Florence Pugh’s father blasts low site visitors neighbourhood scheme as he loses his bar

The father of Hollywood star Florence Pugh has criticised Oxford’s low-traffic neighbourhood scheme which he stated hit his funds exhausting, together with his bar being repossessed.

Clinton Pugh, who owns companies in Cowley Road, has criticised the East Oxford LTN which was launched as a trial in May 2022 by Oxfordshire County Council.

It comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak orders a evaluate into the rollout of LTNs, saying he’s on the aspect of drivers.

Mr Pugh, whose well-known daughter is at present starring within the blockbuster Oppenheimer, blasted the East Oxford scheme as “really stupid” and people behind it “dictators”.

As a part of LTNs, bollards forestall motorised site visitors from taking shortcuts by a residential space, in keeping with the council.

“This creates quieter and safer streets where residents may feel more comfortable when making local journeys by cycling, wheeling or on foot,” the council stated.

“All roads remain accessible, but drivers may have to find alternative routes instead of cutting through some streets.”

But Mr Pugh, who has been within the space for 31 years, instructed Sky News: “It has become more difficult to get here, people just don’t come.

“You cannot get employees, they can not get dwelling or they need to have taxis. The price of this stuff is simply astronomical and other people do not need to work.

“Tradesmen can’t come because it takes too long to get here.”

Speaking about his woes surrounding his enterprise Cafe Tarifa, he stated: “The losses have been so high that I have lost a site.”

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He questioned why the council didn’t introduce the scheme extra “sympathetically” by closing each third street “just to see how it goes”.

Mr Pugh added: “Why do it all at once? It’s just not thought through properly, it’s really stupid.

“They are appearing like they’re dictators. This is the issue. It’s their thought. They’ve requested us for our opinion and they don’t seem to be listening.”

During the final a number of weeks, the council has been asking for suggestions on the affect of the LTNs since new bollards had been launched in March.

It additionally stated: “The east Oxford LTNs had been consulted on between March and June 2021, by a collection of workshops, engagement actions and a public session in June 2021.”

Mr Sunak stated in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph he had ordered the Department for Transport to look once more at LTN insurance policies, which intention to make residential areas cleaner and safer locations for pedestrians.

Labour has accused the PM of reversing the Conservatives’ personal acceleration of LTNs throughout the nation, and stated it must be for native communities to determine.