Experimental Prohibition of Vehicles - Oxford: St Michael's Street

An 'Experimental' Traffic Regulation Order has been made - which comes into force on 2 March - in order to continue the provisions of the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order which prohibits vehicles from entering the eastern end of St Michael's Street in central Oxford. This follows a previous consultation (see here for details) after which the Cabinet Member for Highway Management approved the Officer recommendations to go with an Experimental TRO over concerns about longer term plans for E-W cycle routes across the city centre (details here). This will enable more effective monitoring and detailed planning before a final decision is made.

The measures will continue to facilitate safer pedestrian movement and the safe use of tables and chairs by the adjacent hospitality businesses, and exemptions are included for emergency vehicles and those requiring access to adjacent properties or for road or utility works. Cycles and scooters will have to be pushed through the closure area.

What is an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order?

Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO) are used when it is difficult to assess the impacts of the scheme beforehand, but the cost of implementation is relatively low. In an ETRO, the Council introduces the scheme as an experiment first and there is then a six-month period after the scheme is introduced when the public can see for themselves the impact of the scheme and the Council can monitor its impacts. At the end of the six-month period, the Council assesses the impacts, including any letters of support or objections, and decides whether to confirm, cancel or extend the ETRO for up to 12 months longer (18 months in total) to allow further consultation and monitoring.

The Experiment will be closely monitored during its operation and any comments/complaints that are received will be given due consideration with a view to deciding whether the experiment, or any part of it should become permanent.

Please read the detailed information provided on this consultation, and take the time to complete the survey as your views and opinions matter. Your response should be completed and returned by Friday 26 August 2022.

Whilst we will endeavour to answer simple queries during the course of the consultation, any more complex questions/issues will be appraised and dealt with as part of consultation process.

What happens next?

The County Council will review the responses and if necessary (i.e. if objections are received) prepare a report to be presented to the Cabinet Member for Highway Management at a meeting scheduled for later in 2022. This will be public meeting at which members of the public may apply to speak. The agenda and reports for meetings will be made available on the Oxfordshire County Council web site about a week before the meeting. Please note that occasionally it is necessary to defer reports to a later meeting, and it is therefore advisable to check the agenda ahead of attending a meeting, the Forward Plan of decisions meetings can be viewed here.