IT IS interesting to note that, even before the work has been completed, and while county councillors are still giving out plaudits to one another several issues are already being raised about the new-look Frideswide Square.

This time it is not only disgruntled motorists, such as myself, who are raising questions but cycling groups (concerned about safety issues due to road widths and lack of specified cycle lanes) and bus companies (unhappy with access to and from the pull-in bus stops).

One of my main concerns would be access for emergency service vehicles, particularly bearing in mind the location of Rewley Road Fire Station and the fact that the quick response smaller ambulance is usually to be found based at the railway station.

This problem has already arisen as my partner informed me that upon returning from town last Thursday an ambulance was stuck in the gridlocked traffic as there was nowhere for trapped vehicles to pull over.

If, as Mr Hudspeth states in the Oxford Mail, traffic is now flowing more freely why did the newspapers’s website report that on at least two evenings last week, between 7pm and 8pm, that traffic was at a standstill?

This timescale should be well outside the normal rush hour.

I would also ask the question whether any zebra or pedestrian crossings are intended as currently many people are confused as the wide dropped kerb crossing points at either end of the square have lighter strips of paving (like zebra crossings) on the pedestrian area but nothing on the road.

I have witnessed pedestrians just stepping out in front of (albeit slow) moving traffic.

I must admit the whole concept of reducing a well known bottleneck from four traffic lanes down to two and expecting the traffic to flow more freely mystifies me anyway, but then again I am no expert.

I can only hope that the councillors responsible for traffic in and around the city do not have any input to the proposed flood relief channel or I may as well buy some waders in preparation.

CHRIS BATLEY
Barrett Street, Oxford