Concerns have been raised by residents that the LTN bollards in east Oxford are too wide and that it is possible to drive a small car through them.

Former Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford Tony Brett contacted Oxfordshire County Council on April 13 asking them to add an extra post in on Magdalen Road after he saw a vehicle pass through.

A county council spokesman said: “Oxfordshire County Council is investigating concerns that the gap between the planters and the bollard on Magdalen Road could be big enough for smaller cars to pass through.

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“The road remains closed to ordinary traffic where the bollard and signs are located.

“The trial LTN traffic restrictions remain in place to create safer streets for walkers and cyclists, and we reasonably expect road users to respect signs at closure points.”

 

LTN trials began in three areas of east Oxford last May.

Bollards are currently in place in the Divinity Road, St Clement's, and St Mary's areas of the neighbourhood.

The scheme has been implemented through an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) which runs for a maximum of 18 months.

A public consultation to gather views on the experimental trial of the east Oxford low traffic neighbourhoods was open from 20 May until 30 November 2022.

A decision on the next steps for the scheme will be made by the county council’s cabinet later in 2023.

But the council’s implementation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods has proven controversial with the bollards being repeated vandalised since their introduction last May.

Oxfordshire County Council is now considering replacing physical bollards with Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras that would allow emergency vehicles to pass through.

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Mr Brett said: “It’s hugely disappointing and frustrating that the criminal actions of the vandals have forced the council to spend six months and many thousands of pounds dealing with repairs and replacements before it could get to the point where proper discussion with residents and businesses about tweaks and adjustments in the light of experience could start meaningfully.

“Those discussions should have been possible right at the start of the trial so adjustments could have been made to everyone's benefit, but the vandals prevented that at great public expense and danger.

“The point of an Experimental Traffic Restriction Order is to be able to try things out so evidence can be gathered to make decisions.

“I am glad to see that is finally happening but clear the delay is the fault of the vandals, not the council.”