Politicians have insisted a “brilliant” food festival, which took place in a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN), was a sign the transport scheme worked.
The inaugural Magdalen Road Food Festival took place on Saturday in Oxford with visitors testing out the offerings of businesses, amid music and street decorations.
Magdalen Road – which has been dubbed “Magdalen Road village” by proponents of the transport scheme – was closed-off to through traffic when LTNs were made permanent in east Oxford last October.
Bollards on the road have now been replaced with automatic number plate recognition cameras to stop people taking shortcuts through the residential street.
LTNs were introduced in east Oxford in May 2022 with the aim of making streets safer but they have also been blamed for increasing congestion.
Speaking out after the event, Oxfordshire County Council’s highways chief Andrew Gant said: “This is a really brilliant example of what can happen when a street is open to people and large groups can gather to enjoy the shops, cafes and each other’s company.
“This is a key part of a vision of a better Oxford for all, alongside the wonderful sight of children arriving at school gates free from the danger and congestion of cars.
“It is a big success story.”
A survey conducted by the Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA) party – which has campaigned against the traffic measures – suggested a majority of traders on the road “strongly believed” LTNs had a “negative impact on their business”.
The overwhelming answer to the survey was that the scheme had been a “disaster”.
David Henwood, IOA city councillor for Rose Hill and Iffley, attended the event and suggested he was conflicted.
He said: “It was wonderful to see people out enjoying the moment.
“It is unfortunate however that we can only support these businesses on limited days.
“It’s a difficult one for me. Supporting events like this is a responsibility we all have.
“I will continue to go along to these events.”
Green city councillor Emily Kerr, who has been promoting the event, said it had been a “brilliant experience”.
“Hundreds of people came to the road to test out special offers from the many fabulous food businesses, and everyone else pitched in with smoke bubbles, screen printing, flea market, ice cream stalls and music and street decorations,” she said.
“I’m just so impressed by the local residents who organised the festival in their spare time and have set up the Magdalen Road Facebook page – now with more than 1,000 members.”