“It is important that we represent residents’ views and that they have their say,” says Cllr Trish Elphinstone, Labour County Councillor for Rose Hill & Littlemore. She has been campaigning to open up the Crowell Road traffic barrier with a new segregated cycle lane.
Speaking at County Hall in December, Trish was clear that the Lib Dems and Greens running the County Council must listen and make changes that work for all.
Trish says: “I was elected in March 2023 and since then I have had the privilege to work with and for the communities of Rose Hill and Littlemore. I have been knocking on doors, meeting with people where they gather, listening and taking up local issues. Since elected my team and I have spoken to hundreds of residents. Cllr Gant and Cllr Leffman – it should come as no surprise that the residents of Rose Hill and Littlemore are not happy.”
“The closure of Crowell Road to everyday community traffic has cut residents off from Templars Square – their town centre. It has made life harder by increasing journey times to work, to see family, to care for someone, to work as a tradesperson, and go about daily business. There is no GP or dental surgery in Littlemore. Every journey to see a doctor or a dentist now takes much longer. This hits the elderly hard.”
“The residents of Herschel Crescent and Sandy Lane speak to me specifically about increased journey times. The residents of Oxford Road and Iffley Road speak about the dramatic increase of slow-moving traffic on their doorsteps.”
“The closure of Crowell Road to ‘facilitate a redesign of traffic flows‘, may have looked good on paper to someone in an office or to people making decisions in committees who do not live in Rose Hill and Littlemore. But the closure of Crowell Road does not look good to my local residents.”
“The road closure is a barrier to working, family and community life. The County Council has made lives more difficult, and residents and businesses feel that their views are being ignored.”
“A ‘like it or lump it’ approach has alienated our local communities. You have heard what people think in the recent petition brought to the Council. They are angry and this anger has undermined the contract between residents and the local councils.”
“For some time now I and other Labour Councillors have tried to help you to explore changes to ease these difficulties. We have suggested opening the Crowell Road but continuing the APNR filter during school entry and exit times. We have asked you to consider a traffic calming scheme for Crowell Road with a segregated cycle route. But we have made no progress. And this reflects the wider problem of the way transport changes are supposedly trialled and consulted on.”
“I imagine that most in this room are willing to find ways to reduce traffic and encourage reductions in car journeys. People want to be safe. And people have to make their way in the world, to get by and to make a living. What works for the young and fit does not necessary work for aging bones.”
“Work is not only about an office or a shop. A cleaner, a carer or an electrician may visit many different work locations in a day. A successful transport strategy will be built on understanding how to achieve change by recognising people’s needs and working with people. We need to listen and to make changes that work for all – it is only fair.”
“Let’s bring people with us and let them have their say.”