Meeting held on pedestrian plans

Plans to pedestrianise Oxford city centre could be in place by 2010

The first public consultation has been held over plans to pedestrianise Oxford city centre.

The meeting took place in Littlemore where the plans were presented by Ian Hudspeth, county cabinet member for transport.

Mr Hudspeth took questions from the public and pledged to listen to any concerns raised on the issues.

The plans aim to pedestrianise Queen Street, George Street and Magdalen Street by 2010.

The main concerns raised in the public meeting were about the future of Oxford's buses in the city centre.

Under the plans bus routes would be diverted, pavements widened and the road landscaped.

The work would start this summer with the removal of the bus stops along Queen Street.

Mr Hudspeth said that the council would work with the bus companies to ensure bus routes were not lost.

"We're very proud of our bus usage in Oxfordshire, but is there a better way of doing it, whilst making it so everyone can have a more pleasant centre of Oxford?" he said.

Funding of up to £1.2m has already been allocated, but Mr Hudspeth was unable to say how much the full scheme would cost.