ALMOST a million passenger journeys in Oxford were disrupted by a set of roadworks last year, a bus firm boss has said.

Oxford Bus Company also revealed the Kennington roadworks from July to December cost the company “a significant six-figure sum”.

And a bus users’ group has warned the delays could lead to job losses and a rise in pollution as more roadworks were due to start today.

Oxford Bus Users warned more roadworks in the coming months would be “equally disruptive” and echoed concerns about the impact on the city’s economy.

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Seventeen weeks of work on The Plain roundabout in East Oxford were set to start today.

The work will lead to part of Cowley Road being closed as well as lane closures on Iffley Road and St Clement’s Street.

Demolition of the Westgate centre will begin later this month, along with more work on London Road, Headington, that starts on Monday, January 26, and runs until Friday, April 24.

Work is set to start on phase two of the Frideswide Square redevelopment in February.

Phil Southall, managing director of Oxford Bus Company – one of three bus firms operating in the city – said: “Nearly a million passenger journeys were badly affected by the Hinksey Hill roadworks alone.

“Passenger numbers were down significantly on most routes; one service in particular saw an eight per cent drop in passengers at a time when bus use had been steadily rising.

“We are still recovering from the disruption caused by the Kennington roadworks, which had a dramatic impact on our services.

“For commercial reasons we are unable to give precise details but we can say that the first set of roadworks cost us a significant six-figure sum.

“The next phase in the New Year will be equally disruptive.

“The disruption will continue to have a major impact on businesses in the city centre.

“We realise that these roadworks have to be done but we just want everyone to be aware of the impact they are having on the viability of our services and the economy of the city.”

Mr Southall also said the company had to meet a large overtime bill for drivers who had been forced to work longer to complete journeys.

Services from Abingdon to Oxford were regularly disrupted by up to an hour during the Kennington works.

But Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith defended the timing of the works.

He said: “If we do not do this work there will be more and more traffic in 20 years, which means we will get more and more congestion.

“The work in Kennington has reduced congestion at that junction by 30 per cent.

“It is short-term pain for long-term gain.

“We will continue to do what we do and talk to the bus companies about the roadworks and the disruption and how best to get people in and out of Oxford.”

Chairman of Oxford Bus Users, Hugh Jaeger, said: “What concerns me is that unreliability caused by roadworks might start to cost the bus companies passengers.

“People grumble about a fare rise but they will pay it.

“On the other hand people will desert unreliable buses and they will push themselves to afford a car or will lose their jobs because they cannot travel.

“There will be an environmental impact.

“Some people have no choice about how to travel into Oxford but other people do and if they cannot get into Oxford they might go somewhere else.

“There is potentially an economic cost to all of Oxford.”

Businesses in the city said the disruption caused by roadworks had a direct impact on their trade.

Cowley Road trader Clinton Pugh owns Cafe Coco, Kazbah and Cafe Tarifa.

He said: “This is bound to have a bad effect on businesses in the area.

“We had a recession, then the St Clement’s car park being closed and now this. Traders are tired of struggling and can’t just rely on the local community.”

Bus timetables changed for programme of upgrades.

CHANGES to bus timetables due to roadworks in the city came into effect yesterday.

Oxford Bus Company’s city3, city5, city8 and city9 services and Stagecoach services 1, 3 and 8 have been affected.

Changes have also been made to the timetable of the 800 and 900 Headington Connect services operated by Stagecoach.

The changes come as roadworks begin today on The Plain, with work on London Road, Headington, set to start on January 26.

Work on phase two of the Frideswide Square redevelopment, which will see the construction of three roundabouts in the square, is planned for February.

Bus routes 1 and 5, which run from Blackbird Leys to the city centre, will have a revised timetable, with rush-hour buses expected to take longer to complete their journeys.

Route 3 between Rose Hill and the city centre will start and finish at Bonn Square instead of the rail station.

Passengers will be able to change at Speedwell Street and take a bus to the station at no extra cost.

Buses will be less frequent on route 8 between Headington and Barton and there will be minor changes to the route 9 timetable between Headington and the city centre.

There will be minor timetable changes to routes 8 and 9.

For full details, visit oxfordbus.co.uk or stagecoachbus.com

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