Councillors welcome decision to defer making Cowley LTNs permanent

A decision was set to be made yesterday by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highway management, Tim Bearder.

However, following ‘the sheer number of emails and anger’, Mr Bearder announced the council’s cabinet should make the call.

A council report stated that Mr Bearder was recommended to make permanent the LTNs in Church Cowley, Florence Park and Temple Cowley, despite a consultation showing that 63 per cent of respondents objected to the measures, with 26 per cent in support.

The remaining 11 per cent ‘expressed concerns’.

Read again: Decision on future of Cowley LTNs deferred after ‘sheer number of emails and anger’

At the meeting, Mr Bearder said: “Very late last night, we came to the conclusion that due to the sheer number of emails and anger expressed, it would not be right for one person to make this decision, in that context.

“It’s appropriate we will debate this in full and I ask the cabinet to make the decision.

“We have a busy agenda in March so I don’t think it will happen in March.

“Apologies to anyone who gave up their time, and that the decision was so late.

“I look forward to having the debate on LTNs at a later date, with cabinet colleagues.”

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Cowley started operating in March 2021. Picture: Ed Nix

Mr Bearder later told the Oxford Mail that a decision needs to be made before July, as that is when an 18-month Experimental Traffic Regulation Order expires.

“I went to a meeting in Littlemore last week and there was unbridled fury – it became apparent that it would not be appropriate for one person to make this decision,” said Mr Bearder.

“I’d had 400 emails in advance of the meeting and it’s something that needed listening to.

“I decided early in the morning and emailed the officer, it was the right thing to do.”

In December, Mr Bearder stepped down from making a decision on the East Oxford LTNs, and deferred the resolution to county council leader, Liz Leffman.

That followed allegations Mr Bearder may not be able to make the decision in ‘good faith’ due to concerns about his impartiality.

The concerns followed a video posted on Twitter by Mr Bearder in October that suggested it was the school run causing traffic in Oxford, not LTNs.

“Fundamentally I’m not predetermined on this stuff and it’s important to be seen not to be predetermined,” said Mr Bearder.

Read again: Highways boss will not decide whether LTNs go ahead ‘to demonstrate impartiality’

County council shadow cabinet member for highway management, Liam Walker, said: “They’ve had a lot of emails – I had 40 and I’m in the shadow cabinet.

“The monitoring officer has been inundated with complaints.

“I suppose this decision is a mixture of both – the previous decision when Liz Leffman had to take over and the emails that have gone in.”

An email sent to proposed speakers at yesterday’s meeting said the decision to defer had been taken on the advice of the monitoring officer, a person who reports on matters they believe to be illegal or amount to maladministration, is responsible for matters relating to the conduct of councillors and officers and, is responsible for the operation of the council’s constitution.

The email read: “In the last 24 hours, there has been a tremendous number of emails received by councillor Bearder and officers, both in support and opposing the Cowley low traffic neighbourhood proposals.

“For this reason, it was the monitoring officer’s advice that this decision should be referred to the council’s cabinet.”

Read more: Plans for 42 new homes shelved by council

After the meeting, county councillor Michele Paule – who represents the Rose Hill and Littlemore division – said: “Making this a cabinet decision is absolutely the right thing to do. It should never have been in the hands of one person.

“Councillors for the wards hit hardest by the LTNs understand the social and economic geography of the city and the needs of our residents.

“We now have the chance to ensure that their voices are heard and that the evidence produced by them is taken seriously.

“The cabinet needs to look at alternatives to the highly emotive and segregating physical barriers.

“We have the chance to move the pieces around on the board to sure that everyone has equal access to life’s essentials, and that businesses can function.

“We’re not there yet but this is a right and proper start.”

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Cowley started operating in March 2021. Picture: Ed Nix

Oxford City Council’s migrant champion, Dr Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini, added: “Carers shouldn’t have to be at their wits’ end trying to make ends meet during this cost of living crisis whilst shoehorning long and expensive bus travel times into their day.

“Sadly the LTNs occurring at the same time as cuts by the bus companies have made life harder for some of the most marginalised and low-paid residents in our city and that cannot continue.

“I hope cabinet members at county hall use this opportunity to reshape their approach to policymaking.

“We need cheaper safer public transport at the same time as traffic calming measures, to avoid worsening inequalities and dividing our city further.”

City councillor Evin Abrishami also welcomed the decision to defer to the cabinet.

She said: “From what I constantly hear on the doorstep, is that the way the LTN decisions have been handled so far resulted in increasing inequalities and at the same time, dividing our communities.

“It is vital for the transport policy to be inclusive and address the issues arising from LTNs, which affect the most marginalised, vulnerable and poorest residents unfairly.

“As a nurse associate working in the community, I am concerned about the effects of LTNs on our ability to provide key services to our patients, as we don’t have enough nurses to cope with the increased journey time, resulting in us visiting fewer patients each day.

“We won’t be able to carry out these visits on bikes, due to carrying carloads of equipment, and the distances we have to cover across the city.”

The council report which recommended Mr Bearder make the Cowley LTNs permanent noted that if the LTNs are removed, the cost is estimated at £20,000.

However, if the LTNs are made permanent, further design work with the community would be required to determine what features would replace the temporary planters.

This could cost between £320,000 and £750,000.

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