LOW Traffic Neighbourhoods are not new, City Council's leaders have said, as they welcomed plans to listen to different communities about more of the traffic calming schemes.

Earlier this week, Oxfordshire County Council, which is responsible for looking after roads in Oxfordshire, announced it would not go ahead with more Low Traffic Neighbourhoods without making sure all sections of the community had their say.

New LTNs have been proposed in East Oxford around the Cowley Road.

Now, two leaders of Oxford City Council, which looks after services in the city, has released a statement welcoming the new approach.

Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, and Tom Hayes, deputy leader, said: “It is clear that action is needed to reduce traffic and congestion in our city. LTNs are one tool among many to meet the traffic congestion choking our narrow streets, clean our air, and meet the climate crisis.

"Oxford has a historic traffic problem which has existed long before the introduction of the new LTNs. As the city gradually unlocks from the pandemic, more people are driving cars instead of using the bus as they did pre-pandemic. This is contributing to rising traffic levels in the city. We support measures to encourage the return to pre-lockdown levels of bus use."

They added: "Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are not new. They have existed across the city and country for many years. For instance, in East Avenue and Union Street since 1985. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have the potential to address some of Oxford’s congestion and improve local areas for the people who live there."

They also called for residents to take part in upcoming consultations as 'people know their streets better than anyone'.