Oxford,
23
November
2020
|
17:22
Europe/London

Have your say on the proposed low traffic neighbourhoods for the Cowley area

Residents in Oxford are being asked to give their views on a series of proposed steps to introduce three low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the Cowley area to make residential roads safer for cycling and walking.

An LTN is an area where through-traffic is prevented to create streets with fewer vehicle movements so that residents can enjoy a quieter neighbourhood and feel safer when they walk, cycle or use wheelchairs.

Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet member for Environment and Transport Cllr Yvonne Constance said: “We have listened to what changes local people want to be made as a result of this year’s pandemic and we are taking action.

“The Cowley area LTN plan has widespread support among councillors of both Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council. Now we’d like the specific views of residents on how they feel about the proposed measures to make sure we address the needs of the community in these areas.

“We are also considering this scheme as well as wider interrelated schemes including the Zero Emission Zone and Connecting Oxford to address congestion and improve air quality.”

An LTN will restrict people from outside the area driving through by the use of traffic filters which can be either planters and/or bollards. All streets will continue to be accessible to residents, the emergency services, visitors and deliveries by car or van, but drivers will need to choose an alternative route for some areas.

Where the restriction occurs on a bus route, access for buses will be maintained, supported by traffic filters in some cases.

The county council is proposing three experimental LTNs within the Cowley area. This means the introduction of traffic filters at specific points across Church Cowley, Temple Cowley and Florence Park.

Government guidelines on COVID-19 emphasise the importance of social distancing. The government has given councils with high levels of bus use emergency funding to encourage walking and cycling as alternative modes of travel. Oxford has high bus use levels; pre-pandemic, there were 40,000 bus trips a day into Oxford city centre. If every bus user who owns a car makes the vehicle their first choice, traffic congestion in Oxford could become severe.

The proposed LTNs also offer real quality of life changes. They offer a safer environment, where cycling and walking conditions are more pleasant and where these forms of travel, combined with fewer vehicle movements, lead to cleaner air and lower emissions for all.

The LTNs will be implemented using an experimental traffic regulation order, which will be in place for a period of six months; the consultation webpage will be open for the whole six months after implementation.

The council is also very interested in residents’, visitors’ and local businesses’ opinions before the schemes are implemented. The council is running this pre-consultation survey to understand people’s expectations and concerns so your views will be carefully examined and included in the ultimate scheme implementation.

This means the LTNs will be implemented on an experimental basis in the six months post implementation before any decision is taken on their longer-term status. The council aims to begin the implementation in February/March 2021.

The feedback survey opens on 23 November and closes at 23.59 on 18 December.

You can learn more about low traffic neighbourhoods and examine some frequently asked questions at:

Take part in the feedback survey:

https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/consult.ti/Cowley_LTN_2020/consultationHome

For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk