Road users and pedestrians are desperate to pin down county planners and find out the extent of radical proposals to pedestrianise large swathes of Oxford city centre.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Transform Oxford plans are set to start during the summer in Queen Street, although no one knows exactly when or how much the project will cost.

The relocation of bus stops, provision for disabled drivers and a new bus interchange have worried people affected by the plans.

The scheme would see large chunks of the city centre — including Queen Street, Magdalen Street and part of George Street — ripped up and pedestrianised by 2011.

The number of buses in the city centre would be reduced.

They would possibly be replaced with larger shuttle buses from a new bus interchange.

But user groups say they think there has been a lack of detail released and so the Oxford Mail put their concerns and questions to county transport chief Ian Hudspeth to answer.

He said the move would attract more people into the city centre and encourage them to stay for longer, benefiting the economy.

Mr Hudspeth stressed Transform Oxford was a vision and more details would emerge later.

He said: “This is a vision for improving the centre of Oxford and we are building up the full plan and listening to people at the moment.

“I do think generally there is a lot of support. People like it.”

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “We are fully supportive of the view the city centre should be made more pedestrian-friendly.

“But we find it very frustrating the county council has been so reluctant to provide more details about the scheme.”

Mr Hudspeth said a final cost for Transform Oxford would be determined following a consultation period.

Paul Cullen, chairman of the Oxford Pedestrians’ Association, said: “We are very much behind the overall proposal, but there is a lot of detail that needs to be thrashed out. For example, the consultation document talks about pedestrianisation but it doesn’t really talk about what that means. In some places access for loading to business may mean you can’t have a 100 per cent vehicle-free street.”

Mr Hudspeth said: “We are listening to people and we are taking on board their views to ensure we get the best for Oxford.”

Ben Lloyd, senior director of 200-year-old auction house Mallams in St Michael’s Street, said he feared he may be forced to move if customers could not collect furniture from the doors of his business.

He said: “If George Street was completely pedestrianised with no vehicular access from 10am to 6pm — similar to Cornmarket at the moment — quite simply we would have to move.

“There is no way we could run our business on those lines. It is essential to have vehicular access day-to-day.

“If not we would have to completely rethink our business practise.

“I really can’t see how that could work.”

Mr Hudspeth said: “We will talk to all businesses and look at their concerns and see whether there would be an ability, similar to Cornmarket Street, where there are deliveries at certain times.”

Noam Bleicher has been a campaigner for bus users in Oxford for six years.

Mr Bleicher said he feared passengers travelling from the east of the city would be worse off if a bus station was created at The Plain.

He added: “It would be nowhere near as convenient as having a direct service into the city. It may cost more, it will certainly take longer and it is less convenient.”

Mr Hudspeth said the plan to create a bus interchange at The Plain was an option being considered, but was not definitely going to happen.

David Clinkard has been a taxi driver in Oxford for nearly 30 years. He is self-employed.

Mr Clinkard said: “I don’t think it’s going to improve anything at all. If they are going to use Beaumont Street from the north it’s going to be a no-go. I think it will make it more awkward for the elderly and disabled.

“It will mean more and more people stay away from Oxford. I just hope they have got it right.”

Alan Woodward, secretary of City of Oxford Licensed Taxi Cab Association, declined to comment ahead of two meetings he has organised with the county council.

Mr Hudspeth said: “The taxi rank will still be there — it is not the whole of George Street that is being pedestrianised. I can understand their concerns. But the whole issue of the vision is to improve the city centre of Oxford, to make it a better destination to come and visit.”

Martin Sutton, managing director of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, said: “We are generally very supportive of the vision and the objectives in terms of trying to make the city centre as attractive as possible.

“However, there are an awful lot of people who access Oxford city centre by bus.

“It is absolutely vital for people to be able to get to where they want to go in the city centre as conveniently as possible.

“One of the big issues is the suggestion there should be a bus interchange at The Plain.

“If that were to happen it would switch people off in a big way.”

Philip Kirk, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, was unavailable for interview, but released a short statement.

It read: “We are engaged in very useful discussions with the county council. We understand the objectives they have and they have acknowledged our concerns about the importance of an attractive bus network to the continued economic viability of Oxford.”

Mr Hudspeth said: “We are working with the bus companies to ensure we get it right before anything is implemented.

“I take on board his comments about The Plain. That is one option. It is not a certainty.”

James Styring, chairman of campaign group Cyclox, backed plans to close Queen Street, Magadalen Street and George Street to traffic — but said he wanted the county council to ensure cyclists could use all city centre streets under the new plans. He also called for an end to the daytime ban of cyclists through Queen Street.

Mr Styring said: “It’s exciting a pedestrian-friendly vision for Oxford is at long last emerging.

“But Transform Oxford must not present barriers to the 20,000 plus cyclists without whom Oxford’s transport network would collapse.”

Mr Hudspeth said: “I have an on-going dialogue with Cyclox and I’m taking their views. All groups will be taken into consideration. It might be there is some shared space in locations.”

Gwyn Huish, chairman of Transport For All, said his members were concerned about the relocation of Queen Street bus stops and disabled parking spaces.

Mr Huish said: “The county council said it wants access for all, but we are not convinced they have considered disabled or disadvantaged people.

“I was talking to one woman, a scooter user, who is very concerned that Oxford could become a no go area for her. There is also a lot of concern about moving the bus stops out of Queen Street. There is no real detail about where the bus stops may go to. The proposals don’t appear to have been totally thought out.”

Mr Hudspeth said: “There is no motion to reduce the number of disabled parking spaces.” But he could not confirm where the spaces would be relocated to.

“Mothers with buggies in Queen Street and people with wheelchairs will prefer pedestrianisation because it will make it more comfortable for people with disabilites to get around.”