A Green candidate in the local elections has come up with a new vote-winning strategy -- putting speed humps on Oxford's Botley Road.

In the run-up to tomorrow's local elections, the Green group, which currently runs the city council with the Liberal Democrats, is promising a series of measures to reduce traffic in the city centre.

One of the most controversial is the proposal to install speed cushions on Botley Road, and a series of narrowings on one of the major routes into Oxford.

Sushila Dhall, Green candidate in the Jericho and Osney ward, said in her campaign leaflet: "Drivers into the city would be encouraged on to buses, and those driving through would be encouraged to go by ring road."

Ms Dhall is being backed by Green city councillors, who believe the scheme could be extended to other major routes in Oxford, including Abingdon Road and Donnington Bridge Road. Cllr Deborah Glass said: "There has clearly been an increase in the number of cars using the Botley and Abingdon Roads and we need to give drivers as much disincentive as possible.

I am not sure that the county council will have the stomach for these proposals but we will continue to lobby them through the Oxford Transport Strategy Working Party."

However, Labour councillor Susanna Pressel, who represents West ward, which includes Botley Road, said: "There are speed cameras on both the Botley and Abingdon Roads, which prevent traffic from going any faster than 30mph, and this makes the idea of speed humps redundant.

"The Labour group would like to see an improvement to the park-and-rides, and fewer private parking spaces in the city centre.

"Road narrowings in Botley Road would make life more difficult for the bus companies and we want strategies which help public transport, not harm it."

Liberal Democrat councillor Jean Fooks, also a county councillor, said: "I am amazed at this proposal. Botley Road should not be more of an obstacle than it already is. The use of speed cameras should be enough." Graham Jones, Conservative candidate for Wolvercote ward, said: "I think this is a ridiculous idea. Businesses will throw their hands up in horror. Botley Road is so congested most of the time that speed humps are simply not necessary."