Tory bid to return to Oxford

The Tories' last councillor in Oxford has resigned

By Jackie Storer BBC News Online political staff

You have to hand it to him, Graham Jones is an optimist.

But with the Tories' record on Oxford City Council - they have no councillors - he has little choice.

I think we have got a fight on our hands

Graham Jones
Conservatives

The party's one remaining councillor resigned recently after moving to Wales - so the only way is up.

The Tories are only fielding 35 candidates for Oxford's 48 wards. "We are not just putting people in some areas knowing that they haven't got any chance," Mr Jones insists.

Critical opponent

The business adviser, the party's former leader in Oxford, was a councillor until 1996 when the Tories were wiped out from the city.

"The electors were obviously not happy with Mr Major's government," he says, ruefully.

The 55-year-old admits: "I think we have got a fight on our hands.

"Clearly the Liberal Democrats have been very successful in areas where we used to have councillors right across the city, but as far as we can see, their performance is appalling.

"They have lost money on contracts. They have had to get rid of members of staff on a voluntary basis."

Oxford has been called the city of lost causes - everything is falling down

Graham Jones
Conservatives

But Mr Jones believes his party could establish "a strong presence" on 2 May.

BBC News Online met Mr Jones and Frank Bland, 67, who is also standing outside the city's ice rink.

It is an ugly grey building that looks as though design was the last thing on its architect's mind.

Mr Jones claims it is representative of many of the city's facilities, which he says have been left to wrack and ruin.

'Down and out'

"Oxford has been called the city of lost causes - everything is falling down.

"The Audit Commission has reported them as one of the worst local authorities at district level in the country.

"The ice rink has become very dilapidated. It is at the point of closing the shop and the bar inside.

Some people say they just don't go into the city any longer

Graham Jones
Conservatives

"Oxford is a city with an international reputation and yet it is getting run down.

"There is graffiti. Visitors have a declining number of toilets to use. The streets need to be kept cleaner. It has got a down and out look," he says.

"We want to turn this around and to do this we need to work with the private sector.

Car 'ban'

"For instance, with the ice rink, we need to say to the private sector: 'It has been a brilliant facility for young people, how would you be interested?'"

Mr Jones says his party is also concerned about the impact of the Oxford Transport Strategy (OTS), which encourages cars away from the city.

"OTS has made it difficult for businesses to do business. It has been difficult for shoppers doing serious shops or people calling in on their way to a business matter.

I can't say that Conservatives in the past have always been honest

Graham Jones
Conservatives

"The parking is probably the most expensive outside London.

"OTS is affecting deliveries. They have to take circuitous routes across the city.

"If people are buying expensive things, they are not wanting to necessarily travel with them on a bus.

"Some people say they just don't go into the city any longer. They go out to Milton Keynes, Cheltenham, High Wycombe and in many cases it can be faster.

"You can't say 'you can't use your car, you must use a bus', which is what the Greens and Liberal Democrats have been saying."

Mr Jones said his party believed the city council could run its housing stock more effectively. "Tenants become very frustrated because of the delays in moving into houses," he said.

"We could bring in a far more dynamic system for transfers."

'Compassionate'

The Tories also believe there should be a link road to the A40 with a shuttle bus taking people to the city's John Radcliffe Hospital, which would ease traffic in the Headington areas.

"We are also concerned about the suburban shopping centres like Headington and Cowley and Summertown," he said.

"We are saying that we want to be pro-active working with businesses in those areas."

The Tories say they want to protect the green belt and the conservation areas, like the Oxford canal corridor.

They also want to be seen as compassionate and fighting for people's needs.

"We are pragmatic and we have to be honest," said Mr Jones.

"I can't say that Conservatives in the past have always been honest. I think the electorate has been fed up with spin."