Installation of east Oxford low traffic neighbourhoods begins

Oxfordshire County Council has begun work to install traffic measures in east Oxford aimed at improving safety, air quality and congestion levels in the area. 

The three trial low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) cover the Divinity Road, St Clement’s, and St Mary’s areas and are being installed under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO). The trial will last for at least six months. 

Residents will notice the installation of planters and bollards in these streets over the coming days, with work expected to be complete by 20 May, when a public consultation will open seeking residents’ views on the measures. Anyone will be able to provide feedback on the proposals, either online or by requesting a paper copy. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “A lot of traffic passes through Divinity Road, St Mary’s and St Clement’s. There are many schools in the area and cycling is not as safe here compared to other parts of the city. We believe the launch of these LTNs will make it safer for residents, young and old, to walk, cycle and scoot through these streets.” 

Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “Traffic calming measures form part of our ambition to make our streets safer and our air cleaner, and encourage the use of more sustainable forms of transport. We believe they will work together with our proposals to introduce an expanded zero emission zone, workplace parking levy and traffic filters; to improve bus journey times; make our roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians; and ensure that people who rely on their cars can avoid congestion.” 

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, said: “As well as fulfilling our desire as a Council to see safer, healthier streets, with better air quality, creating low traffic neighbourhoods is one of a set of measures we believe will help us to tackle the climate emergency and reduce emissions.” 

The east Oxford LTNs were extensively consulted on throughout 2021, and changes have been made to the proposals which include: 

• Reducing the length of the two-way section in Howard Street and providing a contraflow cycle lane.
• Relocating filters on Howard Street and Barnet Street.
• Redesigning the filter on Magdalen Road.
• Some changes to controlled parking zones to avoid making it difficult for residents to find parking spaces.

Changes to LTNs can also be made during the initial six-month trial, at which point the public consultation period will reset and continue for a further six months.

At the end of the consultation period, the county council will assess the impact of the east Oxford LTNs, including any feedback received, data collected on traffic and air pollution and levels of walking and cycling in these areas. The council will then decide whether to confirm, cancel or extend the ETRO for up to 12 months longer to allow for further consultation and monitoring.

Work to install signs within the east Oxford LTNs and at their entrances took place in April, and work to install planters, parking restrictions and bollards is taking place now. When the signs are uncovered and the planters and bollards are in place, the roads within the LTNs will be closed to all through traffic, apart from emergency vehicles and waste services traffic, pedestrians and cyclists. Details of alternative routes for drivers are available on the county council’s website at http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/eastoxfordltns.

Ends

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