AN experiment to make three areas of Cowley into Low Traffic Neighbourhoods might not be realised until next March.

Oxfordshire County Council plans to introduce three LTNs in Florence Park, Church Cowley and Temple Cowley.

They were originally due to be rolled out by the end of August as part of a programme of changes to the roads funded by Government cash.

But now, the council is funding the low traffic zones itself and wants local residents to give their opinions on the plans ahead of their rollout next year.

In an LTN, through roads are turned into cul de sacs using bollards, planters or other street furniture, preventing them from being used by drivers trying to take shortcuts through residential areas.

Residents can still drive in and out, and cyclists and pedestrians can still pass through the bollards.

The council has said the changes will 'offer real quality of life changes', making residential streets safer and healthier for locals.

READ AGAIN about when the low traffic schemes were first revealed

A consultation into the LTNs began on November 23, and will be open for feedback until December 18 at consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk

But the schemes themselves are unlikely to begin until 'February/March 2021' a statement from the council said.

The LTNs will be implemented using an experimental traffic regulation order, which will be in place for a period of six months, and a consultation webpage will be open for the whole six months after implementation for people to keep giving their views.

County council cabinet member for environment and transport Yvonne Constance said: “The Cowley area LTN plan has widespread support among councillors of both Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council. Now we’d like the specific views of residents on how they feel about the proposed measures to make sure we address the needs of the community in these areas."