Plans to give citizens a say on controversial traffic measures have been slammed as coming from a "terrified" party which is "pretending it cares".

Labour county councillor Charlie Hicks has put forward the motion calling for a Citizens' Panel which would provide feedback to the council on an upcoming traffic filters trial.

The £6.5m experiment will use six traffic filters to stop most drivers in Oxford from using busy city routes at peak times and it is planned to begin in Autumn this year.

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Conservative opposition councillor Liam Walker said: “I think councillor Hicks must be feeling dizzy from the fumes caused by the LTNs he supported in Oxford.

Oxford Mail: Liam Walker.Liam Walker. (Image: West Oxfordshire District Council.)

"This motion is nothing more than a terrified Labour Party ahead of city council elections now trying to pretend they care.

"Whilst propping up the Lib Dems and Greens in coalition, Labour were happy to ignore the views of residents and support the anti-motorist agenda but now they’ve quit the coalition they think the council needs to do more to listen to residents views - you can’t make it up.

"Voters won’t be fooled by this motion.”

The traffic filters, which are to be implemented using automatic number plate recognition cameras, will aim to "reduce traffic across the city" and "make it easier to get around".

Some have expressed concern over the impact the trial will have on businesses amid criticism low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are also making it more difficult to get around.

Oxford Mail: Traffic in Oxford.Traffic in Oxford. (Image: Oxford Mail)

Mr Hicks said: "When making changes to the transport system to make it greener and healthier, the public wants those changes to be fair.

"Right now, people feel that decisions on transport are being made to them rather than with them. 

"This proposal for a Citizens' Panel on the Oxford traffic filters is seeking to change this.

"It's about having the public in the decision-making room alongside the politicians, and shifting power from the politicians to the public."

When asked who would make up the panel, the Cowley division Labour councillor said it would be "people locally from all walks of life, with all range of views" picked by an independent body separate to the council.

Oxford Mail: A sign previously put up indicating electric work due to start towards the trial.A sign previously put up indicating electric work due to start towards the trial. (Image: Noor Qurashi.)

Independent county councillor Damian Haywood has said he will be voting with the motion as it "can only be a positive step towards improving representative democracy in our city".

Green county councillor Pete Sudbury, deputy leader of the council with responsibility for climate change, added: "The Citizen's Panel was adopted as council policy at the budget meeting, and we are thus committed to bring it forward at an appropriate time."