East Oxford low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs)

Six-week Traffic Regulation Order consultation and proposed improvements– 5 June to 20 July 2023

We are asking for people’s views on proposed changes to the east Oxford low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), and for feedback on the impact of the LTNs since new bollards were introduced in March.

Since the LTN trial began in May 2022, frequent vandalism has prevented a thorough impact assessment, because bollards were often missing. In March 2023, new bollards were introduced.

We have also been gathering feedback to understand the trial’s impact and to help inform future decision-making. We have listened to this feedback and are proposing some changes that could be introduced only if the council decides to continue with the LTNs.

This consultation is an opportunity for people to highlight the impact of the proposed changes, to comment on the LTN area as a whole, and to raise any suggestions we may not have thought of.

A survey will be open from 12 noon on Monday 5 June until 5pm on Thursday 20 July 2023, and anyone can provide feedback by visiting the council’s Let’s talk Oxfordshire engagement platform.

The proposed changes are:

Location		Proposed change
Divinity Road LTN area	Divinity Road	Bollard removed and replaced with an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera to enforce the restriction.
St Clement’s LTN area	Jeune Street	New traffic restriction proposed. Introduction of bollards and/or planters at the junction with St Clement’s Street. Jeune Street to be made two-way south of the restriction.
St Mary’s LTN area	James Street	Bollard removed and replaced with an ANPR camera to enforce the restriction.
	Marston Street	Relocation of the residential parking bay located to the south of the business entrance to outside number 47 Marston Street.
	Bullingdon Road	Move existing restriction along Bullingdon Road to the southwest, to a point east of the junction with Hurst Street.
	Magdalen Road	Bollard removed and replaced with an ANPR camera to enforce the restriction.

Take part in the survey

What are low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs)?

An LTN is an area where motorised traffic is prevented from taking shortcuts through a residential area. This creates quieter and safer streets where residents may feel more comfortable when making local journeys by cycling, wheeling or on foot.

All roads remain accessible, but drivers may have to find alternative routes instead of cutting through some streets.

LTN locations in east Oxford

The three low-traffic neighbourhoods in east Oxford are implemented in the in Divinity Road, St Clement's, and St Mary's areas. Please see the plans below.

The scheme has been implemented through an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) which runs for a maximum of 18 months.

Scheme background - ETRO consultation and decision-making (2022/23)

A public consultation to gather views on the experimental trial of the east Oxford low traffic neighbourhoods was open from 20 May until 30 November 2022.

A decision on the next steps for the scheme will be made by the county council’s cabinet later in 2023. Officers will make recommendations based on factors including, but not limited to, any feedback received, data collected on traffic levels, annual air pollution data (expected in spring/summer 2023) and levels of walking and cycling in these areas.

Previous consultation

The east Oxford LTNs were consulted on between March and June 2021, through a series of workshops, engagement activities and a public consultation in June 2021.

The outcome of the engagement activities and public consultation was reported for Cabinet Member decision on 29 July 2021 at which time the decision was to undertake further engagement to address specific issues that had been identified. The report can be found here in item 4/21.

This resulted in some changes to the proposals which included

Reduce the length of the two-way section in Howard Street, provide a contraflow cycle lane;
Relocate filters on Howard Street and Barnet Street
Redesign of the filter on Magdalen Road

The outcome of the additional engagement was reported to a Cabinet Member for Decision meeting on 16 December 2021, and it was approved by Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council to implement the proposals under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO). The report can be found here in item 25/21.

Plans

Overview plans of the east Oxford LTN areas and locations of the filters are below along with details of a typical layout:

The works implemented consist of planters, parking restrictions, and bollards as detailed in the ‘Typical layout’ document; supported by advanced signage at the LTN areas.

Whilst closures are in place all routes will be accessible via different routes. This plan (pdf format, 1.1Mb) shows filter locations and has some examples for accessing amenities around the filters

Timetable of activity
Task	Dates	Status
Advance notification signs	Beginning of April 2022	Complete
Commence implementation of signs	19 April 2022	Complete
Installation of planters	16 - 19 May 2022	Complete
Installation of bollards	19 - 20 May 2022	Complete
ETRO consultation 'go-live'	20 May 2022	Complete
Consultation end	October - November 2022	Complete
Cabinet decision	Later in 2023

More information

There is more information on our East Oxford low-traffic neighbourhoods – air quality, traffic sensors and data analysis page.

Also see our frequently asked questions page or email eastoxfordltn@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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