6:10am Saturday 18th July 2009
By Chris Walker
THE first phase of Oxfordshire County Council’s plans to pedestrianise large swathes of the city centre is due to start tomorrow.
County Hall’s decision to remove all bus stops from Queen Street in Oxford city centre means thousands of bus passengers will have to get used to new stops in the city centre.
In total, 24 bus stops have been relocated, meaning changes for passengers on 57 different routes as part of the £985,000 first phase of Transform Oxford.
The council said it had launched a widespread campaign to inform passengers about the changes.
Over the past week, eight council officers have been out in the city talking to passengers. A total of 32,000 flyers have been handed out to commuters and bus companies.
The scheme has not been popular with pensioners and passengers with mobility problems who are concerned about walking longer distances.
Sarah Lasenby, 71, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, said she would have to walk an extra 120 metres when the number 15 bus moves from St Aldate’s to Castle Street.
She said: “This is going to affect me seriously.
“I find walking 10 minutes to a bus stop exhausting enough, but I will get older and it will get worse.
“All disabled people need to have the best access they can to public transport.
“What is the point of having kneeling buses if we cannot reach the bus stop because of the distance?”
Margaret Simpson, the chairman of Oxford City Pensioner’s Action Forum, said: “There are a great deal of people concerned about this.
“A number of pensioners are saying they are going to find it very difficult and they’re possibly going to be looking for alternative places to go and shop.
“We will only know in time if people are vacating Oxford.”
A new zebra crossing has also been constructed on the corner of Castle Street, replacing a pedestrian controlled puffin crossing nearby, outside County Hall in New Road.
Now the seven bus stops have been removed in Queen Street, a new paving scheme will be laid and finished by the autumn.
In future years, the council intends to fully pedestrianise George Street, Magdalen Street and Queen Street.
Ian Hudspeth, the county council’s cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: “It is exciting to see Transform Oxford get under way.
“We have been actively providing a great deal of assistance to bus users and others.
“People will have seen our officers on Queen Street handing out leaflets and information.
“We have also been in touch with major employers and schools in the area.
“It is important they understand why we are making these changes as much as where their new bus stops will be.
“The project is due to be complete in the autumn and I look forward to seeing a brighter and more pedestrian-friendly Queen Street at that stage.”
cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/trade_directory/