A Cowley Road resident vented her fury after she came across workmen preparing to remove traffic islands to make way for cycle quickways this afternoon.

The Quickways scheme will see segregated cycle lanes along roads in East Oxford.

It will mean the loss of 500 residential parking spaces and has been blasted by people in affected areas.

The resident who wished to remain anonymous said: “They’re gradually closing off bits of the footpath and setting up roadworks barricades.

"On the stretch between Magdalen and Belvedere they’ve got materials out ready to close off the road. The contractors told us they were preparing to remove the traffic islands starting Monday."

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She said it was "mad" that the scheme is being imposed so soon after the implementation of the East Oxford low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) trial in May.

She said: "I have never seen such traffic chaos unfold via local authorities' mismanagement. The lack of thought that goes into these processes.

"When these new roadworks start, on top of the increased traffic on Iffley and Cowley Roads caused by the LTN trial, there will be more danger for pedestrians and cyclists and further delay and disruption.

"There are lots of kids who walk to school in this area and they will face increased risks along with other pedestrians as a result of this council's haphazard approach to traffic management and roadworks."

She added: "I've lived in four countries, including major cities, and I've never encountered such chaotic local government 'planning'.

"As Cowley Road residents, we had no notification of these works. We had to go and hunt around the council website to try to find information about the purpose of the roadworks."

The county council website states that under the Quickways scheme, pedestrian islands will be removed from Bartleman's Close and Cumberland Road, and between the Plain and Between Towns Road.

It also says that some parking places will be removed and cycle lanes marked on Cowley Road between the Plain and Between Towns Road.

"Presumably quickways is ‘quick’ for cyclists because the impacts will be slowing down and delaying vehicular traffic even further," she said.

"Our questions relate to the increased risks to pedestrians and the reduced residential parking, plus further disruptions on arterial roads in the midst of the peak chaos they’ve already created with the LTNs."

In a statement, Oxfordshire County Council has said: “The county council held two public consultations on quickways last year.

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“The first informal consultation showed that 75 per cent of respondents were in favour of the scheme.

“This was followed by a formal consultation that ran alongside a traffic regulation order, which showed that over 60 per cent of respondents were in favour of quickways.

“During this time the council also engaged with residents, schools, community groups and businesses in the area to ensure their feedback was taken into account while designing the scheme.

“We will continue to listen to and respond to questions received from members of the public.

“The quickways and east Oxford LTNs are being installed simultaneously to minimise disruptions for residents and businesses in the area.”

 

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