A TRADERS’ leader has condemned council plans to install a series of bus-only lanes across Oxford, claiming it will hit trade.
As part of congestion-busting proposals called Connecting Oxford the city and county councils are planning to install five new camera-enforced bus gates like the one operating in High Street.
Ordinary traffic is restricted during the day and Rox - Backing Oxford Businesses spokesman Graham Jones said one of the proposed bus gates, due to be installed by 2022, would harm trade.
He added that another, due to be installed in Marston Ferry Road, should be scrapped because it would hamper residents trying to access schools and hospitals.
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Mr Jones said: “The high street is suffering and the bus gate in Worcester Street would stop people travelling from north Oxford to West Oxford - it could put some shoppers off and should be reviewed.
“Some shoppers are already saying it’s easier to go and shop in Milton Keynes - Boswells has announced it is to close and council leaders need to take a careful look at this.”
Mr Jones, who lives in Wolvercote, said a new bus gate in Marston Ferry Road made ‘no sense whatsover’ and should be axed from the plans.
He added: “Marston Ferry Road is an important link road to the Churchill, the John Radcliffe and other hospital facilities and not all residents are able to get a bus.
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“There are lots of schools in the area and lots of teachers don’t live in Oxford.
“We all want to see less congestion in the city and a prosperous city.”
Mr Jones added that the bus gate in Marston Ferry Road would put more traffic on the A40, while a bus gate in Worcester Street would put more traffic on the A34.
In Rox's official response to Connecting Oxford, it said: "Just how would these new gates be policed?
"It seems that a vast number of vehicles both commercial and private would have to be exempt.
"Apart from the needs of delivery and service vehicles already mentioned, what about the need to access the many schools and private residences either side of the gates?"
In November Richard Parnham, of New Marston, submitted an FOI to find out how much research council officers had undertaken before including Marston Ferry Road in the proposals.
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He said: “I am firmly opposed to the plan to put a bus gate on Marston Ferry Road - it’s a crucial link road.
“For reasons best known for themselves, they (the county council) decided to consult on a proposal without undertaking the barest bones of preliminary evidence gathering exercise, which might justify this plan.”
Mr Parnham also questioned the suggestion that a new bus service connecting Summertown and the John Radcliffe Hospital via Marston Ferry Road would not be viable if the bus gate on the road was not installed, as no traffic modelling has been carried out.
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Both councils have been consulting on Connecting Oxford, which include plans for a workplace parking levy.
If plans are approved, the measures could be introduced in 2022 following a public inquiry.
Council leaders want to cut carbon emissions.
The other three new bus gates are planned for Thames Street, South Parks Road and Hollow Way.
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