The father of Hollywood star Florence Pugh has criticised Oxford’s low-traffic neighbourhood scheme which he mentioned hit his funds laborious, along with his bar being repossessed.
Clinton Pugh, who owns companies in Cowley Road, has criticised the East Oxford LTN which was launched as a trial in May 2022 by Oxfordshire County Council.
It comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak orders a overview into the rollout of LTNs, saying he’s on the facet of drivers.
Mr Pugh, whose well-known daughter is presently starring within the blockbuster Oppenheimer, blasted the East Oxford scheme as “really stupid” and people behind it “dictators”.
As a part of LTNs, bollards forestall motorised site visitors from taking shortcuts via a residential space, in accordance with the council.
“This creates quieter and safer streets where residents may feel more comfortable when making local journeys by cycling, wheeling or on foot,” the council mentioned.
“All roads remain accessible, but drivers may have to find alternative routes instead of cutting through some streets.”
But Mr Pugh, who has been within the space for 31 years, instructed Sky News: “It has become more difficult to get here, people just don’t come.
“You cannot get workers, they cannot get house or they must have taxis. The value of these items is simply astronomical and folks do not wish to work.
“Tradesmen can’t come because it takes too long to get here.”
Speaking about his woes surrounding his enterprise Cafe Tarifa, he mentioned: “The losses have been so high that I have lost a site.”
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He questioned why the council didn’t introduce the scheme extra “sympathetically” by closing each third street “just to see how it goes”.
Mr Pugh added: “Why do it all at once? It’s just not thought through properly, it’s really stupid.
“They are performing like they’re dictators. This is the issue. It’s their thought. They’ve requested us for our opinion and they don’t seem to be listening.”
During the last several weeks, the council has been asking for feedback on the impact of the LTNs since new bollards were introduced in March.
It also said: “The east Oxford LTNs had been consulted on between March and June 2021, via a collection of workshops, engagement actions and a public session in June 2021.”
Mr Sunak mentioned in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph he had ordered the Department for Transport to look once more at LTN insurance policies, which purpose to make residential areas cleaner and safer locations for pedestrians.
Labour has accused the PM of reversing the Conservatives’ personal acceleration of LTNs throughout the nation, and mentioned it ought to be for native communities to resolve.
Source: information.sky.com”