Concern as Littlemore LTN remains shut during works

Oxfordshire County Council announced on Friday last week it would be closing Newman Road off the Littlemore Roundabout on Saturday, August 17 as well as Sunday, August 18 between 8am and 6pm.

The closure was for "emergency utility repair work" and saw a diversion route put in place via Cowley Road and Oxford Road.

Newman Road utilities works. (Image: Pete White.)

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It came just over a week after the Littlemore/Rose Hill roundabout shut across a whole weekend as Oxfordshire County Council worked a 24/7 operation.

On both occasions, some councillors and householders asked the county council to open up the nearby LTN - which restricts traffic through residential streets - as they believed this would help ease congestion.

Founder of the Anti LTN Hub UK group, Pete White, who lives in Littlemore, said he had "deep concern" regarding Oxfordshire County Council's decision to maintain the Littlemore Road LTN closure.

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

Mr White added: "Littlemore is one of the most economically disadvantaged suburbs in Oxford, yet the actions of Oxfordshire County Council seem to be further isolating and harming this community.

"Moreover, the transformation of the LTN into a 'Bus Gate' raises further questions.

"Despite this designation, no buses are currently using the road. It seems the LTN, once a temporary measure under an ETRO, has been made permanent without any clear benefit to public transport users. This begs the question: What is Councillor Gant planning for Littlemore next?"

Newman Road utilities works. (Image: Pete White.)

A county council spokesman said: "There was no need to open the LTN traffic restriction on Littlemore Road. The county council’s policy enables temporary relaxations of traffic restrictions in emergency situations.

"Bus services are expected along Littlemore Road in future."

Co-chairman of the Coalition of Healthy Streets and Active Travel (CoHSAT), Robin Tucker, has also given his thoughts on the topic of the Littlemore Road LTN.

Robin Tucker. (Image: Contribution.)

He said: "Returning cut-through traffic to a residential street causes harm through road crashes and air pollution, and should be avoided whenever possible.

"Since the Cowley LTNs were implemented we have seen road casualties in them halve, and air pollution has fallen, with no increase in these on the boundary roads.

"We know some motorists would like to take a short-cut, but lots of people driving through residential streets is proven to be dangerous.

"Rose Hill and Garsington Road are nearby, an A-road and a B-road designed for through traffic. That is where drivers should head, not down a residential street."

Labour county councillor Trish Elphinstone said although the work in Newman Road was temporary it "would have been helpful if the traffic lights at Heyford Hill could have been adjusted".

Trish Elphinstone. (Image: Oxford & District Labour Party.)

She added: "In the main Littlemore residents don’t mind having an LTN in the side streets and they recognise the need for road safety for cyclists and pedestrians. 

"However what residents do mind is having the Crowell Road filter imposed on them."

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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