Oxford transport chief speaks on LTNs and traffic measures

Mr Gant, the highways chief on Oxfordshire County Council is a man who is often criticised for congestion and controversial traffic measures in the city such as LTNs (low traffic neighbourhoods) and traffic filters. 

He met up with reporter Noor Qurashi to put the record straight and tell his side of the story after months of being targeted by anti-LTN campaigners and critics. 

READ MORE: Food festival takes place in Magdalen Road LTN in Oxford

Mr Gant, a teacher and choirmaster, has been in the highways job since 2022 after replacing Liberal Democrat Tim Bearder who previously held the cabinet member for transport role.

Tim Bearder. (Image: Ed Nix.)

Since then LTNs have been made permanent in east Oxford to the ire of those who claim the measures have tripled their journey times and to the dismay of some business owners who argue they have seen a loss in customer footfall.

A traffic filters trial is due to go live in November which will prevent private cars going through six more roads in Oxford.

Not all the measures were dreamed up by the Liberal Democrats – aspects of early forms of the LTNs were supported by the Conservatives, who now oppose them.

But Mr Gant has argued they are being implemented across Oxfordshire, and in Oxford in particular, with a democratic mandate and with the aim of reducing congestion and making the city a “greener” place.

Andrew Gant by county hall on the afternoon of the interview. (Image: Noor Qurashi.)

So we asked the representative on a Monday afternoon this week to expand on why he thought the policies were such a good idea and speak a bit more about this “democratic mandate”.

“It’s all about a city and a county that works best for everybody," Mr Gant said.

“Oxford has a medieval street plan and there are just too many vehicles is what it boils down to.

“Divinity Road used to have 6000 cars going up and down it every single day which I’m glad to say isn’t the case anymore.

“This is about reclaiming streets back from congestion and traffic,” he said.

“Congestion” is precisely what some of Mr Gant’s traffic policies have been accused of and opponents to the existing LTN scheme say it has funnelled traffic onto main roads and worry the upcoming traffic filters trial will also worsen a loss in customer footfall.

We sat down to talk to Andrew Gant. (Image: N/A.)

But Mr Gant and the county council have parachuted in the trial to fix the congestion caused by LTNs.

The highways chief said he did not think removing the existing traffic measures would solve congestion problems.

He told us: “Oh no. Congestion has always been a problem in Oxford. Every political party starts with the premise there is too much congestion in Oxford.

Traffic in Botley Road. (Image: Newsquest)

“Even the opponents start by saying we want to tackle congestion – but not by doing this.

“So what do you want?

“Nowhere in the city would you not be able to drive to when the traffic filters come in that you can’t currently.

“We would reduce traffic through this scheme.

“Compared to 40 years ago – it seems incredible.

“The high street used to be two-way for cars.

Andrew Gant speaks outside county hall. (Image: N/A.)

“It was horrible. Nobody would dream of going back to that.”

So the answer as to whether removal of the schemes could be a solution was a resounding ‘no’ as Mr Gant said “congestion has always been bad in Oxford” as “cars get bigger” and there are “more of them”.

Mr Gant insisted there had and has been “masses of consultation” with the county council going “above and beyond what is required”.

Not everyone would agree amid cries from some Cowley Road and other traders who say they feel “ignored”.

Cowley Road.

Restauranteur Clinton Pugh previously said the council has only “got away with it” as many of the traders on Cowley Road have English as a second language, branding the scheme discriminatory.

As for general transport consultation responses – Mr Gant said answers such as “your policies are like Stalinist Russia” are the ones that don’t quite make the cut.

But what about those people who are not inclined to given a technical response and simply wish to express their strength of feeling?

Mr Gant defended the approach saying it was not just consultation responses addressing “technical” issues he would consider.

LTN in east Oxford. (Image: Ed Nix.)

As for those who did wish to go for the Stalinist Russia-esque line, he had this message: “I regard that an abuse of the democratic right (to provide feedback).”

Being at the centre of the schemes, it would be fair to say Mr Gant has been the subject of many a strongly worded comment.

He said: “I try and ignore them.

“My job is to enact the policy of the county.

“There is no place in that for ill-informed comment and personal attack.”

Mr Gant has been criticised for his own car ownership in the context of some of the policies, which have not been put in place around his residence in north Oxford.

Oxford city centre. (Image: Ed Nix.)

He said: “I fully intend to continue using a car.

“It’s about getting a balance.”

Mr Gant denied claims the policies were “money-making schemes” and added: “We would be absolutely delighted if no one had any fines at all.

“But experience suggests there will be some people who do.

“It’s like getting a parking ticket – we’ve all done it.”

At this point I referred to a previous city council report which had stated full compliance with the ZEZ expansion would be a (financially) ‘worst case scenario’.

It was recognised this report had been produced by the city council, not the county council.

Mr Gant concluded: “Once we have reclaimed the city from congestion just think what we could do with the scheme.

"Think about the opportunities – imagine if George Street was a street full of continental style cafes, that would great."

George Street.

He described Oxford as a continental city of Europe to which I said perhaps not everyone saw it that way.

“Every political party starts with the premise there is too much congestion in Oxford," Mr Gant continued.

“We have a policy. If you want a different policy elect a different council.”

Residents will indeed have the opportunity to “elect a different council” at county elections next year. Time will tell if Mr Gant can hold on to power.

Liberal Democrat polling in Oxfordshire suggests he might.