Business leaders are meeting to discuss how best to oppose six new traffic filters in Oxford.

Oxfordshire County Council is planning to introduce the six new bus gates around the city as a way of reducing congestion, in addition to the one in High Street.

The six new filters are not due to be installed until after Network Rail work in Botley Road is concluded in October 2024.

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Tomorrow morning business leaders will attend a meeting of the Oxford High Street Association at St Edmund Hall college to discuss trade in the city.

The new traffic filters and the Botley Road closure are high on the agenda for the association, which is led by hotelier Jeremy Mogford.

In September Mr Mogford, who owns the Old Bank Hotel and Quod restaurant in High Street, and the Old Parsonage and Gees in north Oxford, called for a new 'task force' to hold talks on alternatives to the new traffic filters - otherwise known as bus gates - as he believes they would be harmful to businesses.

Oxford Mail: Hotelier Jeremy MogfordHe offered to put together a "special task force made up of responsible Oxford citizens, business-people and experts, who will look at traffic build-up hot spots throughout the city".

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Mr Mogford said today: "Our group remains implacably opposed to the new traffic filters and in a way we are disappointed that they are still on the agenda.

"We see the Botley Road closure as a dress rehearsal for traffic filters when six roads will be closed.

"I do hope we can avoid taking this matter to a judicial review."

Mr Mogford said the association's members were also opposed to the LTNs in east Oxford, adding that the 'sweeping policy' had failed.

"The effect on businesses and culture in the city is quantifiable," he added.

"We have businesses in the Cowley Road area changing hands and suffering."

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Graham Jones, who heads up the business group ROX - Backing Oxford Businesses, said ROX was also opposed to the introduction of new traffic filters.

He said: "We think it is going to be very expensive and very bureaucratic as people will have to apply for permits, for exemptions to travel through the filters.

Oxford Mail: The six new traffic filters"Some people will just want to drive across the city to see sick relatives and will have to apply for a permit - it's sheer nonsense.

"It's all being planned from a desktop and it's just unrealistic.

"There is support from ROX and Oxford Business Action Group for seeking a judicial review on traffic filters."

Mr Jones added that he was concerned that some Christmas shoppers would choose to go elsewhere because of the Botley Road closure.

"If the traffic filters are introduced immediately after the Network Rail work in Botley Road is completed in October 2024 then traders will be hit two years running," he added.

In September Duncan Enright, then Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for travel and development strategy said the council was happy to continue dialogue with business leaders. Mr Enright is no longer a cabinet member.

Oxford Mail: County councillor Duncan Enright

He added at the time: "We believe the council’s planned measures are the answer to freeing up space in the city centre, cleaning the air we breathe, getting our bus services moving and making walking and cycling the natural first choice.

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“Our specialist officers have met recently with the Oxford Business Action Group to discuss concerns about highways and retail and we are very happy to meet again with the group and other businesses to listen, discuss ideas and explain our plans to improve movement around the city.

"We value the vibrant business community in Oxford and are listening to their feedback as we introduce and trial measures to tackle the chronic traffic in the city that affects everybody.”

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.