Politicians have insisted a "brilliant" food festival which took place in an LTN (low traffic neighbourhood) area is a sign the controversial transport scheme works.

The inaugural Magdalen Road food festival took place on Saturday (June 1) in Oxford as "hundreds of people" came to test out the offerings of businesses and walk amid music and street decorations.

Oxford Mail: Magdalen Road food festival attendees.Magdalen Road food festival attendees. (Image: Ed Nix)

Magdalen Road - which has been dubbed 'Magdalen Road village' by some proponents of the local transport scheme - was closed-off to through traffic for the foreseeable future when LTNs were made permanent in east Oxford in October 2023.

READ MORE: Oxford householders share experiences of living in LTN area

Bollards on the road have now been replaced with ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras to stop people taking shortcuts through the residential street.

LTNs were introduced in east Oxford in May 2022 with the aim of making streets safer but they have since proved controversial and been blamed for increasing congestion.

Oxford Mail: Munir Hussain. A trader on Magdalen Road who objects to the LTN scheme.Munir Hussain. A trader on Magdalen Road who objects to the LTN scheme. (Image: Noor Qurashi.)

Speaking out after the event, Oxfordshire County Council highways chief Andrew Gant said: "This is a really brilliant example of what can happen when a street is open to people and large groups can gather to enjoy the shops, cafes, and each others' company.

"This is a key part of a vision of a better Oxford for all, alongside the wonderful sight of children arriving at school gates free from the danger and congestion of cars. It is a big success story."

Oxford Mail: Festival traders.Festival traders. (Image: Emily Kerr.)

Mr Gant had earlier taken to social media to say: "This is what safe, open, people-friendly streets can do. It’s wonderful. It works. Go and join in."

A survey conducted by the Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA) Party - who have campaigned against the traffic measures - suggested a majority of traders on the road "strongly believed" the measures "had a negative impact on their business".

They said the overwhelming answer to the survey was that the scheme had been "a disaster".

David Henwood, IOA city councillor for Rose Hill & Iffley, attended the event and suggested he was conflicted.

Oxford Mail: David Henwood.David Henwood. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

Mr Henwood said: "It was wonderful to see people out enjoying the moment.

"It is unfortunate however that we can only support these businesses on limited days.

"It's a difficult one for me.

"Supporting events like this is a responsibility we all have.

"I will continue to go along to these events."

Green city councillor Emily Kerr, who has been promoting the event, said: "The inaugural Magdalen Road Food festival was such a brilliant experience.

Oxford Mail: Emily Kerr.Emily Kerr. (Image: Emily Kerr.)

"Hundreds of people came to the road to test out special offers from the many fabulous food businesses, and everyone else pitched in with smoke bubbles, screen printing, flea market, ice cream stalls and music and street decorations.

"I’m just so impressed by the local residents who organised the festival in their spare time and have set up the Magdalen Road Facebook page - now with more than 1,000 members.

Oxford Mail: Magdalen Road.Magdalen Road. (Image: Emily Kerr.)

"And the support for brilliant local independent businesses from so many in our local community and beyond.

"Hopefully this event will be back next year."