Fears raised about road closures in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire County Council has refused calls to open a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) near Oxford Road
Fears have been raised about “impending chaos” from an upcoming three-week closure of a major city road after Oxfordshire County Council refused calls to open a nearby Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN).
Oxford Road, from the Eastern Bypass at Littlemore Roundabout in Littlemore, will be closed up to the junction with Dudgeon Drive.
The closure will begin on Monday, September 1 and is expected to finish on September 22, and will be in place 24 hours a day.
Local councillors Anne Stares and David Henwood contacted the county council asking it to reopen the LTN on Crowell Road near the Templars Shopping Park to allow traffic to go through there.
The county council can temporarily relax traffic restrictions at its discretion and under certain conditions, such as when a community is cut off from the wider network due to emergency road closures or flooding.
Council officers responded to say they would not reopen the LTN as there are several alternative routes available.
The alternative route for traffic is via Sandford Road, Henley Road, A4074 and A4142 Eastern Bypass Road and vice versa.
But both councillors say these other routes are not viable, and that there was significant congestion when the same road was closed between April 1 and the early afternoon of April 2.
Councillor Anne Stares, who represents Littlemore for the Independent Oxford Alliance, said: “The one-and-a-half-day closure of Oxford Road in April, and the chaos that ensued, should have sufficiently educated the county council that any further closures would require a safe alternative measure, to the already overburdened Newman Road, be considered.
“Time and time again residents have been assured that the LTNs were designed to be opened in times of emergency.
“What more is required for the county council to understand the pressure being placed on an area and its long-suffering residents that are consistently ignored?”
Councillor David Henwood, who also represents Littlemore on the county council for the same party, said: “With a little human kindness and a willingness to serve rather than dictate, the impending chaos could — and should — be avoided.”
A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: “LTNs are intended to make residential streets safer, quieter and more comfortable for walking, cycling and wheeling.
“Any temporary change to LTNs is at the discretion of Oxfordshire County Council’s network management team.
“It is the county council’s policy to open up LTNs if requested by a ‘blue light’ service, if there is a road closure which will cut a community off from the wider road network such as flooding, or if there is special planned event with suitable legal order in place.”
Traffic signs directing motorists through the diverted route will be in place for the duration of the route.
Residents living on the road, as well as pedestrians and cyclists, will still be able to access the road.
While the 3A, 45 and NX40 bus services will continue through the closure and follow the normal route, the bus stop at Dudgeon Drive will be closed for the duration of the closure.
The works are taking place so that the road can be excavated and new high voltage electricity ducts can be installed.