OXFORD’S bus users campaign group has called for an integrated transport hub to avoid potential problems from plans to pedestrianise Queen Street.

It comes after Oxfordshire County Council announced it wants to clear buses from the busy city centre shopping street as part of the long-awaited Westgate shopping centre redevelopment.

But Hugh Jaeger, of the Oxford branch of Bus Users UK, has raised concerns about the plans.

He said: “Our concern is what impact this will have on passengers who are trying to use buses into the city centre, bearing in mind we have got rapidly increasing passenger numbers.

“Half of all visitors to central Oxford come by bus.

“It means passengers are getting out further from the city centre. Buses from Wolvercote and Kidlington will be even more cut off than they are now and it affects people who cannot walk very far.

“In St Aldate’s we have a problem with too many buses – and when this happens there will be even more.

“These flaws could be dealt with if there was a proper bus hub, which should happen at the same time as the Westgate redevelopment.”

Mr Jaeger suggested that the bus hub could be incorporated in the forthcoming redevelopment of Oxford railway station, for which Network Rail has commissioned a masterplan.

Network Rail spokesman Sam Kelly: “As part of the masterplanning exercise we will be looking at the wider station area including the forecourt and transport interchange and what improvements could be made.

“Bus Users UK is one of the stakeholders that we will be consulting.”

The £400m redevelopment of the Westgate Centre will involve building a three-storey John Lewis store as well as a multi-screen cinema and an underground car park.

It is expected to be completed in 2017 and county council leader Ian Hudspeth has said he wants to make the most of the opportunity by pedestrianising Queen Street.

He hopes to remove buses from the busy shopping street by reviving the Transform Oxford project, which fell victim to spending cuts two years ago, using financial contributions from the Westgate developers.

Mr Hudspeth said: “Part of the proposals for the Westgate redevelopment will be talking with the bus companies to make sure we find a solution that is the best for everybody.

“We are aware closing Queen Street could put pressure elsewhere but we are working with bus users and companies to make sure we get the best result.

“A bus hub could be an option.”

Phil Southall, the operations director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “We need to study Bus Users UK’s ideas and we welcome any contribution to the debate. We must never lose sight of the unique nature of travel in Oxford and the fact that half the people in the city centre got there by bus in the first place.”