PLANS to pedestrianise some of Oxford’s busiest shopping streets have stalled.

Oxfordshire County Council had hoped a number of streets would be pedestrianised by 2014, with Queen Street first in line.

But the plan, part of the council’s Transform Oxford project, has been put on hold.

County Hall has admitted that although the scheme “remains on its radar” it is unlikely to be implemented in the next decade.

The Queen Street work is included in the council’s new Local Transport Plan, along with improvements in George Street, Magdalen Street, St Giles, Broad Street and Castle Street.

But council spokesman Paul Smith said: “Due to funding issues, such improvements are unlikely to happen in the short to medium term.

“However, the aims and aspirations of Transform Oxford remain important and firmly lodged in the council’s thoughts.”

Corrine Grimley Evans, of Oxford Pedestrians’ Association, said she was disappointed.

She added: “We had been promised that the long-term plan was to get all the buses out of Queen Street. It would give security to shoppers. They would not have to worry about buses creeping up behind them.”

The council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, Ian Hudspeth, said financial pressures meant the scheme could not be funded.

But he added: “The aspiration is still there and when funds are available, we will continue with improvements to the city centre.”

Early phases of the £1m project were completed in 2009, with most bus stops moved to St Aldate’s, Castle Street and New Road, while pavements were widened.

At that time, Queen Street was expected to be fully pedestrianised some time this year.

Graham Jones, of city centre business group Rox, said:“Queen Street used to be a nightmare but there has been a big improvement. Compared to the delay to the Westgate Centre redevelopment, this is a minor setback.”

City council leader Bob Price said : “This makes it less likely we can transform the centre into a pedestrian and cycle-friendly environment.”

Philip Kirk, managing director of the Oxford Bus Company, said: “The movement of the stops away from Queen Street and the large reduction in the number of vehicles passing through the area has already made a big difference.”

The council has ruled out the use of congestion charging in Oxfordshire, despite admitting it has little money to fund alternatives way to reduce traffic.

Oxfordshire County Council’s new Local Transport Plan will be finalised next week and will provide the blueprint for policies until 2030. Its aim is to tackle congestion, support housing developments and encourage inward investment to the county.

But due to Government cuts, only a small proportion of projects will get funding.

And major plans – including a redesign of Frideswide Square in Oxford and a so-called ‘long-range’ park and ride site at Witney – are on hold, although the council does have enough money available for design work at Frideswide Square. Both projects are regarded as pivotal to tackling Oxford’s chronic congestion.

The council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, Ian Hudspeth, said future funding would hinge on the country’s economic revival. He added: “If we don’t have these aspirations, then when the funding opportunities come along, we will not be able to plug into them.”

Projects costing £40m will go ahead in the next five years.

They include the £2.5m resurfacing of Iffley Road in Oxford, the Cogges Link Road in Witney, a facelift for Didcot Parkway rail station’s forecourt and improvements to the Oxford ring road junctions at Abingdon Road and Hinksey Hill.