Latest news with #AndrewGant
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Oxford's 20mph zones delayed until Botley Road reopens
Plans to introduce new 20mph speed limits in Oxford have been put on hold until a major road reopens. Oxfordshire County Council said a review of the scheme would take place after assessing the impact of upcoming traffic filters, which will fine drivers £70 for using selected city centre the trial has been delayed due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road, which has been shut since April 2023 as part of Network Rail's revamp of Oxford Railway 20mph rollout, replacing 30mph limits where supported by local councils, was backed by an £8m budget approved in February 2022. The scheme was originally due to be completed by the end of the 2024/25 financial year, but a review of Oxford's roads has yet to take of Tuesday's full council meeting, Labour councillor Brad Baines submitted a written question to Liberal Democrat transport cabinet member Andrew Gant, asking why Oxford still did not have "a comprehensive 20mph network". 'Deliberately deferred' Gant replied: "[The] traffic filters will be a trial scheme with various uncertainties, so we don't know exactly what its impact will be."We want to understand the impact of this and other schemes before assessing the need and implementing further 20mph limits in Oxford."And he told councillors at the meeting: "The short answer is Botley Road. It's on the list of the 20mph scheme and has been deliberately deferred until the Botley Road finishes."Bicester, parts of Banbury and Carterton are also awaiting a review of 20mph speed programme is part of the council's vision zero scheme that aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on roads. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Thames towpath section in Oxford to close for repairs
A section of Thames towpath is set to close for "essential" repair work to the eroding on the affected section off Abingdon Road in Oxford, between Folly Bridge and Isis Lock, is expected to run from early July until late September, Oxfordshire County Council stretches of the towpath along the river will be extensively reconstructed during the Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said the work would "safeguard this towpath for many years". About 120m (393 ft) will be subject to piling work, which involves structural piles being driven into the ground to provide strength where the soil is weak or Gant said the work formed "part of our commitment to invest in the county's blue-green infrastructure [waterways and green spaces]"."We realise how popular this towpath is, both as a sustainable route into the city as well as for the many walkers who enjoy strolling along the riverside," he continued."But the safety of users and workers is our priority and so we ask people to be patient and observe the closure."The council said a combination of signed diversionary routes and local towpath width reductions would be in place until the repairs were completed. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oxford congestion charge plan will bring 'enormous benefits'
Plans to introduce a £5 daily congestion charge in Oxford will lead to "enormous benefits", the councillor in charge of the plans has told the County Council is considering introducing the fees for cars travelling through six streets in the city as soon as Autumn 2025, with the plans currently subject to a public to BBC Radio Oxford, the authority's traffic chief, councillor Andrew Gant, said the scheme was about "using finite space more sensibly".But Emily Scaysbrook, who owns the Hoyle's of Oxford shop on the city's High Street, said the "disgusting" proposals were "unfair and unjust". Answering listeners questions about the scheme on Sophie Law's breakfast programme on Thursday, Mr Gant said the new scheme would "lead to enormous benefits"."We are lucky enough to live in a historic medieval city and the roads are what they are, they're not getting any bigger but the demands that are made on them are getting more," he plans had been designed to manage through traffic in cars he said, adding that it would be "perfectly possible to drive to almost everywhere in Oxford without passing a filter point". The county council previously said action was needed due to traffic issues caused by the long-term closure of Botley Road for works - which has in turn delayed the introduction of the authority's traffic filter its new proposals, temporary charging points for the congestion zone would be introduced on Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Thames Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow would remain in place until traffic filters could be installed, following the planned reopening of the Botley Road next Ms Scaysbrook, who is from the Oxford Business Action Group, said the "punitive" scheme would "affect so many businesses and so many residents"."I think its disgusting that they're planning on putting in place this scheme now, before they put in place the proposals that they have for the buses that will address some of the issues that people currently driving face getting into Oxford," she said."It is totally wrong to put in place sticks like this before the carrots," she Gant retorted that the council "has to reduce congestion", as it was "the thing that is holding buses up"."You improve the buses by reducing congestion, that is what we're going to do," he said. Under the proposals, carers, traders and blue badge holders would be able to pass through the charge points without facing any those living in Oxford will receive 100 permits for free travel past the toll points, with those living in wider Oxfordshire receiving plans had been designed with "enormous care" Mr Gant said, explaining that blue badge holders would be able to nominate two vehicles that would be fully exempt from the added that the scheme would make the lives of traders and HGV and van drivers "vastly easier and vastly better".A public consultation into the scheme will be launched on 23 June and last six weeks, after the council's cabinet agreed to accelerate the plans. The authority has previously come under fire for its response to public consultations, and in particular those that have returned a majority of negative views towards their proposals."The consultation is an opportunity for people to tell us what they think about a proposal, our job is to read what they say and to evaluate it," Mr Gant explained."But it is not, and it never can be, an exercise in simply counting up ticks in one column and crosses in another," he approved following the consultation, the scheme could be implemented as soon as Autumn."In the end, you can't reduce traffic without reducing traffic - that is what it really comes down to," Mr Gant said of the added: "This needs to be done, and it needs to be done now." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Temporary congestion charge receives backlash from MP and residents
