NURSES and doctors are claiming that a new traffic calming scheme has a host of health benefits - both physical and mental. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) were rolled out across parts of Cowley and Florence Park earlier this year as part of a six-month trial by Oxfordshire County Council. Since its introduction, locals have been divided over whether the new traffic system is having a positive or negative impact on the local community. Healthcare workers in the area, however, have now come forward in support of the scheme, stating that LTNs have multiple health benefits, both physically and mentally. Eleanor Greenhalgh, who is a mental health worker living in Cowley, said: “Poor physical and mental health are the tip of an iceberg which starts with unhealthy environments.
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SUSANNAH BRADY: “If you live in the wrong side of Littlemore Road barrier you are trapped. “You’re not supposed to go down Bartholomew Road so the only way out is via Newman Road onto Iffley Road. “The council, in their wisdom, narrowed the road there which causes major queues from both directions. “And if you want to turn right onto Iffley Road - forget it.” WILL BAYLISS: “Ridiculous queues around Cowley this afternoon all because of this. “All it is doing is creating more pollution and moving it down the road.” DANNY YEE: “90 per cent of this is the roadworks and temporary traffic lights at the Marsh junction.
PEOPLE living on Oxford s Blackbird Leys estate say they feel ‘trapped’ by new traffic-calming measures in neighbouring Cowley. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods were introduced by Oxfordshire County Council in March to parts of the city in an attempt to stop rat runs, encourage active travel and reduce traffic pollution. The bollards and planters were introduced as a six-month trial to Church Cowley, Temple Cowley, and Florence Park. Although an LTN has not been introduced in Blackbird Leys, residents are concerned about the secondary impact the traffic scheme is having on their journey times. During the estate’s parish council meeting last week, Deborah Mcllveen, Oxfordshire County Councillor for Blackbird Leys, spoke up about the issues the LTN is causing to locals and encouraged them to share their views in the consultation.