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Oxford LTNs: Crews chop damaged bollard to get fire engine through

Amir Steve Ali LTN choppedAmir Steve Ali
The bollard in Clive Road is one of several damaged in recent weeks

Fire crews had to chop down a bollard that forms part of a city's Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) scheme to get their fire engine through.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were responding to an incident in Clive Road, Oxford, on Tuesday.

Firefighters were unable to take the bollard out using a key because it had previously been damaged.

Oxfordshire County Council said damage to the bollards and planters was "creating significant safety concerns."

A number of the scheme's bollards and planters have been vandalised since the measures came in.

Damian Haywood Lockable bollardsDamian Haywood
Lockable bollards have been broken and removed from their positions - attempts have also been made to dismantle wooden planters

Oxfordshire County Council said the damage to the bollard in Clive Road "affected the mechanism which would allow it to normally be removed using a key".

The authority said: "The costs for damage to bollards and planters has now topped £12,000 since the measures were launched on 20 May."

Repairs will be made and a replacement bollard fitted, it added.

OCC Clive Road bollardOCC
Bollards and planters block one end of a road to allow resident access, but prevent them being used as short-cuts

The LTNs were brought in at Church Cowley, Temple Cowley and Florence Park in March 2021.

Further LTNs in Oxford's Divinity Road, St Clement's and St Mary's areas started on 20 May.

The council's public consultation on the measures in east Oxford runs until November.

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