An MP has called a county council's plans for a congestion charge in a city "a knee-jerk solution imposed from outside".This how Labour's Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds described Oxfordshire County Council's consideration of a £5 temporary congestion charge for drivers to access the city centre on six routes.A petition opposing the scheme has also been launched and has gained more than 4,000 signatures since its launch on Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said should the council would be "particularly keen" to hear from residents if it decided to continue to consultation. The county council said action was needed because of delays to a planned trial of traffic filters, which cannot be introduced until Botley Road is reopened after overrunning works at Oxford Station and the railway bridge complete, which Network Rail announced for August next county council's cabinet will discuss the proposals on 17 approved, a six-week public consultation would begin on 23 June and the congestion charge scheme could be in place by the a statement, Ms Dodds said the scheme "certainly wasn't talked about during the local elections".She added that residents "want local transport solutions to be driven by local people as part of a plan that we can all take part in"."They don't want knee jerk solutions imposed from outside by Oxfordshire County Council."Lib Dem Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, welcomed the proposals "which would give local residents the opportunity to have their say". Businesses across the city are calling for the county council to rethink the Mogford, chair of Oxford Business Action Group who owns a number of hotels and restaurants in the city said the plans were "ridiculous".The petition was set up by independent councillor Saj Malik, who represents Cowley, and Richard Parnham of campaign group Reconnecting calls the congestion charge "completely unfair" and would badly affect residents and businesses who are "already struggling" because of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in East Oxford and Cowley and the closure of Botley Malik said "This drives a coach and horses through what Oxford's businesses expected would happen in the next few months."They were expecting more than a year to prepare for traffic filters."Now they'll have to try to prepare for a congestion charge within a few Gant said: "The temporary charge locations would be exactly the same as the trial traffic filter locations which were designed to address overall through traffic.""Should we decide to continue to consultation, we would be particularly keen to understand the impact the scheme may have on residents and businesses."The benefits of this proposed scheme would be felt across the city: better bus services, safer walking and cycling, easier journeys for permit holders including carers, blue badge holders and traders, and cleaner air. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Temporary congestion charge considered for city
Car drivers could be forced to pay a £5 temporary congestion charge to access a city centre. Oxfordshire County Council said it was considering setting up a two-year scheme in Oxford from the autumn. It said action was needed due to traffic issues caused by the long-term closure of Botley Road for works. However, Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said the proposal would "allow people who can afford to do so to buy access to our streets". Paying the £5 charge, which would only apply to cars, would allow drivers to go through the six charge locations until the end of the day. Permits would be available for carers, traders, blue badge holders and those commuting to or living in a central area of the city. The county council said action was needed because of delays to a planned trial of traffic filters, which cannot be introduced until Botley Road is reopened. The route is currently shut because of overrunning works at Oxford Station and the railway bridge, which are now not due to finish until August next year. The charging points for the congestion zone would be in the same places as the planned traffic filters: Hythe Bridge Street St Cross Road St Clement's Street Thames Street Marston Ferry Road Hollow Way Andrew Gant, in charge of transport for the Liberal Democrat-run county council, said: "We urgently need to see improvements to travel around the city, better bus services and less traffic overall, to help people get around. "We must take action for our residents, businesses and visitors while Botley Road remains closed." However, Oxford City Council said there has been no previous consultation on the plan. Labour leader Susan Brown said: "Yet again the city is being done to rather than engaged with in preparing transport proposals. "We need a full review of transport policies with a view to tackling congestion in our city. This is something a Greater Oxford Council would do." Campaign group Cyclox welcomed the proposals, saying Oxford's congestion had "reached crisis point". "We can't leave things as they are; if nothing is done the city will grind to a halt under the weight of car traffic," it said. "We cannot build more roads to magic congestion away." Previously Oxford Bus Group warned that congestion was at "emergency levels". The proposals will be discussed by the council's cabinet on 17 June and, if approved, a six-week public consultation would start later this month. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. City traffic filters postponed by Botley Road delay Call for city's traffic filter plans to be scrapped Council urged for 'Plan B' to tackle congestion Oxfordshire County Council
