A 'DANGEROUS' junction which cost taxpayers £300,000 less than four years ago will be ripped up to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

But cyclists and bus companies feared the proposed changes to the four-way junction at Hythe Bridge Street, Worcester Street and George Street would still leave it unsafe for those on two wheels.

Oxfordshire County Council admitted the junction had 'proved unpopular' and said the changes addressed concerns raised by cyclists and pedestrians.

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The four-way junction could now revert to two separate routes - between Hythe Bridge Street and Worcester Street north and George Street and Worcester Street south - as it was before the existing layout was constructed in late 2014.

Vice-chair of campaign group Cyclox Alison Hill said it was an improvement but that the group would be objecting to the new layout.

She said: "The existing junction is very unsafe, there have been quite a few collisions since it was installed and it's a bit 'heart in mouth' just watching cyclists negotiate it.

"It looks like they are going back to what it used to be like - we welcome that and it will be much better for cyclists."

As part of the segregation of the two sides of the road, three traffic islands will be added to stop cars and buses moving north to south but cyclists will still be able to travel across the junction in all directions.

A new signalised Puffin crossing will be added on the Worcester Street north approach replacing the crossing in Hythe Bridge Street.

The group hoped that during peak hours pedestrians pressing the crossing would give cyclists time to pass through the junction and called for an 'advanced stop' zone to make cyclists more visible.

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Dr Hill said: "Our main issue is that it's still going to be hard for cyclists coming from Hythe Bridge Street to get across onto George Street.

"Without the traffic lights how will they be able to?

"The traffic flow will be continuous - cyclists will have to be very assertive to be seen by cars.

"At the moment many are not brave enough and end up using the pedestrian crossing - we should be designing roads so that twelve-year-olds can use them."

The junction was initially changed in 2014 - at a cost of £300,000 - to 'complement' the changes made to Frideswide Square.

But cyclists immediately hit out at the four-way junction and some were even injured in collisions despite warnings it was unsafe.

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The county council reviewed the scheme and last year carried out an experiment in which only buses and bicycles could move north to south before settling on the proposed arrangement - which will now be consulted on.

City councillor for Jericho, Susanna Pressel, said: "I’m really glad they are changing this junction at last. It is irritating for drivers and pedestrians who often have to wait a long time to get across it and it’s very dangerous for the many cyclists arriving from Hythe Bridge Street.

"When I realised that they are proposing to put it back almost to what it used to be, I asked in a full county council meeting if the people responsible for wasting so much money would be held to account."

The city's two largest bus companies also raised concerns over the safety of cyclists as well as access to the Gloucester Green Coach Station.

Oxford Bus Company managing director, Phil Southall, said: "We largely support the proposal, but will be seeking assurances around vehicle access to and from Gloucester Green Coach Station and how George Street will be accessed by cycles to minimise any conflict."

Mr Southall also called for access and effective traffic flow in the city centre to be 'looked at again' before any more major changes to streets were proposed in the future.

Martin Sutton, managing director of Stagecoach Oxfordshire echoed those concerns and said it would lead to the re-routing of some services.

He said: "We need to satisfy ourselves that there is sufficient room for longer buses turning from Worcester Street South into George Street and vice-versa and that the cyclist movements will not present additional safety issues.

"It will also be necessary to change the terminus of service 7 (Woodstock - Oxford) which turns left from Worcester Street North into George Street so that it terminates in Magdalen Street.

"Unfortunately this will put additional pressure on the busy bus stops in Magdalen Street".

A consultation on the changes runs until June 8.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman, Martin Crabtree, said: "As with any major scheme we have kept it under review and developed proposals which we believe will bring improvements and address concerns relating to cycling and walking.

"The proposed changes will retain the majority of the physical changes made in 2014 with some changes being made to traffic movements and delivering a layout that will be much better for cyclists."

To view and comment on the consultation visit consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk