A BOLLARD which had to be chopped down by firefighters in an emergency has been replaced. 

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue was called to Clive Road on Tuesday and the team had to cut down a damaged bollard to get to the scene quickly. 

Here's what it looked like: 

Oxford Mail:

The LTN bollard has now been replaced: 

Oxford Mail:

A spokesperson from Oxfordshire County Council said: “The fire and rescue service responded to an incident in Clive Road on 21st June and had to cut down a bollard that had previously been damaged. The damage affected the mechanism which would allow it to normally be removed using a key. The fire and rescue service kept us informed and the bollard has now been replaced.

"Damage to traffic filters around east Oxford is creating significant safety concerns, as well as a substantial cost to the taxpayer. The costs for damage to bollards and planters has now topped £12,000 since the measures were launched on 20 May.

"We continue to urge residents and road users to engage constructively with our consultation on the trial low traffic neighbourhoods in east Oxford. Everyone who wishes to express an opinion on the measures can do so by responding to the council’s public consultation at letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/east-oxford-ltns-2022.”

LTNs (Low Traffic Neighbourhoods) are areas where cars are restricted from going inside to encourage people to walk and cycle and make roads quieter and safer.

There are several LTNs in Oxford - the first in Cowley started operating in March 2021. The scheme was then extended to Divinity Road, St Clement's and St Mary's in East Oxford last month. 

In a statement, the county council confirmed firefighters slashed the LTN bollard to get to an incident quicker. They said: “The fire and rescue service responded to an incident in Clive Road on June 21 and had to cut down a bollard that had previously been damaged.

“The damage affected the mechanism which would allow it to normally be removed using a key.

“The fire and rescue service kept us informed and we will now assess what repairs can be made and install a replacement bollard.”

Amir Steve Ali, who ran as an Independent candidate in May’s Oxford City Council elections, saw the fire service at the scene in Clive Road.

He said: “I was going to Cowley centre when I saw the fire brigade was there – it looked like a minor incident.

“You can see the bollard’s been removed – they obviously spent time doing this, wasting time in an emergency when they could’ve got their sooner.

“I’m guessing they were in Rymers Lane and wanted to get to Clive Road, but they couldn’t get down there.

“Every second counts for the emergency services, it could be an ambulance going to a stabbing.

“I’ve seen ambulances reversing in the road in the past because they can’t get down somewhere within an LTN.

“It needs to be factored in for the emergency services – we don’t know when we’ll need them.

“If they arrive on time, they save lives, but delays put lives at risk – it’s really serious.”