A BUS company has revealed it could reduce the number of buses in an Oxford street ahead of councillors making a crunch decision on pedestrianisation.

In November it was revealed Queen Street was likely to remain open to buses for at least six months after the Westgate Centre reopens in October, despite concerns over safety from Oxford City Council.

Oxfordshire County Council planning officers had warned against opening the street to buses on safety grounds, but cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith recommended it be kept open on a trial basis – a recommendation which will go before the council’s cabinet tomorrow.

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

Martin Sutton, the managing director of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, said: “We are aware that the question of buses in Queen Street is on the agenda for Oxfordshire cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

“Our view has not changed. Unless Queen Street is kept open to buses there will be serious inconvenience for bus users and worse congestion in St Aldates and High Street as buses are concentrated onto fewer streets.

“We have advised the county council that it will be possible to further reduce the number of buses in Queen Street and that we will take all possible steps to make Queen Street as safe as possible and for buses and pedestrians to live together quite happily.

Cabinet members will make a decision on Mr Nimmo Smith’s recommendations that Queen Street remains open as it was before the Westgate development with, a review to be held six months on from the centre’s reopening.

City council executive director David Edwards previously 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.”