WELCOME
We all want a better future for Oxford – for residents, visitors, businesses and service providers.
The best policy decisions are those taken with the help of data gathering, modelling and extensive consultation. This is not what we are seeing from our local councils. Decisions are being rushed through – often with good intentions – but without a full appreciation of the impact they will have on local communities.
The best policy decisions are those taken with the help of data gathering, modelling and extensive consultation. This is not what we are seeing from our local councils. Decisions are being rushed through – often with good intentions – but without a full appreciation of the impact they will have on local communities.
OUR AIMS
- Bringing communities together for a better future for all
- Campaigning for sustainable, evidence-based solutions to local issues
- A balanced and inclusive strategy for users of all forms of transport
- Support a thriving local Oxford economy to boost communities, businesses and jobs
OUR APPROACH
- We are not allied to any political party. We are not seeking to preserve the status quo. We believe in a sustainable future.
- We believe that Oxford deserves the best possible solutions that are tailored to the complex needs of our various interconnected communities.
- We will support proposals that are evidence-based and where local communities are on board with those proposals.
- We do not support transport strategies that propose unnecessary, unfair and unreasonable restrictions or road closures on certain types of mobility.
- We will campaign for better solutions to be found where proposals fail these basic tests.
CURRENT HEADLINES
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Traffic Filters - unworkable bus gate proposals are back
Update October 2022: Oxfordshire County Council has announced plans to install ANPR ‘traffic filter’ bus gates on key arterial roads across Oxford (see map to the right) with resident’s cars ONLY allowed 100 day permits per year. Anyone without permits will face a £70 fine. The council will ruin this city for residents and businesses. These unworkable plans are essentially mass road closures. Along with LTNs, they will cut off, divide & segregate our city. It will force residents who have used up their year’s 100 day permits to make long diversions in & out of the already heavily congested A34/A40 bypass & ring road to travel between the segregated ‘zones’ – resulting in longer journeys, more delays and more pollution. This scheme risks damaging businesses & jobs. Out of-town-workers, customers and tourists will not be allowed to drive through the barriers - making the whole city inaccessible for many. We have joined forces with leading business groups across Oxford to launch a legal challenge against the Traffic Filters, please consider donating to the crowdsourcing campaign via the link below. https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-oxfords-traffic-filters |
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CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO ACCESS THE LEGAL CHALLENGE CROWDFUNDING WEBPAGE AGAINST TRAFFIC FILTERS
LTNs - Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have become Local Traffic Nightmares
Breaking up communities. Increased congestion from displaced traffic and increased journey times. LTNs have been disastrous for residents, congestion and businesses up and down the Country & in Cowley, resulting in huge protests and legal action from local residents and businesses.
Breaking up communities. Increased congestion from displaced traffic and increased journey times. LTNs have been disastrous for residents, congestion and businesses up and down the Country & in Cowley, resulting in huge protests and legal action from local residents and businesses.
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Update August 2022: Disgraceful & undemocratic Cowley & East Oxford LTN decisions: In late July 2022, the Oxfordshire County Council’s “cabinet” decided to make the Cowley LTNs “permanent”, despite widespread opposition from residents in the Consultation & Council data showing the LTNs had evidently failed & increased congestion & pollution. This decision paves the way for bollards and boxes to be replaced by more solid roadblocks and / or with ANPR camera enforcement. After the East Oxford LTNs were also forced through undemocratically in late May 2022, this has further compounded the mass gridlock & pollution everyone is experiencing in & around East Oxford.
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Update October 2022: Help Fight Back & Support Our Legal Challenge: After waiting weeks (without any response) for an internal review of the Cowley LTN approval decision, we joined forces with other anti-road-closure campaign groups & launched a legal crowdsourcing fundraising campaign in late August. The main aim of this fundraising is to challenge the Cowley LTN approval decision through the courts:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-end-road-closures-in-oxford So please consider donating to our crowdsourcing campaign via the link below – even £10 can make a difference. |
CLICK ON IMAGE ABOVE TO ACCESS THE GOFUNDME LEGAL CHALLENGE CROWDFUNDING WEBPAGE AGAINST LTNs
UPDATE Nov 2022: Business Impact Survey of LTNs: In a recent survey of 153 East Oxford businesses, 95% said they had been badly impacted by LTNs. "Turnover had decreased by 50% but more commonly figures of 15-30% were quoted". Please read the comprehensive survey conducted by the Cowley Road Traders here.
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UPDATE 2nd Feb 2022: If you have not heard the news, the Oxfordshire County Council released the results Cowley & Littlemore LTN Consultation that was running for nearly a year, and we have again comprehensively & democratically won. As the Oxford Mail www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19894407.majority-residents-businesses-object-cowley-ltns-consultation-reveals/ & BBC Local News recently reported, the official Cowley LTN consultation results were a landslide vote against the LTNs by residents & businesses. The results are displayed in the graphic to the right. Any self-respecting democratic Council would have now listened to the vast majority view of local residents and businesses and remove these harmful & polluting LTNs, plus cease any proposals for further LTNs. We wanted to say a big Thank You to everybody that supported and joined the campaign. |
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THANK YOU TO THE HUNDREDS THAT JOINED THE COMMUNITY ORGANISED PROTEST AGAINST EVEN MORE DAMAGING LTNs PROPOSED FOR EAST OXFORD
It was a huge success with a massive turnout & the prominent coverage on the BBC & Oxford Mail has sent out a strong message to the Council that our community is united & determined to stop these unfair & unworkable LTN road closures. It was fantastic to see the very best of our Oxford community – hundreds of residents & businesses - pulling together to show our unhappiness and to let our voices be heard.
