RESIDENTS from Jericho welcomed the closure of Walton Street as an early Christmas present by decorating barriers which have closed off the road.

The route was closed earlier this year for resurfacing and the county council then decided to keep it closed on a trial basis and is consulting the public on the proposal.

Oxford Mail:

Walton Street is now closed off at the junction with Worcester Street and Beaumont Street and could remain shut for up to 18 months on a trial basis.

READ MORE: Will Walton Street be closed to traffic forever

The issue has proved divisive - some residents have welcomed the move while others want the street to be reopened.

Oxford Mail:

Members of Don’t Choke Jericho! who are happy with the closure showed their support today by putting up Christmas trees next to the barrier and decorating them with tinsel.

Spokesman Jamie Hartzell, 61, an office space manager from Kingston Road, said: “The closure of Walton Street has raised strong feelings on both sides.

Oxford Mail:

“But it’s clear from the many conversations I have had that everyone agrees we want a calmer, safer and less polluted Jericho.

“What we need is a vision for our streets that unites our community and that reflects the power and strength of the people who live here.”

Oxford Mail:

He added: “I think there is a lot of agreement that we need to reduce the traffic coming through Jericho, and the city centre as a whole.”

Mr Hartzell said closing the street to traffic was in line with the aims of Connecting Oxford, proposals outlined by the city and county councils to reduce congestion.

Oxford Mail:

These include introducing a number of new bus-only lanes across the city including one in Worcester Street and a workplace parking levy.

The rival group, Jericho Connections, has called for the county council to reopen the street while ‘baseline data’ is collected prior to a formal consultation.

READ MORE: Latest results from court

No one from Jericho Connections appeared to be at the Don’t Choke Jericho! demonstration yesterday.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Hartzell added that he wanted to meet representatives from Jericho Connections in the new year.

He added: “We should get round the table to plan what’s best for the community.”

More than 490 people have now signed a petition calling for the street to stay closed.

Mum-of-three Katharina Marquardt, 38, who lives off Walton Street, welcomed the closure. She added: “It’s less polluted and much quieter and it’s safer for my 11-year-old to cycle to school.”

Oxford Mail:

Dr Alison Hill, chairwoman of cycling campaign group Cyclox, said: “I think the closure is a wonderful initiative but low traffic neighbourhoods should be introduced in a more systematic way.”

READ AGAIN: OAPs want a bus to return to Walton Street

Labour city and county councillor Susanna Pressel said: “The county council has not gone about this in the way it should have done and the closure has certainly caused problems for some people. However, air quality in Jericho is now far better and Walton Street is now safer and quieter for all its many users.”

Ms Pressel called for the council to improve signs alerting drivers.