UPROAR has been heard from labour councillors on the LTN debate after the public removed bollards less than 24 hours after they had been installed. 

The roadblocks were installed on May 21 as part of a six month Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) trial taking place in the Divinity Road, St Clement’s, and St Mary’s areas.

Oxfordshire County Councillor Damian Hayward, for Iffley Fields & St Mary's, expressed his frustration at the LTNs being removed.

READ MORE: Traffic 'carnage' after LTN rollout but some business owners are optimistic

Labour and co-operative councillor Mr Hayward tweeted: "So half of the Bollards in East Oxford have been ripped out, and people have taken power tools to the planters to try and remove them.

"I am absolutely fed up with a culture that demands we drive everywhere and encourages vandalism to maintain this."

READ MORE: 'People are angry': LTN smashed down on its first day standing

Coming from a different perspective, Labour Oxford City Councillor Linda Smith, who represents Lye Valley, described the trials as 'rushed'. 

She tweeted: "Cowley Road is gridlocked and bus journeys home from town for residents in Lye Valley are delayed by an hour.

"Did anyone reasonably expect any other result from the rushed LTN experiments?"

READ MORE: Cowley councillor denies traffic chaos is caused by new LTNS

Labour Rose Hill & Iffley councillor Shaista Aziz retweeted Ms Smith's comment adding: "Terrible and totally avoidable. LTN’s have become divisive issue - pitting people and communities against each other along class and economic lines.

"Transport & environment policy needs to focus on tackling inequalities and bringing people together. A better strategy is needed."

Read more from this author

This story was written by Shosha Adie. 

She joined the team in 2022 as a digital reporter.   

To get in touch with her email: Shosha.Adie@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter: @ShoshaAdie

A message from our Editor

Thank you for reading this story and supporting the Oxford Mail.

If you like what we do please consider getting a subscription for the Oxford Mail and in return we’ll give you unrestricted access with less adverts across our website from the latest news, investigations, features, and sport.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok for more. 

You can also join the conversation in our Facebook groups: stay ahead of traffic alerts here, keep up to date with the latest from court here, share your favourite memories of Oxford here, get your daily dose of celebrity news here and take some time out with news that will make you smile. 

If you’ve got a story for our reporters, send us your news here. You can also list an event for free here.