Changes to the East Oxford LTNs during the trial period
Dear Oxfordshire County Council,
The East Oxford LTN "trial" has now been in place for the best part of eight months, and is due to continue for several more months. However, although new problems have clearly occurred (more congestion, pollution etc), I have seen no evidence of any attempts by the council to modify the scheme to date, with a view to identifying how these challenges may be resolved.
In order to establish that the trial is being undertaken in good faith, please therefore provide me with any schedule of works for the planned modifications to the East Oxford LTNs, to be undertaken while the experiment is "live". I am particularly keen to know details of which LTN barriers will be removed / moved (and precisely when), which sites will have ANPR cameras (or similar) installed (and when), and what specific new signs will be erected, perhaps stating what access times will be permitted, and on what days, at specific LTN locations.
Please take an expansive interpretation of my request, and also provide with the schedule of works for any related East Oxford mitigations works planned, i.e. painting for further yellow lines etc as an alternative to existing barriers.
If there are currently no schedules of works regarding the modification of the East Oxford LTN during the trial period, please confirm this also.
Please note: I am specifically NOT asking for policy discussion documentation, or discussions, regarding the East Oxford LTNs. Nor am I asking for documents that would normally be put into the public domain as a matter of routine. I am specifically asking for detailed schedules of works, that are highly unlikely to be published in the normal course of events.
In case you are minded to refuse publication on advance publication grounds. You will, of course, be aware that this is a qualified right of refusal, and that the presumption remains very much in favour of publication - you will be immediately challenged if you attempt to run this argument. Instead, I would suggest the onus is very much on immediate disclosure of any planned schedules of work, so that the council may demonstrate that it is conducting the East Oxford LTN trial in good faith.
You've had plenty of time to share your plans for LTN modification during the current trial period, and have not yet done so. That is precisely why I am asking for them now.
I suggest that the publications of schedules of works is in the public interest, because it will allow for proper external scrutiny of the planned LTN modifications.
There is also a cabinet meeting on 28 February to discuss the COTP, of which LTNs form one policy element. This would provide OCC with perfect opportunity to publish your Cowley LTN modification plans, and engage with the public about planned changes.
I would regard full disclosure of the East Oxford LTN modification plans as an acceptable alternative route to disclosure, other than via FOI. Equally, I would regard any failure to disclosure of your plans at this specific meeting as evidence that OCC is not serious about undertaking a genuinely experiment in relation to the East Oxford LTNs.
Please note: I live just outside the East Oxford LTNs, and regularly affected by them.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Parnham
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Our reference: 20992 EIR
Dear Mr Parnham,
Thank you for your request of 27 January 2023 which you asked for the
following information:
The East Oxford LTN "trial" has now been in place for the best part of
eight months, and is due to continue for several more months. However,
although new problems have clearly occurred (more congestion, pollution
etc), I have seen no evidence of any attempts by the council to modify the
scheme to date, with a view to identifying how these challenges may be
resolved.
In order to establish that the trial is being undertaken in good faith,
please therefore provide me with any schedule of works for the planned
modifications to the East Oxford LTNs, to be undertaken while the
experiment is "live". I am particularly keen to know details of which LTN
barriers will be removed / moved (and precisely when), which sites will
have ANPR cameras (or similar) installed (and when), and what specific new
signs will be erected, perhaps stating what access times will be
permitted, and on what days, at specific LTN locations.
Please take an expansive interpretation of my request, and also provide
with the schedule of works for any related East Oxford mitigations works
planned, i.e. painting for further yellow lines etc as an alternative to
existing barriers.
If there are currently no schedules of works regarding the modification
of the East Oxford LTN during the trial period, please confirm this also.
Please note: I am specifically NOT asking for policy discussion
documentation, or discussions, regarding the East Oxford LTNs. Nor am I
asking for documents that would normally be put into the public domain as
a matter of routine. I am specifically asking for detailed schedules of
works, that are highly unlikely to be published in the normal course of
events.
In case you are minded to refuse publication on advance publication
grounds. You will, of course, be aware that this is a qualified right of
refusal, and that the presumption remains very much in favour of
publication - you will be immediately challenged if you attempt to run
this argument. Instead, I would suggest the onus is very much on immediate
disclosure of any planned schedules of work, so that the council may
demonstrate that it is conducting the East Oxford LTN trial in good faith.
You've had plenty of time to share your plans for LTN modification during
the current trial period, and have not yet done so. That is precisely why
I am asking for them now.
I suggest that the publications of schedules of works is in the public
interest, because it will allow for proper external scrutiny of the
planned LTN modifications.
There is also a cabinet meeting on 28 February to discuss the COTP, of
which LTNs form one policy element. This would provide OCC with perfect
opportunity to publish your Cowley LTN modification plans, and engage with
the public about planned changes.
I would regard full disclosure of the East Oxford LTN modification plans
as an acceptable alternative route to disclosure, other than via FOI.
Equally, I would regard any failure to disclosure of your plans at this
specific meeting as evidence that OCC is not serious about undertaking a
genuinely experiment in relation to the East Oxford LTNs.
Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
requested as soon as possible and in any event within the next 20 working
days in compliance with the Environmental Information Regulations
2004/Freedom of Information Act 2000, unless an exception applies. This
means that the council will respond to you by the end of 24 February 2023.
If appropriate, the information requested can be made available in
alternative formats, including other languages, Braille, large print, and
audiocassette. If you require any of these formats then please let me
know.
Please contact me if you have any have further enquiries about your
request. I would be grateful if you could quote the reference number given
at the top of this email.
Kind regards,
Renata
Renata Malinowski
Freedom of Information Support Officer
Voice of the Customer Team
Customers and Organisational Development
Oxfordshire County Council
Email: [1]FOI-E&[email address]
[2]www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
This email, including attachments, may contain confidential information.
If you have received it in error, please notify the sender by reply and
delete it immediately. Views expressed by the sender may not be those of
Oxfordshire County Council. Council emails are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. [3]email disclaimer. For information about how
Oxfordshire County Council manages your personal information please see
our [4]Privacy Notice.
References
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3. https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/emaildisc...
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Dear Mr Parnham,
Please find attached our response to your Environmental Information
Request.
Kind Regards
Renata
Renata Malinowski
Freedom of Information Support Officer
Voice of the Customer Team
Customers and Organisational Development
Oxfordshire County Council
Email: [1]FOI-E&[email address]
[2]www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
This email, including attachments, may contain confidential information.
If you have received it in error, please notify the sender by reply and
delete it immediately. Views expressed by the sender may not be those of
Oxfordshire County Council. Council emails are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. [3]email disclaimer. For information about how
Oxfordshire County Council manages your personal information please see
our [4]Privacy Notice.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:FOI-E&[email address]
2. http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/
3. https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/emaildisc...
4. https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/a...
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