NEW cycle lanes are set to feature in the £5.5m redevelopment of Oxford’s Frideswide Square after cyclicts raised safety concerns.

Oxfordshire County Council is planning to alter the square so it has roundabouts rather than traffic lights, to ease traffic flows.

Pavements in the square itself will be “shared space” used by cyclists and pedestrians.

But the county council is now planning to include dedicated bike lanes on the roads approaching the square, following cyclists’ safety concerns.

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But Richard Mann of campaign group Cyclox said bigger changes were needed.

He said: “If you have a reasonable amount of space then it is better to have a designated path so people will know where the cyclists will be.

“All the best practice is to be clear about what you are doing. When nobody knows what anybody is doing, that creates conflict.

“There needs to be a specific space designated for cyclists.”

The design will involve creating a large roundabout at the entrance of the rail station and two mini-roundabouts at the other end of the square in front of the Royal Oxford Hotel.

Other changes to be considered include planting fewer trees to allow for better views, especially for people waiting for buses.

A council report on the concerns raised about the original plans says: “In the square itself, the key design principle is to reduce road space to an absolute minimum to keep vehicle speeds as low as possible but still allowing consistent smooth flow of traffic.

“Even though the road will continue to be busy, the design should allow cyclists to comfortably share the road with traffic, even at quieter times.”

County councillor David Nimmo Smith, the cabinet member for transport, said: “This scheme would bring much-needed improvement to Frideswide Square for all its users.

“Traffic flow will be improved, allowing for better access in and around the city.

“Conditions for all users will be greatly improved and the proposals for the landscaping will mean the space will offer a significantly better welcome to the city, particularly for people arriving by train. It is a fantastic scheme and I can’t wait to see the completed project.”

Preparatory work for the scheme has already started and work on the square itself will begin in February.

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