Calls to open up Oxford LTN amid Littlemore Roundabout works

Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA) councillor Anne Stares has sent a letter to highways engagement in relation to the impending Littlemore and Rosehill Roundabout closure for re-surfacing on the weekend of August 2-5.

The request to Oxfordshire County Council comes as others have previously asked the council to undertake a road safety assessment on the nearby Newman Road junction as they fear the LTN on Crowell Road has funnelled congestion onto main roads.

READ MORE: Oxford traffic filters scheme postponed say highways bosses

LTNs - which restrict traffic through residential areas - were introduced in Oxford in May 2022 with the aim of making streets safer but have since proved controversial and blamed for increasing congestion.

LTN in east Oxford. (Image: Ed Nix.)

In her letter, Ms Stares said: "Whilst this is a very much welcomed and essential programme the disruption to travel that weekend will be significant.

"Previous enforced closure to this section of the carriageway has produced severe delays and problems for local travel, greatly hindered by the Crowell Rd LTN/ANPR.

"I note from the diversion mapping that buses are to be re routed utilising Littlemore Road and through the Crowell Road ANPR and request that this sensible solution be extended to local traffic for the period of the roundabout closure.

"I ask not that this be part of the signed diversions but simply a route opened to local traffic.

"This will ease the pressure on the already burdened Newman Road and assist those local residents that have essential travel during this period.

"On behalf of the Littlemore community, I am proposing a proactive, rather than a reactive, approach to be more appropriate to mitigate the foreseeable negative effects on the local community."

Anne Stares. (Image: IOA.)

Responding to Ms Stares, an officer said: "I regret we will not be opening the LTNs for this work. It is our policy to only open in an emergency situation. The residents do still have access even if it is not their preferred route.

"The notice sent out with the TTRO is clear which direction diverted traffic should follow. To use the same route as the bus will see vehicles pass through a bus gate, which is also restricted.

"Additionally, this ensures the bus will not be impacted by others making the diversion/rat running.

"Our policy was written following a series of requests to open LTNs ad-hoc for other closures. Continual reversal of the restrictions would undermine the impact protecting the local communities. Similar policy will be considered for the filters when they come into operation.

Littlemore Road LTN. (Image: N/A.)

"I understand this will not be your desired outcome, however, we have the wide network to consider."

Ms Stares later told us she feared there would be "huge disruption" during the period of re-surfacing, "not least for local residents".

She suggested she was still trying to find out "whether the redirected Crowell Road buses will actually fit down their official diversion route".

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About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi