TRANSPORT bosses have 'gone loopy' with a new one-way system plan that will ban buses from a number of key city centre streets, according to campaigners.

Bus Users UK said proposals for two 'bus loops' serving the city would leave passengers walking even further between stops and add almost two miles to journeys between Oxford Station and The Plain.

The city's two major bus operators also warned access was 'vital' and journey times and walking distances must not increase.

A two-loop bus system and one-way traffic system to 'end the dominance of buses' has been proposed by an independent consultancy commissioned by Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

A south-to-west loop would serve the end of Abingdon Road around Thames Street through the Westgate Centre to Frideswide Square.

The north-to-east loop would use Longwall Street, High Street, Cornmarket Street and, in one case, Broad Street and Holywell Street – with 500 metres separating the loops.

All four options would see buses banned from Queen Street and George Street.

Chairman of Bus Users Oxford and a director of Bus Users UK, Hugh Jaeger, said: "All four of the options would significantly reduce people's access to and through central Oxford.

"Queen Street and George Street are essential for east-west bus links across the city centre.

"Three quarters of Oxford's population lives east of the River Cherwell.

"Banning buses from either or both of those streets would strangle their bus links with the rail station.

"North-south bus links across the city centre are already minimal, in most cases people have to walk at least a quarter of a mile to change buses.

"Banning buses from Magdalen Street and St Aldate's would make walking distances between bus stops even longer."

But Mr Jaeger applauded Phil Jones Associates for suggesting buses should return to Cornmarket Street for the first time since 1999, especially now that retail was 'migrating' away towards the Westgate Centre.

The campaigners were one of a number of stakeholders asked to submit their views on the changes.

Oxford Civic Society, whose input was also sought, called for more data on passenger numbers and bus frequency to properly assess the options.

It also warned that routing buses through Broad Street, Holywell Street and Longwall Street would lead to 'significant public realm damage in a very high value heritage area.'

The city's two biggest bus operators, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach Oxfordshire, both welcomed the debate but warned bus access was vital to the overall solution and journey times and walking distances must not increase.

Managing director of Stagecoach Oxfordshire, Martin Sutton, said: "There is a recognition that fewer buses in more streets might be part of a solution, with the possibility of limited number of buses in Cornmarket and Broad Street being options.

"It is important, however, that buses should continue to take people to where they want to go including journeys across the city centre.

"Journey times and walking distances should not be increased by buses having to take more circuitous routes."

Oxford Bus Company managing director, Phil Southall, said: "We agree congestion in Oxford is a growing issue and we welcome the opportunity to debate this key issue for the city.

"Bus access forms a vital part of the overall solution and we look forward to discussing this with stakeholders."

The options have been produced to feed into Oxford City Council's local plan, which will be finalised this summer, and are also being worked on by Oxfordshire County Council – the transport authority.

Phil Jones, of consultancy firm Phil Jones Associates, said each option had positives and negatives but welcomed the view of transport groups.

He said: "Oxford is a victim of its own success by making it more difficult to get to by car.

"As a result of that it now has a bus congestion problem – High Street and St Aldate's in particular are very congested.

"These are high profile, accessible, and historic streets but they are simply not pleasant places to walk around – it's not the quality people expect in a world-class city."

Paul Smith, on behalf of both councils, said: "We are pleased that the options presented are generating debate and any views people wish to contribute are welcome.

"A large number of stakeholders have already been engaged including the main bus companies that serve Oxford."