Oxfordshire County Council’s School Streets initiative continues to face resistance from elected representatives in Carterton, where the traffic management programme has already been activated.
The initiative, which imposes temporary vehicle bans during school arrival and departure periods, has been rolled out across numerous educational establishments throughout the county.
Enforcement relies upon automatic number plate recognition technology, though cameras designated for the schemes serving St Birinus School in Didcot and Willowcroft Community Primary School, both situated on Mereland Road, remain dormant.
Strong objections have been lodged by both town and county councillors regarding the implementation of the programme in Carterton, specifically targeting Edith Moorhouse Primary School and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.
During a recent full assembly of the town council, members approved a motion to communicate the depth of community opposition to the county authority.
Concerns raised by local residents during the meeting encompassed hazardous parking displacement, heightened traffic volumes and broader road safety implications.
Council members additionally acknowledged that the automatic number plate recognition equipment installed to supervise the scheme appears to remain non-functional.
Carterton Town Councillor Tammy Oborno stated that the Carterton Conservative group maintained its opposition to the School Streets initiative and remained dedicated to hearing resident concerns, advocating on their behalf and demanding accountability from those responsible for the policy.
She noted that observations conducted recently demonstrated visible effects on nearby highways, particularly along Alvescot Road, one of the town’s primary thoroughfares.
The councillor indicated that both traffic and parking had been considerably redirected toward Alvescot Road and connecting streets.