CONSERVATIVE campaigners in Oxford have called for planned new bus gates to be scrapped.

Bus gates, which fine drivers for travelling along some of Oxford's city centre roads, could be rolled out on Worcester Street and South Parks Road.

The plans have been devised together by the Labour-run Oxford City Council and the Tory-run Oxfordshire County Council.

But the city's Conservative Association - the hub for its Tory campaigners - has called for the plans to be brought to an immediate halt.

Oxford Conservatives chairman Daniel Stafford said: "At a time when residents are desperate to stay connected, and many small businesses are on the margins of survival, a policy that cuts residents off from other parts of the city is the last thing Oxford needs. It is imperative that good sense prevails and that the councils desist immediately from these damaging and devastating plans.”

ALSO READ: 'Harper's Law' - PC's widow changes name of campaign

Mr Sandford said 'most businesses' were 'completely against' the new bus gates.

He said: ""At a time when businesses are reeling from the effects of Covid-19, it is disappointing and completely unacceptable for local councils to experiment with their financial viability, especially with schemes which make absolutely no environmental sense."

Though a survey carried out by the city council recently showed many residents support the moves to restrict traffic in the city centre.

The Oxford Conservative Association has written to Oxfordshire County Council's leader Ian Hudspeth to highlight its concerns.