Sir - The traffic problems in Headington, Oxford, are getting so bad that any wacky solution is worthy a hearing.
But the old idea of pushing buses down Osler Road is frankly a non-starter.
It seems it is necessary to stress this point because Nicholas Newman has thrown his weight behind such a plan (Oxford Mail, January 17).
He is a leading light of Oxford New Labour so what he says today may become their policy tomorrow.
It is unfortunate then that he has apparently missed the debate on this over the last 18 months and has failed to understand residents' concerns.
What worries people across Headington about this plan is that it is likely to make matters worse, not better, for two reasons.
The road is narrow and if (or rather when) there is a bunching together of buses, they would get snarled up on that stretch of Osler Road.
Secondly, and more importantly, buses turning in and out of that road would clog up traffic in London Road.
This is why my fellow city councillor Stephen Tall's campaign to stop the bus route has struck a chord across Headington.
The probable result would be more congestion in London Road, not less, and that would have a knock-on effect in both New and Old Headington.
It won't do Headington any favours if Mr Newman convinces Mr Blair's representative in Oxford East to jump on to the rickety bandwagon of the Osler Road bus route.
It would be yet another example of MP Andrew Smith supporting a misguided policy while ignoring both good sense and people's views.
DAVID RUNDLE (Councillor)
Liberal Democrat
Headington Ward
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