I have just read the article in the Oxford Mail regarding the Oxford Transport Strategy (May 1).

I have actually read through the OTS and it looks to hold a really exciting future, if, and whenever ,it comes to fruition. Unfortunately, like me, many others will not see any of the proposals come into force it in our lifetimes.

Oxford is a very special place and many parts of it should be a World Heritage Site but is blighted by traffic and constant roadworks.

I am always apologising to visitors who mention this. The train station at Water Eaton opening on October 26 will, hopefully, alleviate some congestion.

Roads such as High Street, Cornmarket, St Aldate’s, Queen Street along with St Giles and Broad Street should all be traffic-free. Public transport must be greatly improved. The problem with present buses is that there are so many of them, they are noisy, messy, have inadequate suspension, are not environmentally-friendly and too many of them unfilled.

Compared to a car which has its own space and is much more comfortable, there is no comparison. I would like to see new buses carpeted, with soft music, proper suspension and a much smoother ride to cope with our potholed roads.

Why do all the buses have to come right into the centre? Surely a way could be found to have them circulate around outskirts, dropping off shoppers at one end and picking them up at the other after they have made their way through the shops, traffic free.

The A40 from Witney to Woodstock Road is a sick joke and an insult to those poor drivers who have to tolerate it every day.

The idea for a guided busway is a great idea so can we have it implemented now rather 2030?

The nutty idea of closing either the Woodstock or Banbury Road sounds like a back of an envelope desperation measure. Smacks of elitism to me.

What about the suggested tunnels under Oxford? Quite laughable. No mention of moving pathways at all.

Roadworks seem to be everywhere and go on forever. Take a look at the Oxford Mail picture of Frideswide Square last Saturday and you can see only three workers – not exactly a hive of activity is it?

Heavy machinery stands idle for majority of the week when workers go home. This particular site will drag on until December. And why? Cost? Surely if best use were made of labour, machinery and daylight hours (even during night) this would be cheaper in the long run. There is no account taken of people’s livelihoods or inconvenience.

Actual work is carried out for only one-third of the working week – the other two-thirds machinery stands idle and no-one is to be seen.

The debacle at Kennington was the same and caused protracted months of frustration for road users.

The same can be said of the A420, Cumnor Hill Bypass, shut for weeks on end. I drove by on Saturday last and nothing was happening.

Let’s hope the protracted work, still to be completed at the Plain will have the desired affect for cyclists.

I feel a little relieved to have got this lot off my chest and haven’t even started about the A34 nightmare and litter.

TONY GREENFIELD
Raymund Road
Old Marston
Oxford