LTN fancy dress at Christ Church Meadow fun run event

The costume saw a cardboard depiction of the bollard, complete with traffic signage and decorative foliage.

Ben Rout, who does not work for the council, took part in the annual Christmas fun run in Christchurch meadows.

Mr Rout was presented with the best costume award by deputy lord mayor James Fry.

He said: “I made the costume two years ago and decided to revive it as LTNs still remain a hot topic in the local community.

“Both times it has got a good-humoured reaction from councillors and civil servants that work on the policy.”

He described his stance on LTNs as “neutral.”

He added: “I’m fascinated by how issues like these capture the public’s imagination and encourage participation in local politics.”

The event had 170 participants complete a running course.

They were encouraged to dress up in festive costumes.

Councillor Emily Kerr with Ben Iver as an LTN (Image: Emily Kerr)

Mr Rout’s LTN costume represents a bollard from the divisive policy, which sees barriers erected in residential areas in order to reduce traffic and create quieter streets.

The policy has been the subject of much controversy in Oxford, with a proposal to reduce the number of LTN areas hotly debated by councillors on Wednesday (December 13).

The costume caught the attention of Green Party city councillor Emily Kerr, who posted a photo of Mr Rout’s costume on X, formerly Twitter.

She wrote to Mr Rout: “It’s a brilliant outfit and you very much beat me in the run despite wearing a cardboard box.”

Bitten Oxford, an Oxford based food blog, also posted a photo of Mr Rout, asking “Best fancy dress this year?”

The post said the outfit had “received a lot of attention” at the event.

In response to the costume, David Brimson joked on X: “They’re everywhere in Oxford now. There is even a mobile one." 

The Oxford Wine Company commented “This is amazing.”