COUNCIL bosses have raised safety concerns over the re-opening of Queen Street and said it must ‘sit and wait’ on the future of its £2m pedestrianisation scheme.

Oxford City Council want a complete ban on buses using the city centre street once the Westgate centre opens in October next year.

But its proposed £2m scheme, which would include the redesign of Bonn Square and Carfax, hinges on a county council decision later this month.

Planning officers had warned against opening the street to buses on safety grounds but county council member of transport David Nimmo Smith recommended it be kept open on a trial basis - a recommendation which will go to cabinet on December 20.

His U-turn came after comments from Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach - who promised to immediately stop services if safety became an issue.

Buses returned to Queen Street less than two weeks ago and Oxford City Council’s executive director David Edwards said he was already concerned for pedestrians.

thisisoxfordshire:

This was a typically chaotic scene in Queen Street, Oxford, before the pedestrianisation scheme began.

He said: It certainly doesn’t seem safe at the moment, particularly if a pedestrian got stuck between the hoardings of the development and a bus.”

He added: “With regards to the pedestrianisation scheme we are just going to have to wait and see how this one plays out - there’s nothing else we can do.

“The bus companies have been involved since the start, as have we, in discussions about Westgate and Queen Street with the county council.

“But it seems a decision still hasn’t quite been made.”

thisisoxfordshire:

How it will look when the new Westgate is finished 

Last month Oxford City Council pledged £500,000 towards the £2m scheme of improvement to make the area more pedestrian-friendly.

Council member for planning and transport Alex Hollingsworth said that this money would only be spent if pedestrianisation was permanent.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “The county council’s Cabinet will therefore consider this matter on December 20.”

Cornmarket to see return of buses? 

thisisoxfordshire:

The street in could be reopened to buses for the first time in more than 17 years, council chiefs revealed.