RESIDENTS have fought back in defence of new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in their area, claiming ‘the vast majority of locals’ support the new scheme.

New LTNs were implemented by Oxfordshire County Council in Church Cowley, Temple Cowley and Florence Park earlier this month as part of a six-month trial.

Some have claimed the scheme caused ‘chaos’, causing issues for emergency services and delivery drivers.

But now others have stepped forward in defence of the LTNs, stating that not only do the new measures help reduce traffic pollution in the area, but that they also make the streets quieter and safer.

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Sarah Burr, 31, who lives on Badger’s Walk, said: “The discussion has been taken over by two quite strong campaigns, but there are many people in the neighbourhood who support the LTNs but do not have the means or the confidence to get involved in the debate.

“It has been talked about like it is difficult to live here if you do not drive.

“I understand there are people with disabilities and people who make a living by driving taxis, but there are also a few people who are driving for short trips because they do not want to walk in the rain, or they're comfortable being in their car listening to the radio when they could easily have walked to the supermarket.”

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She added: “We need to emphasize that this is a trial and we can scrap it or amend it if we need to.”

According to the council’s preliminary consultation, which had over 1,000 responses from residents, 46 per cent in Church Cowley fully supported the scheme, while in Temple Cowley 59 per cent of those who responded said they fully supported the LTN proposal.

Neighbour Daniel Pooley, 35, who owns a car, echoed Ms Burr’s concerns.

He added: “You see a lot of residents talking about a single issue when it comes to this - that the LTN will stop rat-running or make the area safer for children or reducing traffic pollution.

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“These single issues on their own can appear hard to justify, but you need to step back and realise it is not just the single issues, but a whole package.

“When you look at all the issues combined it makes more sense.”

“For most people it is a little bit of car inconvenience, maybe adding another minute on, and they do not like being told to drive another way.”

The council’s aim in introducing LTNs is to create quieter and safer streets for residents while encouraging them to become more active and environmentally-friendly.

Mum of two, Lizzie Moore, 36, who lives in the Church Cowley area, said the new scheme has made her feel much safer when walking her two young daughters to nursery each day.

She said: “Usually, getting from my house to Florence Park or Rose Hill where my daughters go to nursery can be really scary.

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“One of the most powerful things about this is that even just having some of the filters put in has transformed what was a scary journey, where you feared your child might get hit by a car, to one that is rather pleasant.

“Before, I couldn’t let my five-year-old cycle to school, because it was so scary, but now I can.”

Ian Grierson, who lives in Temple Cowley, said where he lives has been notorious for rat-running and speeding, yet the new scheme has helped tackle both of these issues.

He said: “When the scheme was discussed originally my wife and I were very keen to support it.

"I had witnessed cars regularly excelling the 20mph speed limit, some even hit 50mph.

“We even get HGVs going up and down our residential road, but now they have been diverted to Cowley Road or Hollow Way - which are major roads, built for the bulk of traffic vehicles.”

You can add your views by visiting www.consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Cowley_ExperimentalLowTraffic

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