REPAIRS to a central Oxford shopping street will mean diversions for buses that run through the city for the foreseeable future.

Contractors working for the Westgate shopping centre will be repairing Queen Street from next Monday, September 21.

The workers are making repairs to the pedestrianised street after an inspection by Oxfordshire County Council found that 'improvements would have to be made'.

The contract workers from building firm Laing O'Rourke will be carrying out the work ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

But the works will mean that buses which usually make Queen Street part of their route are having to divert.

The alternative routes will be published by Stagecoach, the Oxford Bus Company, and other operators on their own websites (See: oxfordbus.co.uk and stagecoachbus.com)

Three services operated by Oxford Bus Company will be diverted.

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The city3/3A and city8/9 services travelling towards Oxford City Centre will terminate their journeys at the Speedwell Street S1 stop; While city3/3A and city8/9 services travelling towards Iffley Road and Headington will begin their journeys at the Turl Street stop T2 in place of their ordinary Westgate stop.

The city35 services travelling towards Abingdon will be unable to serve the St Aldates H2 stop. Passengers are advised to use the Speedwell Street stop as an alternative.

While the council has predicted the work will take six weeks to carry out, Oxford Bus Company's website said Queen Street will be closed 'until further notice'.

There is no cost to the council taxpayer for the repairs as they are the responsibility of contractors Laing O’Rourke on behalf of the Westgate.

Pedestrians will still be able to use the road through repairs, as will cyclists after 6pm.

Cyclists are meant to dismount along Queen Street between 10am and 6pm.