Pugh’s father worried for his health as he fights LTNS
FLORENCE PUGH’S father has been threatened with a £2,500 fine after he became embroiled in a row with his local council over a banner criticising the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme.
Clinton Pugh said LTNS are harming takings at his three restaurants in Oxford.
LTNS prevent traffic from cutting through residential roads, with bollards in place to stop motorists driving through, but keeping room for cyclists and pedestrians.
However, Mr Pugh said he is worried for his health after the imposition of LTNS left his three businesses in Oxford struggling to survive. And he said they could well finish off his Café Coco business – which is where Hollywood star Florence, 27, used to work. LTNS were permanently installed in the Cowley area of the city by Oxfordshire county council last summer – to strong opposition.
Mr Pugh, 64, owns three businesses on Cowley Road, Oxford: Café Coco, Kazbar and Cafe Tarifa. When the initiative was first introduced, Mr Pugh said takings at Café Coco, which has counted the bands Radiohead and Supergrass as patrons, were down 25 per cent.
In November last year, he posted a billboard protesting against the initiative. Now the city council has demanded the sign be taken down – only for Mr Clinton to paste another banner on top, emblazoned with the word, “Censored!” and “So much for democracy”.
The council said it was “investigating the alleged offence”.
Mr Pugh said: “The impact of closing the roads has meant that people just aren’t coming... I’m upset, I’m tired, I’m worried for my health.” He admitted that his daughter had lent him money to keep his livelihood afloat.