LTNs (low traffic neighbourhoods) are among the measures which have been slammed by traders for increasing congestion and reducing the number of customers for business owners in east Oxford.
Businesses are fighting hard on the back of the Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis but they fear measures such as theĀ zero emission zone (ZEZ), traffic filters and a workplace parking levy could have a damaging impact.
READ MORE:Ā Oxford convenience store closed due to rat infestation
Klontian Meta, manager of the Love Coffee chain in Oxford, said: āThe LTNs have meant my stores are less busy than before.
āAll of us want to protect the planet and rest of world but I donāt think Cowley Road is going to save the rest of the world.ā
A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council saidĀ the LTNs are designed to work with other measures to improve public transport, walking and cycling,Ā making travel easier in Oxford.
He added: āWe continue to monitor the LTNs and evaluate their impact.
āThe traffic filters trial, starting this autumn, is designed to reduce traffic, make bus journeys faster and make walking and cycling safer as part of the county councilās vision for improved travel across Oxfordshire.
āTraffic filters are also intended to help reduce local air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.ā
It comes asĀ former Liberal Democrat city councillor, Tony Brett, took to social media to say he would no longer be shopping at the Goldfish Bowl Store in Cowley after seeing anĀ Independent Oxford AllianceĀ (IOA) poster outside.
Mr Brett said: āThat will be a sure way to stop me supporting that shop and move to buying all my aquarium supplies much more cheaply online.
āI want to support local businesses, and I do, but not if they are supporting those campaigning against safety and clean air.ā
Independent MP candidate for Oxford East and Cowley Road trader Amir Steve Ali, who had uploaded the photo of himself outside the store with the posters, said he was āshockedā to hear Mr Brettās comment.
Mr Ali added: āI believe everyone is entitled to freedom to choose which political party they want to support.
āTony Brett should publicly apologise for hisĀ unfairĀ comment.ā
Mr Brett clarified when approached he had āno objection to anyone standing for election, independent or party-affiliatedā.
It comes after county councillorĀ Damian Haywood faced a backlash last year afterĀ he refusedĀ to support businesses which have āpublicised their hatredā towards Oxfordās controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).
He wasĀ accused of ācriticisingā struggling businessesĀ with one trader telling him āshame on you.ā
The banners, put up by Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA) candidates, are proclaiming May 2 āIndependents Dayā as traders in east Oxford say they will be supporting the candidates after becoming disillusioned with mainstream parties.
A spokesman for the IOA, which launched in November as aĀ ācooperativeā of independents, has saidĀ the party is not explicitly against LTNs, which were introduced with the intention of preventing traffic from taking shortcuts through residential areas and making streets safer for walking and cycling.
READ MORE:Ā Oxford River Thames search: Public react to āawfulā incident
The IOA has been embraced as a party of choice by many objectors to the scheme with its view that āa large majority of people in Oxford do not feel their views have been consideredā.
Oxford Restaurateur Clinton Pugh, who has been widely critical of the LTN policies, said: āEveryone should not be voting for national parties.
āI certainly donāt support the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Greens.
āI completely support the independent candidates, obviously if they are true to helping make a difference.
āAll of us business people are struggling to survive.ā
Several businesses in east Oxford have agreed to display the IOA posters on their shopfronts, including a large banner for St Clementās candidate Sal Naqvi in Cowley Road at the site of a former stationery store.
Mr Naqvi said: āThe businesses are being very helpful in terms of getting the posters out.
āAs for optimism at the door, Iām getting a good response.
āMy plan is to get as many posters out as possible.ā
When questioned about planning permission for the posters, it was suggested by Rose Hill andĀ Iffley ward candidate David Henwood that shop owners had given permission and the banners were only temporary.
Mr Henwood added: āClearly it is going to upset opponents but they are designed to do that.ā
Other parties in Oxford are continuing their campaign with Labour leader Susan Brown saying the partyāsĀ vision for Oxford is āunderpinned by our values of fairness and equality and our campaign to tackle climate changeā.
Liberal Democrat leader Dr Chris Smowton said: āLiberal Democrats are campaigning the old-fashioned way, by knocking on doors and speaking to voters.
āThe reception so far has been fantastic, and Iām looking forward to a strong result for our candidates.ā
Green group leader Chris Jarvis added: āGreen Party councillors, candidates and campaigners have spoken to thousands of residents in the last few weeks about the future of our city and how they want to make it even better.
āThe Green Party in Oxford has a strong track record of holding Labour to account on the city council and have a strong team of candidates standing in this yearās elections.ā