A newly-elected city ward representative has said she is "sorry" new highways changes "don't meet the gold standard" after they were given the green light last month.

Blackbird Leys Labour councillor Linda Smith shared her thoughts on the two new tiger crossings, zebra crossing, no-waiting-at-any-time rules and shared-use cycle paths that will come to the neighbourhood.

The parking restrictions are to see double yellow lines introduced on both sides of Blackbird Leys Road alongside new shared and segregated cycle paths.

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They come in the context of 210 new affordable homes, new shops and a new community centre being granted formal planning permission last year for the district.

Oxford Mail: Blackbird Leys.Blackbird Leys. (Image: Oxford Mail)

Ms Smith said: "I’m sorry that the highways changes don’t meet the gold standard of providing the continuous segregated cycleways which we need to see more of in Oxford.

"Unfortunately, it was not possible in this location due to the complexity of the site, particularly the need to accommodate access for local residents and protect bus services.

"The layout of the new highways have now been fixed by Councillor Gant but the final design is still to be agreed between the county council and the construction company Hill and there is still scope for improvement.

Oxford Mail: Linda Smith.Linda Smith. (Image: Contribution.)

"I hope the suggestions made by county council officers for prominent cycle markings on the carriageway, protected entry and exit points between the new cycleway and the surrounding roads, and further dropped crossings will be delivered."

Some groups such as the royal national institute of blind people have previously said they oppose shared cycle lanes in principle due to them not being "inclusive" and presenting "potentially serious dangers to both pedestrians with sight loss and cyclists".

Ms Smith added: "The plans for the new district centre include 82 parking spaces, something which it’s easy to miss when a lot of the focus on the proposals have been on the introduction of new double yellow lines on Blackbird Leys Road.

Oxford Mail: Blackbird Leys Road.Blackbird Leys Road. (Image: Google Maps.)

"Using double yellow lines to restrict parking to areas where it is safe to park is very common in busy areas like this, it’s necessary to keep traffic moving and reduce the risk of accidents for all road users and pedestrians."

Defending the move to introduce double yellow lines at the transport management meeting on April 25, highways chief Andrew Gant had said relevant aspects of approval had happened "years ago" and the scheme had planning permission so the remit of his decision was "quite narrow".

Oxford Mail: Andrew Gant.Andrew Gant. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)

This comes after, as part of the council consultation, an unnamed Allin Close householder in Blackbird Leys, said: "Please don’t make our lives any harder than you already have - it’s so difficult trying to fulfil all my responsibilities and try and keep a job and caring duties.

"We already live on the edge of the city and it’s already hard enough - please stop punishing us. Why don’t you go to Jericho and Wolvercote and introduce lots of restrictions there instead?"