SHUTTING the custody cells at Oxford Police Station will be “a disaster” for city traders, a councillor has warned.

Oxfordshire county councillor and former Oxfordshire magistrate John Howson said the move will “maroon” officers transporting prisoners on the notoriously accident prone A34.

It was revealed in the Oxford Mail on Thursday that from October next year the St Aldate’s police cells and custody suite would close and move to a larger base in Abingdon.

Liberal Democrat Mr Howson, who represents St Margaret’s, said: “The new Westgate development will vastly increase the amount of retail space in the city, but this move will deprive the police of resources to tackle crime in the city when other police forces are reassessing such large centralised facilities away from crime hotspots.

“The police cells in Oxford allow officers to return to active duty faster than if they are caught up in traffic on the way to and from Abingdon with anyone arrested in Oxford. Closing the custody suite at Oxford could be a disaster for Oxford’s retailers.”

LPA Commander Christian Bunt said transport issues would have to be worked through but he was positive his team could cope.