase in cycling and a decrease in private car use and air pollution since bollards were introduced on a trial basis in May 2022.

But the council has been accused of disregarding the widespread opposition to the LTNs.

Eddie Reeves, leader of the Conservative Group on the council, said it had “routinely ignored” public consultations on active travel schemes.

In a consultation run from May to November last year, 61 per cent of respondents objected to the St Clement’s Road LTN and 59 per cent opposed the scheme in Divinity Road and St Mary's. 

The reaction was also overwhelmingly negative in a consultation run earlier this year.

Mr Reeves said: “Given the complete disregard shown for residents and businesses across East Oxford, we will now look to bring forward proposals to halt further LTNs and, where practicable, to reverse existing ones that were pushed through without such support.”

Business owners in the Cowley Road also criticised the recommendations on the LTNs.

Clinton Pugh said he was not surprised by the officers' recommendations but plans to put up a sign in protest (Image: Photo: Oxford Mail)

Clinton Pugh, the owner of restaurants Cafe Coco and Kazbar, said: “Unfortunately, nothing surprises me. The whole way the council has approached this from the beginning has been just wrong.

“They have their ideology. They have decided the way Oxford is going to go. It doesn’t matter what anyone says or how many questionnaires or consultations we respond to.

"They will do it anyway.”

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Mr Pugh, who is the father of actress Florence, claimed his previous bar Cafe Tarifa was re-possessed because of the impact of LTNs.

The owner of Cafe Coco and Kazbar put up a similar sign earlier this year criticising the council (Image: Ed Halford)

Several traders on the road have also blamed LTNs for the demise of their businesses, including the owners of Honest Stationery and YogaVenue.

Mr Pugh said: “Every business owner I know is suffering from this. We have over 200 businesses on the Cowley Road and people just can’t get to them.

“You also can’t get the staff. It’s all very well having 15-minute neighbourhoods, but you have to live within them for them to work.”

Mr Pugh plans to put a banner on the side of Cafe Coco accusing the council of being “dictators”, having put up a similar sign earlier this year.

Klontian Meta said revenue was down 40 per cent at his cafe Love Coffee since the LTNs were introduced (Image: Ed Halford)

Klontian Meta, who owns Love Coffee cafe, said his business would be put in a “scary situation” if the LTNs were made permanent.

He claims his revenue is already down 40 per cent since the bollards were introduced and estimated that he had lost around 60 to 70 regular customers.

“The traffic is horrible, and for this reason, people are not coming to grab their coffees in the morning,” he said.

“I’m very worried about what happens if they are made permanent. The rents and business rates in Oxford are already so high.”

Mr Meta said he had gone from having five members of staff to just two.

“Before the LTNs, I could go out for five hours and leave my employees running the shop," he said. 

"Now, I have to be here all the time because there are not enough.”

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In their report, officers said that businesses were more negative about the LTNs than individuals.

They said they “appreciated that some businesses suffer more from the lack of car borne traffic” but argued that a “continued rise in traffic volume and congestion” was also not beneficial to trade.

The officers have proposed that automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are used in place of physical closures in Divinity Road, James Street and Magdalen Road.

They also said there should be exemptions for emergency services, waste and postal services and private hire vehicles.

Highways chief Andrew Gant said Tuesday’s decision would be made using “a significant body of evidence.” (Image: Ed Nix)

Mr Gant, who is cabinet member for transport management, said: “Monitoring data shows overall increases in cycling and decreases in private car use and air pollution inside LTN areas.

“Outside LTN areas, data shows an overall increase in journey times but also an increase in cycling at all measured locations.

“Although overall traffic levels and pollution have increased outside LTN areas from immediately before the trial, levels of air pollution remain lower than in 2019.”

County councillor Damian Haywood said residents in his Iffley Fields and St Mary's ward were "very supportive" of the LTNs. 

He said: "They see the benefits of children playing in the street and safely walking to school with less pollution and traffic in the area. 

"They have also seen an increase in children cycling to primary school, to the extent that we're looking to get additional bike racks at our local schools. 

"And they just like the feel of the area. They can listen and chat to their neighbours without worrying about cars. 

"They are optimistic that the LTNs will be made permanent, and so am I."

Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds was approached for comment but did not respond.