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We have been inundated with hundreds of messages from hugely frustrated residents & businesses who are experiencing the daily traffic gridlock, chaos & misery being caused by the Cowley & Littlemore LTNs. It's quite clear the LTN-induced traffic displacement & longer journeys is resulting in regular traffic gridlock on key arterial roads around the LTNs. It frankly beggars belief that the Council will proceed with further LTNs in the area, which risks crippling the whole East Oxford road network & damaging the whole community, without an urgent review of the first LTN. The pro-LTN lobby groups & pro-LTN Councillors use euphemistic terms such as "encouraging modal shift" but what they actually mean is state-sanctioned bullying of a population that cannot - and will not - change their entire lifestyles at the drop of a hat.
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Are you a resident, a business, a visitor or a commuter that will be impacted by the Divinity Rd, St Mary’s & St Clements area LTNs? Then help us tell Oxfordshire County Council to cancel these unworkable road closures which would cause traffic chaos & gridlock. Please respond to the County Council survey before 29th June. Survey now closed.
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UPDATE 29th July 2021: If you have not heard the good news, the Oxfordshire County Council released the East Oxford LTN Survey results, and we have comprehensively won. The results are displayed in the graphic below, a huge majority 'Strongly objected' or 'objected' to the LTN proposals. As reported in the Oxford Mail, EAST OXFORD SAYS NO TO ROAD BLOCKS. At the County Council decision meeting, the Cabinet respected democracy & did not proceed with proposed plan. We believe there is now a clear mandate from the people that a proper re-consultation is required with all stakeholders at the table.
We wanted to say a big Thank You to everybody that supported and joined our campaign and voted against these damaging LTN proposals in the Oxfordshire County Council Survey. We were grateful for the overwhelming support we received from the vast majority of the good folk of East Oxford we met while out campaigning, leafleting and meeting people. We believe your support, the huge anti-LTN protest rally and our combined campaign with Business Groups led to this victory. The pro-LTN road closure lobby groups tried everything in their campaign - but we still won. Most people who responded to the Survey saw the LTNs for what they are - state sponsored bullying schemes that benefit the selfish few, and cause misery to the many.
We wanted to say a big Thank You to everybody that supported and joined our campaign and voted against these damaging LTN proposals in the Oxfordshire County Council Survey. We were grateful for the overwhelming support we received from the vast majority of the good folk of East Oxford we met while out campaigning, leafleting and meeting people. We believe your support, the huge anti-LTN protest rally and our combined campaign with Business Groups led to this victory. The pro-LTN road closure lobby groups tried everything in their campaign - but we still won. Most people who responded to the Survey saw the LTNs for what they are - state sponsored bullying schemes that benefit the selfish few, and cause misery to the many.
COWLEY & LITTLEMORE LTNs - HAVE YOUR SAY UNTIL 19TH NOV 2021
SAY NO TO THE COWLEY & LITTLEMORE LTN BARRICADES – REOPEN OUR ROADS! View the map and our FAQs here. Click below to go to the Oxfordshire County Council site - it only takes 5 minutes and it is vital that the Council hears from as many people as possible about their legitimate concerns about the LTNs. We have been inundated with messages, and pictures of LTN-induced gridlock, from residents & businesses opposed to the LTNs. The LTNs are causing total traffic chaos & gridlock around Cowley & Littlemore, resulting in increased congestion & pollution combined with increased journey times for all of us.
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Every consultation response matters. You can quickly take part in the one-page consultation online. Please fill in in the Official Oxfordshire County Council Consultation to express your strong opposition to the scheme. The Consultation has been extended until 19th Nov 2021. Consultation now closed.
Please also fill in the Follow-Up Perception Survey to express your strong opposition, which is open until 25th Nov 2021. Survey now closed. |
PREVIOUS HEADLINES
Bus Gates Scrapped
Splitting up our city - the Bus Gates proposals were bad for the environment, bad for residents, bad for business.
Update 14th Oct 2020: The County Council Cabinet has made the right decision to scrap the irrational City Centre Bus Gates proposals.
Splitting up our city - the Bus Gates proposals were bad for the environment, bad for residents, bad for business.
Update 14th Oct 2020: The County Council Cabinet has made the right decision to scrap the irrational City Centre Bus Gates proposals.
Business Leader Intervenes
Jeremy Mogford has written urging a stop to the bus gate proposals
Jeremy Mogford has written urging a stop to the bus gate proposals
OUR PRIORITIES FOR BUILDING A BETTER OXFORD
We support:
- More charging points for electric vehicles around the city
- More electric buses throughout the city (and beyond)
- Better provision for cycling - including more cycle lanes and park&pedal schemes
- Traffic calming measures such as chicanes, speed tables or one-way systems to reduce cut-through traffic on side-streets
GET INVOLVED
We need your help in spreading word about Reconnecting Oxford. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Like and Share our posts. Be part of the conversation.
Interested in doing more? Email us to join the team as a community organiser and start building links with your neighbours and colleagues.
Interested in doing more? Email us to join the team as a community organiser and start building links with your neighbours and colleagues.
