THE first phase of plans to pedestrianise Oxford city centre has been met with a mixed reaction from shoppers.

County Hall’s decision to remove all bus stops from Queen Street means thousands of passengers will have to get used to new stops in the city centre.

However, the changes to Queen Street were broadly welcomed by the majority of visitors to the city yesterday.

Mick Saville, 65, a regular bus user from Wolvercote, said: “I think it’s great to get rid of the buses out of the city centre.

“It’s been like walking through a big bus garage on Queen Street for too long.

“It’s nice walking down it without having to look over your shoulder the whole time.

“People complain they’ve got to walk up another road, but they should stop grumbling, it’s good to get exercise.”

Tom McTaggart, 72, of St Thomas’ Street, was out shopping with his wife, Margaret, 69.

He said: “You can see the difference and now you can walk on the pavement without getting stuck behind people queueing up for the buses. It’s definitely a big improvement, there’s a lot less buses going along and it’s less congested.

“I think it will improve trade at the shops in Queen Street now as people can stop and stand around and have a proper look in the shop windows.

“It feels like the space has been brought back into use for pedestrians.”

The £985,000 first phase of Transform Oxford has seen 24 bus stops relocated, meaning changes for passengers on 57 routes.

Despite stops being removed from Queen Street, buses are still driving along the road on city services, but County Hall claims the number of buses using it will be cut by a third. Council officers were in the city yesterday to help passengers with the changes.

However, some shoppers spoke out against the plans and again voiced concerns that the elderly and people with mobility problems will struggle to walk longer distances to bus stops.

Cat Hall, 47, from Barton said: “If the buses are still coming up here, they should be stopping for old people. It’s wrong, this is putting too many people out. It’s too much confusion for too little benefit.”

Shirley Kelly, 74, from Bicester, said: “They don’t think about us pensioners.

“The buses are still flaming well driving up here. It’s ridiculous. Some people will really struggle.”

Now that seven bus stops have been removed from Queen Street a new paving scheme will be laid and finished by the autumn.

In future years the council intends to fully pedestrianise George Street, Magdalen Street and Queen Street.

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk