Labour’s bid to water down parts of Oxford’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme has been slammed as “too little, too late”.

Both supporters and critics of LTNs have criticised a Labour motion which will be put forward at the full Oxfordshire County Council meeting on Tuesday (December 12).

Labour councillor Michael O'Connor, who represents the University Parks division, will push for some traffic filters in East Oxford and Cowley to be opened up at certain times to ease congestion.

READ MORE: Oxford running race cancellation slammed as 'kneejerk'

But pro-LTN councillors fear the motion will undo the benefits of the traffic filters, which they claim create safer streets and reduce pollution.

And an LTN critic argued that Labour should do more to reverse the scheme, which is claimed to increase traffic and harm businesses.

Oxford Mail: Labour councillor Michael O'Connor defended the motion he will propose on TuesdayLabour councillor Michael O'Connor defended the motion he will propose on Tuesday (Image: Michael O'Connor)

Dismissing the criticism from both sides, Mr O’Connor told the Oxford Mail that Labour just wanted to improve bus services and reduce congestion in the city.  

His motion asks the council to investigate opening up the Littlemore Road traffic filter in Cowley outside school travel hours, as well as some East Oxford traffic filters to allow motorists to travel between Iffley Road, Cowley Road and St. Clement’s.

However, his specific examples for East Oxford filters to open up - in Rectory Road and Marston Street – left Oxford city councillor Emily Kerr “baffled”.

She questioned how traffic would cross Cowley Road and said Labour councillors needed to “speak to officers or visit the site.”

Oxford Mail: Former Labour councillor Damian Haywood, who is now an Independent, said it was a “folly of a motion”Former Labour councillor Damian Haywood, who is now an Independent, said it was a “folly of a motion” (Image: Ed Nix)

Damian Haywood, who quit Labour in September to become an Independent councillor, said the proposal would overload East Oxford side roads with congestion.

Mr O’Connor said this would be a “trade off” to reduce traffic at the Plain roundabout.

But Mr Haywood said it was a “folly of a motion” which was intended to “generate copy for leaflets and press releases”.

READ MORE: Long Bridge near Bicester reopens after months of closure

He said: “It puts into jeopardy measures that I and others have been working on and passionately advocating for years.

“It will not change residents' minds either way.

“It is nothing but a disruption for little or no gain.”

Oxford Mail: The LTNs in Oxford have divided opinionThe LTNs in Oxford have divided opinion (Image: Ed Nix)

Criticism for the motion was also shared by those strongly opposed to LTNs.

David Henwood of the Independent Oxford Alliance, a party launched last month that is campaigning to remove the LTN scheme, said it was “too little, too late.”

He claimed Labour were only looking to win votes ahead of city council elections next year and county council elections in 2025.

Oxford Mail: David Henwood of the Independent Oxford Alliance handed out leaflets outside Westgate Oxford on Saturday to promote the party's anti-LTN campaignDavid Henwood of the Independent Oxford Alliance handed out leaflets outside Westgate Oxford on Saturday to promote the party's anti-LTN campaign (Image: David Henwood)

In response, Mr O’Connor said: “Labour represents people throughout Oxford.

“We’re not about contributing to problematic binaries and we’re not just about winning elections.

"We’re about representing people.”

The Labour motion also calls for traffic lights at the Plain, a school street in Cowley Place, and better communication with the public over transport.