Sir – The new Westgate will shift 2,057 buses a day to run by houses in Thames Street.

The developers say it will only result in a ‘negligible’ increase in nasty diesel emissions.

If Queen Street is closed, the number of buses running down the ‘new bus link’ on Thames Street will rise to 2,190 buses a day but that’s OK because the developers say there is still only a ‘negligible’ increase in emissions.

That’s strange, because buses in Speedwell Street in 2012 produced nitrogen dioxide readings of 68 mg/m3. Very high readings and quite dangerous — not suitable for opening windows on to the street, walking or cycling. But in the future when more buses travel along Thames Street the result is ‘negligible’.
Could it be that 2,190 buses haven’t been included in the air pollution model because they are deemed to be running on the ‘new bus link’ and haven’t been added to the Thames Street readings so have simply vanished from the city’s air pollution problem?

The ‘new bus link’ runs parallel to Thames Street — it creates a four-lane road with two bus lanes on the north side and cars, coaches and goods vehicles on the other. Only buses are subject to the low emission zone regulations and low frequency buses are exempt. The LEZ may reduce bus emissions by 30 per cent — still way above safe targets.


Both councils need to address the consequences of their actions and think seriously about how to protect Oxford’s residents from pollution.


The residents of Tennyson Lodge, Paradise Square, the new social housing in Block 1a and everyone along Thames Street deserve more serious consideration. How about fitting sound-proofed, fixed glazing along the street side and whole house filtered, ventilation systems so that people can breathe?
Alice Brander, Oxford