Oxford 'climate lockdowns' and '15-minute city' - can anyone local explain their views on this?

[unsureatthispoint]

This news has been published in several media outlets and being talked about ATM.

Road blocks stopping most motorists from driving through Oxford city centre will divide the city into six "15 minute" neighbourhoods, a county council travel chief has said.

And he insisted the controversial plan would go ahead whether people liked it or not.

Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for travel and development strategy, explained the authority's traffic filter proposals in an interview in The Sunday Times.

He said the filters would turn Oxford into "a 15-minute city" with local services within a small walking radius.

Mr Enright said: "It is about making sure you have the community centre which has all of those essential needs, the bottle of milk, pharmacy, GP, schools which you need to have a 15-minute neighbourhood."

The aim is to reduce traffic in the city centre and make city living more pleasant, but critics say the plans will negatively affect businesses and the city centre's economy.

Here's the link

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23073992.traffic-filters-will-divide-city-six-15-minute-neighbourhoods-agrees-highways-councillor/

Are local people aware of this and what's their take on it?

So how do they get into the city centre? Bus instead? What if you need to drive to buy something big?

This is the sort of thing that will look good on paper but cause chaos in practice.

It is hugely controversial locally, the street furniture that has been put in place has been vandalised several times.

Not exactly the highest quality journalism but have a look at the Oxford Mail if you want to see the views locally.

At least in London your are allowed to pay if you need to go into the Congestion Charge or ULEZ zones. There it seems that you need a permit or it's banned?

And will only work if you're not constrained by time and/or money.

Fine for school to be 14 minutes walking distance away but if you work a car ride away, like many people do, usually not by choice, then you could be facing an hour a day walking on the school run if you're not allowed to drop off by car to and from work.

Plus what if the local shops are expensive and your budget is Aldi prices? People might be able to manage the odd item, but they're still likely to need to drive to a more affordable shop to do the bulk of their grocery shopping.

So how do they get into the city centre? Bus instead? What if you need to drive to buy something big?

It's scary. According to the article they are saying that you are supposed to get everything you need within a 15 minute area and that's it

Not exactly the highest quality journalism but have a look at the Oxford Mail if you want to see the views locally

I'm aware that MN 'don't approve' of the Mail. But it's such a huge move that I was surprised it's not getting more coverage on MSM

It's scary. According to the article they are saying that you are supposed to get everything you need within a 15 minute area and that's it

'Supposed to'? who made them judge and jury of what people need? I'd need hospital for a start.

Fine for school to be 14 minutes walking distance away but if you work a car ride away, like many people do, usually not by choice, then you could be facing an hour a day walking on the school run if you're not allowed to drop off by car to and from work

Exactly. Also what about those with DC in private education? They won't even be allowed to pay to drive into the zone with the outright ban

I live in a small market town in Oxfordshire and the feeling locally is that this is a disastrous idea. It will definitely mean we don’t visit the city centre very often. I used to live in Oxford - I’m very glad I don’t now.

That's not what I take from the article.

They want to encourage people to get their essentials locally. You can still drive into other parts of the city either by applying for a permit (which you can use up to 100 days/year) that allows you to drive from one zone directly into the next, or by driving out onto the bypass and then into a different part of the city. So it should discourage driving, but you're not banned from going anywhere.

What if you need to drive beyond your zone to get to work?

They want to encourage people to get their essentials locally

This is not 'encouraging'. It's a ban! Can't you see the difference? Yes, you can apply for a permit, but it may be denied

You can still drive into other parts of the city either by applying for a permit (which you can use up to 100 days/year)

What if next it's valid for 50 days, then 30 days, and so on. This level of control over people's ability to move freely is madness

How will a "ban" work though? Will it be a physical barrier? Can't see that working - so presumably a large fine?

this level of control over people's ability to move freely is madness
Very popular amongst some people.

Time to vote out these controlling zealots everywhere. Shocking abuse of power to say they don't care what we think cos it's happening!

Wow I do not live there, but this seems like madness.

What if your DC go to school at the other side of the city. Are they automatically meant to walk / cycle? Fine if teens with with little ones and a job to get to, it just won't work will it?

Surely many people will leave the city.

I imagine quite a few people from the last few years who'd be looking to see if there are vacancies going to man the checkpoints, check permits and wear a natty little vest with the council logo.

They have already installed multiple Low Traffic Neighbourhood Bollards in most roads used by locals to nip in and out of both Oxford City and Cowley Town, leaving just two main roads to go in/out of Oxford. The congestion is incredible and a once 20-minute drive into the city is now upwards of 45 minutes a lot of the time.

We no longer go into Oxford to shop, we visit local (or not so!) retail parks and other towns in South Oxfordshire.

They have also started cutting bus services and introduced cycle highways which reduce the flow of vehicles on main roads, too.

Who knows what they are trying to turn the city into, but they are killing it - and the shops are rubbish, too. Rents and rates are too high for the quirky independent businesses that used to populate the covered market and old Westgate, now it's all designer labels and over-priced loaves of bread at 'artisan' bakeries.. Ridiculous!

It’s madness - all the conspiracy theorists theories are slowing coming true, if this is successfully implemented in one city they will then roll this out everywhere, combined with our digital passports that have medical and financial details on it.
if they deem you don’t have the right to access your funds or whatever it can all be cut off.

we need to see what they’re doing in China and make damn sure it doesn’t happen here!

between this and the feminist bull shit I feel like an extra in the Hand maids tale.

It sounds bonkers

But I have to ask how do you all propose to prevent more people dying from asthma triggered by traffic fumes ? Lockdown saved tens of thousands of asthmatic deaths in Europe

How do you propose to reduce NHS budget for type 2 diabetes and other health and fitness related illnesses ?

Something about the way we live is killing us - we need to change and change is always painful

It's all getting a bit dystopian lately. Wheover said like it or not this is going to happen needs to be reminded that they are an elected official there to serve the community, not indulge in their favourite population control fantasy.

Not just this - any given topic about this kind of issue on MN usually brings out people saying stuff like "ban private car ownership" and "Buying an SUV should result in 12 years in gaol" etc.