BUS passengers in Oxford face a disruptive overhaul of services after transport officials backed plans to close Queen Street to traffic.

Company chiefs say they are "deeply concerned" the change will increase journey times and worsen congestion, particularly in St Aldate's, Castle Street and High Street.

They called on Oxfordshire County Council to present a "credible" solution after claiming the decision to pedestrianise Queen Street was "not based on evidence".

Top councillors backed the change last week in response to concerns buses would endanger thousands of extra shoppers expected in the street when the Westgate Shopping Centre reopens in October.

This overruled an earlier decision by David Nimmo Smith, the cabinet member for transport, who planned to keep Queen Street open on a trial basis.

Bus chiefs said they were "extremely disappointed" by the U-turn.

Oxford Bus Company managing director Phil Southall said: "The closure of Queen Street will require a complete overhaul of our bus services.

"Alternative routes will involve a mix of services stopping short of their current terminal point, being extended into streets that they don't need to serve or using alternative streets to terminate in.

"We are also deeply concerned about additional traffic in other busy city centre streets which will exacerbate the existing traffic situation and make buses less attractive in general if the county council cannot come up with the credible alternative that we have always asked for."

Westgate Oxford Alliance development manager Sara Fuge told councillors that allowing buses to continue using the route when the shopping centre reopened would be ‘dangerous’.

She added: "It is not a pleasant space to move through, especially considering you have 100 per cent shops on both sides.

"The worst thing to happen would be an accident."

But Mr Southall and Stagecoach Oxfordshire managing director Martin Sutton accused developers and the council of "over-sensationalising" safety fears.

They insisted the £2m pedestrianisation scheme could not work unless an alternative area for buses to turn is provided.

This would have been provided at the junction of New Road and Worcester Street under original plans, but an objection from landowner Nuffield College means it cannot be delivered in time.

During last week's cabinet meeting, council officers said footfall in Queen Street was expected to rise by 80 to 145 per cent when Westgate reopened.

This amounted to at least 7,300 pedestrians per hour, acting director for environment and economy Bev Hindle said.

He added: "It is uncertain how successfully buses can mix with that."

Meanwhile, heritage groups, two colleges and the High Street Business Association have also criticised the proposal and called for a new strategy for the city centre.

Oxford High Street Business Association spokesman Graham Jones warned closing Queen Street to buses was a "grave mistake" and would see companies "cramming more buses" into neighbouring St Aldate’s and High Street.

Pembroke College domestic bursar Mike Naworynsky added: "There has been a dramatic increase in the number of buses.

"The impact on pedestrians and cyclists has been frightening at times."

Detailed plans for Queen Street’s closure are due next year, with a county council spokesman saying they would "address concerns raised regarding St Aldates and the High Street... as well as consideration of turning arrangements during the experimental order".

Approval from the Government for any change would be needed, the spokesman added.