OXFORD will not be getting any more LTNs for the foreseeable future until a proper survey of residents and businesses is carried out.

The announcements that plans for new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods will be put on hold comes only a week after a proposals for three more of the traffic calming schemes in East Oxford were revealed.

The Liberal Democrats, Greens and Labour politicians who recently took over control at Oxfordshire County Council have now issued a joint statement saying they will not go forward with any more LTNs without listening to residents.

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A statement issued by the Oxfordshire Fair Deal Alliance said it had 'inherited' transport plans, including the three Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Cowley, from the previous Conservative Independent Alliance controlled council, and did not want to be responsible for 'top-down programmes' but 'change that comes from people'.

The statement said: "While nearly everyone welcomes the measures to reduce through traffic on residential roads, the implementation of experimental ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods’ has been controversial, not least because they have the potential to set neighbouring areas of the city in opposition to each other, and to force more traffic onto the main roads just as pandemic lockdowns are easing, but before all of us feel confident to use public transport."

It added there were 'very legitimate concerns' from some people in the community, saying it would set up a new digital platform where people could share their worries about LTNs, which would then be listened to more closely than in the past.

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The council also plans to post leaflets on LTNs to areas affected by them across Oxford, including those outside of them where traffic flows instread.

It will also ask its councillors to speak to people about the experimental schemes for feedback.

Its statement added: "We will not implement any more experimental schemes before this is complete and we have heard from people across the city, and with those beyond the city who work and travel there, about the best integrated measures to improve travel."

The statement, building on the manifesto promises of the three political parties in the coalition, also said the new council was committed to 'make walking and cycling easier, alongside better bus services and access to expanded railways'.

It also has plans to bid for a new bus partnership, which could lead to all local buses in the county being electrified and may result in a local bus franchise in future.

A bid for this is due to be discussed by the council cabinet next week.

A protest against proposals for new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in East Oxford is due to take place on Saturday, with some businesses along Cowley Road having placed posters in their windows to advertise it this week.