East Oxford LTNs six week consultation

Oxfordshire County Council is holding a six week consultation to gather views on proposed changes to the east Oxford low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and understand their impact since new bollards were introduced in March. An online survey is open from today (Monday 5 June) until 5pm on Thursday 20 July on the council's Let's talk Oxfordshire digital engagement and consultation platform. People can also request a paper survey or pick one up at Oxfordshire County Library (in the Westgate) and Cowley Library. Feedback received will form part of the evidence used when considering the future of the trial. LTNs are part of the county council's local transport and connectivity plan, designed to improve travel and transport. They are intended to make residential streets safer and more comfortable for walking, wheeling and cycling. Motorised traffic is prevented from using some streets to take shortcuts. As part of the central Oxfordshire travel plan, they are designed to work together with other measures to reduce congestion and improve air quality. Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: "We have encouraged people to share their views with us throughout the trial of the east Oxford LTNs. I’m pleased we are giving people another opportunity to offer detailed feedback. "Vandalism has interfered with running the trial and made it harder for us to fairly assess its impact. Now that the wooden bollards are in place, the extra information from this consultation will supplement the survey data we gathered last year, and the extensive monitoring and evaluation data we are still building up. "We have also been reviewing one year's worth of feedback and have used this information and other technical assessments to propose some changes if the LTNs remain in place. These changes address some common suggestions for improvement, and we are now asking for people's views on them at the same time. "These changes would only be introduced if the decision is made to keep the LTNs in place. "We need as much information as possible to take to cabinet when we make a decision on the trial later this year and we will consider all feedback received." The changes proposed are: • Installing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras instead of bollards at Divinity Road, James Street and Magdalen Road. • Adding a traffic restriction at the St Clement's end of Jeune Street and making the street two way south of the restriction. • Moving the restrictions on Bullingdon Road to the south-west to a point east of the junction with Hurst Street. • Changing parking arrangements near the industrial estate on Marston Street. A six week traffic regulation order (TRO) consultation is the best way to gather feedback before the end of the trial in November and it enables the council to introduce changes to the east Oxford LTNs, if they stay in place. A decision is due be made by the county council's cabinet in October this year on whether to continue with the east Oxford LTNs. A six month consultation took place from May to November 2022. Reports from that consultation and this six week consultation will form part of the feedback to help the council's cabinet make its decision. The council will also consider other evaluation information. ENDS For more information about this release contact Oxfordshire County Council's communications team on 01865 323870 or email [email protected] Notes for editors • Full details about the east Oxford LTNs six week consultation can be found by visiting letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/east-oxford-ltns-2023. The same page includes supporting information, Frequently Asked Questions, and a link to take the survey. • The full details of the proposed changes are as follows:

St Mary's LTN area

• More information about the east Oxford LTNs, including previous consultation and engagement, is available on the county council's website at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/eastoxfordltns • LTNs are areas where motorised traffic is prevented from taking shortcuts through a residential area. LTNs are implemented through an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO), a legal process which runs for a maximum of 18 months. The three trial east Oxford LTNs cover the Divinity Road, St Clement's, and St Mary's areas and were installed under an ETRO in May 2022. A consultation followed for six months. • More information about Oxfordshire County Council's central Oxfordshire travel plan can be found on our website oxfordshire.gov.uk/centraloxontravelplan • More information about Oxfordshire County Council's local transport and connectivity plan can be found on our website oxfordshire.gov.uk/localtransportplan