Oxfordshire County Council consultation on Jericho and Walton Manor Area Pilot Scheme https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/JerichoandWaltonManorPilot/consultationHome Response by Low Carbon North, 18 March 2021

Low Carbon Oxford North is dismayed to see Oxfordshire County Council has not included proposals for a genuine low traffic neighbourhood for Jericho and Walton Manor in its consultation.

The proposed measures address only a small part of the traffic issues that have been debated in great detail over the past months. They may limit southbound traffic to some extent, but open up the area to northbound through traffic. They only partially eliminate traffic on South and do nothing to limit traffic along side streets such as St. Bernard's Road and . They do not constitute a low traffic neighbourhood, as residents were promised. The proposals will lead to increase in motor vehicle traffic, making the streets less attractive for visitors and more dangerous for cyclists as well as pedestrians seeking to social distance.

The community has worked hard to engage with the council, gather evidence, and work through disagreements, to build strong and clear majority support for a low traffic neighbourhood. Many residents generously supported the crowdfunding campaign to develop expert proposals. The council has received money from Government to carry out works to implement a low traffic neighbourhood.

Low Carbon Oxford North calls on Oxfordshire County Council to resume genuine and open engagement with the local community, and reintroduce proposals to implement a genuine low traffic neighbourhood, as promised.

In addition to safer streets and cleaner air, evidence from other cities suggests that outdoor seating and more people-friendly access to businesses would transform the area into a vibrant destination, particularly while people remain worried about social distancing and indoor space. To this end we support the idea of a traffic filter and other measures that would create a genuine low traffic neighbourhood. Whilst it may be challenging to reach consensus on the exact locations, this is no reason to abandon proposals that attract majority support.

The traffic filter at the south end of Walton Street was a welcome start to creating a more people friendly Jericho and Walton Manor; but the resulting traffic flows have shown the clear need for a properly developed low traffic scheme for the whole neighbourhood, including appropriate siting of a traffic filter.