WE reported that the rollout of the first low traffic neighbourhoods in Oxford had begun, with planters and bollards placed across residential roads to stop drivers using them as shortcuts.
The Cowley LTN scheme, approved for a six-month trial by Oxfordshire County Council, is the first of its kind in the city or the county.
In LTNs, bollards or planters are used to turn through-roads into cul-de-sacs to deter drivers from rat running.
The rollout began on Monday and we asked residents whether they have noticed the difference.
Here is what you said:
SALLY HUNTER: "Absolute joke. Now my car is going to be on the road for longer. Just to get to Cowley centre. I cannot use a bike or walk due to family disabilities. They need to open Littlemore Road."
VERITY MILLS-DAVIES: "As there was an accident along this road yesterday it was absolutely carnage. So dangerous. How are ambulances, fire, police going to get through? "This is going to cause massive impact on people. Nobody wanted this who live round here."
JO SHEWARD: The whole Temple Cowley LTN is unnecessary and already causing chaos. Mayfair Road was like wacky races yesterday with all the three point turns.
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"A motorbike came in between the ugly planters and road signs. The consultation was a tick box exercise, they haven't listened to anyone's concerns and as usual ploughed ahead regardless.
"I for one am now even more determined to put my property on the market and get out of Oxford. It's achieving nothing apart from increased emissions, traffic and headaches for everyone, but especially us residents."
JULIE GILL: "Well they haven't been fully installed yet so how can you tell? Also I fail to understand how Littlemore Road/Crowell Road can be called a rat run when it's a major road in my opinion.
"I understood the vote on the consultation was 52 per cent for it, hardly a landslide result. The council were going to do it regardless. I hate it because it will mean I now have to drive an extra half mile and forces me onto already busy roads.
"I agree in principle with the side streets but not Crowell Road."
SIMON ABRAMS: "Just pushes traffic to other streets instead. Look at Jericho for example - now traffic is being pushed away from shops who need business and instead past a nursery, church and in to more compact narrow streets."
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DANNY YEE: "Looking good, but it's the Florence Park changes I'm really looking forward to.
"The Beauchamp Lane filter will make a huge difference cycling. It's a haul getting up the hill and being close-passed by a dozen cars in the process makes that a really unpleasant experience (and not something I'd undertake with a young child)."
SCOTT GALBRAITH: "I'd rather have the money spent on filling the potholes throughout the county, than money being wasted on this nonsense."
RICKY YOUNG: "Quieter and safer but will actually cause more pollution because people have to drive a further distance to get where they’re going."
JUSTIN BEATTIE: "Complete joke now means the other roads will have more traffic and no doubt more crashes."
PAUL STOCKFORD: "Just moved the traffic to other roads making them unsafe - that’s council logic zero."
BOB PEELING: "Slowing traffic means using lower gears, causing more emissions.
Low Traffic Neighbourhood: Fears over impact of scheme in Temple Cowley, Oxford
"And don't start me on ambulances or fire appliances can't get through if it deters others who could cycle or walk from taking their cars, it will reduce the congestion.
"I know its counter intuitive but its long been observed that the more road you build, the more traffic you get, the slower the traffic moves."
OXFORD MAIL COMMENTER ARACHNE: "Great idea. Leave residential streets for residents, not rat-runners. If the main roads get slower and some car drivers then decide to walk, cycle or get the bus, we all win.
"I hope we get an LTN where I live."
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