Oxford St Clement's business blames LTNs for closure

Gourdans Steak Frites in St Clement's Street has announced it will be closing its "beautiful restaurant" from Sunday (June 16).

Established in 2015, Gourdans has been run by Matt Jeffery and his wife Tina.

The couple first started out in a van serving gourmet steak and chips before opening a restaurant in St Clement’s Street in October 2020.

They told OxInaBox that the "LTN’s and lack of parking, the cost of living and rising costs" were responsible for the decision.

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A spokesman added: "Our customers ring up regularly and say they are stuck in a traffic jam at The Plain trying to get to us, or have been circling for 40 minutes trying to park. It’s just been one thing after another. So we just had to cut our losses."

Other reasons such as the cost of living crisis and people now "not having as much disposable income" were also cited as a reason for the closure of the steak restaurant.

The restaurant is in St Clements. (Image: Ed Nix.)

The news comes as county council traffic policies have been accused of harming independent businesses due to making them more difficult to reach.

Leader of the Real Independent Group on the city council and representative for the Temple Cowley ward, Saj Malik, said: "The county council is killing businesses and making Oxford totally inaccessible.

"Traffic filters will make it worse.

"The message being given out is Oxford is closed to traffic and I feel more businesses will suffer.

"Between 3pm and 5pm, nobody will want to go out because the traffic is horrendous."

Saj Malik. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

The county council says its traffic filters trial - which will result in six city roads being closed off to private vehicles that don't have exemptions, including St Clements - will help alleviate congestion by reducing the number of vehicles.

A spokesman added: "The council’s plans to manage traffic in the city are intended to make it easier to get around and make the city a nicer place to be."

St Clements ward Green councillor Alex Powell said: "As the business owners themselves say, there are a number of factors which influence trading.

Alex Powell. (Image: Contribution.)

"They say they had a great year last year, which was the first year of the East Oxford LTNs, but a much worse year this year, which is in the second year of the LTNs.

"Businesses across the country are struggling due to factors including the cost of living crisis and the ongoing burden of Brexit.

"It is always sad to see small businesses close and we wish them the best for the future. Local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities.

"As outlined in the our recent General Election manifesto, a Green Government would provide local authorities with £2 billion per year to support increased investment in local economies."

We have approached the restaurant for further comment on the closure.