Roundabout advert plans scrapped after objections

Plans to keep adverts on a roundabout have been withdrawn after a council received a record number of objections.

More than 200 people have written in response to Oxford City Council's application for retrospective planning permission for five adverts at The Plain roundabout in Oxford.

They said the adverts were distracting for motorists, in an area that is already dangerous for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

The local authority said it had withdrawn the application due to safety grounds, following significant opposition.

The Take the ads off The Plain campaign was set up by residents in opposition to the plans.

Campaign co-ordinator and father-of-two Owen McKnight said the "distracting" adverts "must now be taken down as soon as possible".

"The fact that over 200 people wrote to object demonstrates how concerned ordinary Oxford residents are about road danger," he added.

"There's still much more work to do to make The Plain safe and achieve Vision Zero – everyone home safe every day."

Councillor Emily Kerr, who represents the St Mary's ward, called it "a very good example of a citizen-led campaign around something that is actually really important".

"There was a very tragic fatality at The Plain but it's not just about that, it's a very dangerous junction," she said.

Cyclist Dr Ling Felce was killed in a crash on the roundabout in March 2022.

Ms Kerr and fellow councillor Damian Heywood previously submitted objections to the plans.

Six city councillors called the application in for committee decision, but the plans were withdrawn before it reached that stage.

A council spokesperson said the application had been withdrawn "following significant opposition, on safety grounds".

"A small amount was raised over the last year which went towards parks improvement work," the statement added.

The adverts would be for Science Fitness, Scott Fraser, 001 Cars and two for Royal Cars.

Objections about how the adverts affected the historic character of the roundabout were also raised.

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