Labour council's frantic bid to scrap eco-measures amid huge backlash slammed: 'Too little, too late!'
Bollards have been placed in a street in Cowley near Oxford
PA
A Labour council’s bid to water down Oxford’s low traffic neighbourhood scheme has been slammed as “too little, too late”.
Supporters and critics of the controversial car-curbing policy have criticised a Labour motion set to be pushed forward at the full Oxfordshire County Council meeting tomorrow.
Michael O’Connor, a Labour councillor covering the University Parks ward, is vowing to open up some traffic filters in East Oxford and Cowley at specified times to ease congestion.
Pro-LTN councillors have argued the motion will undo the benefits of the policy, including creating safer streets and reducing pollution.
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Critics have claimed Labour should go even further to reverse the scheme in an bid to boost businesses.
O’Connor told the Oxford Mail that Labour just wanted to improve bus services and reduce congestion in the city.
However, Oxford city councillor Emily Kerr was left “baffled” by his specific examples for East Oxford filters opening up in Rectory Road and Marston Street.
Damian Haywood, another councillor who quit Labour to sit as an independent in September, claimed the proposal would overload East Oxford side roads with congestion.
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A Low Traffic Neighbourhood bollard
PAHe 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.”
The Independent Oxford Alliance’s David Henwood described the upcoming motion as “too little, too late”.
Independent Oxford Alliance was only set up last month and is campaigning to remove the LTN system.
New low traffic neighbourhood bollards have been placed in Exeter PAHenwood was seen handing out leaflets outside Westgate Oxford on Saturday to promote the party's anti-LTN campaign.
He claimed Labour were only looking to win votes ahead of city council elections next year and county council elections in 2025.
O’Connor responded: “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.”
Labour’s motion is calling for traffic lights at the Plain, a school street in Cowley Place and better communication with the public about transport.