LTN bollards on a street in Oxford have been moved closer together after concerns were raised that small cars were able to pass through.

Former deputy lord mayor of Oxford Tony Brett tweeted Oxfordshire County Council on April 13 asking them to add an extra post to the barrier on Magdalen Road.

Contractors were seen last week by local resident Antony Cheke adjusting the gap between planters and this has since been confirmed by the county council.

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A council spokesman said: “The county council’s contractors have moved LTN planters to make them closer together to prevent small vehicles from passing through. 

“In LTNs, motorised traffic is prevented from taking shortcuts through residential areas. This creates quieter and safer streets for safer cycling, wheeling and walking.”

Mr Brett was contacted for his response to the council carrying out the work he requested.

He said: "I am pleased to hear that the traffic filter in Magdalen Road has been adjusted so people can't circumvent it in small cars.

“As ever, a trial only works if its elements of it are able to do what they are intended to do, free from being circumvented or vandalised.

“I hope this will enable high-quality evidence about traffic in the area to be gathered so that properly informed decisions can be made in the future about reducing Oxford's traffic and pollution and increasing road safety."

But Mr Cheke explained that he and other residents are concerned about the council using public funds to adjust the planters.

He said: “I am not in favour of LTNs at all and I was not particularly concerned that some small cars were able to squeeze through.

“It [cars passing through the bollards] was happening but not with any extreme frequency.

“It was so infrequent that I do not think it was worth them getting the services out to come and fix it.

“They had two or three people there with a big digger that was required to move it. That must be costing a fair amount of money.”

LTN bollards in Cowley and east Oxford were implemented through experimental traffic regulation orders (ETRO), following public consultation.

ETROs are used when it is difficult to assess the impacts of a scheme beforehand, but the cost of implementation is relatively low.

In July 2022 it was decided that the bollards in Cowley would be made permanent.

The experimental trial of the east Oxford low-traffic neighbourhoods is ongoing.

Decisions on this scheme will be decided by the county council’s cabinet later this year.