Ocva



The National Pensioners’ Convention is the largest UK campaigning group of pensioners

Secretary John Paine tel: 01865 513103 john.paine@

Flat 19 Charles Ponsonby House, Osberton Road, OXFORD OX2 7PQ

Revised update on bus ban in Queen Street, Oxford

1. You will probably be aware that a number of bodies raised concerns at the proposal by Oxfordshire County Council to ban buses from running west to east along Queen Street.

Instead, major alterations to bus routes, including terminating some a long way from the

central Carfax axis, were part of the County Council wider proposals. We ran a high-profile

public campaign expressing concerns on the impact on older people also others with mobility

problems. That campaign generated lively comments from others. We were also one of a number of bodies, including the bus companies, which voiced concerns and objections,

in that public consultation on this scheme. We also spoke at the OCC Cabinet meeting on

19 July, but the decision to approve the scheme was made by the County Councillors.

2. Exact locations of all bus stops were omitted from the CC information on the scheme. The

bus companies declared that it required longer bus journey times, an extra 149,000 bus

miles and heavier pollution and congestion in St. Aldates. We have given information to

Phil Southall, of Oxford Bus Company, in support of their action. The scheme involves

Temporary Traffic Management Orders and because of the bus companies’ objections

OCC had to refer the matter to the Secretary of State for Transport. The Transport Secretary

has to decide whether to agree the TMOs. OCC is now awaiting that decision.

3. The scheme approved as an 18-month experiment by Councillors has many flaws. Several

bus services from west Oxford will be turned round at Worcester Street, with a new city-

centre terminus bus stop at Park End Street. Queen Street will become solely a pedestrian

street access to the new Westgate Shopping Centre. Other buses will deliver passengers to

a new central terminus stop at the Oxpens end of the new Westgate shopping centre. Many people wishing to get to various central shopping streets such as Queen Street, High Street, Carfax, George Street, Broad Street, will then face a long walk up hill from those new

terminus stops. This will be particularly difficult for people with mobility problems.

4. At the 19 July Cabinet meeting the CC proposed an experimental ban on buses in Queen

Street for 18 months, with a review after 6 months. This period would start at the opening

date of the Westgate Shopping Centre in October 2017. We verbally suggested at that 19

July meeting that the CC change its option to a 6-month initial period running with buses

in Queen Street. That suggestion was not accepted.

5. The County Council meeting on 12 September will receive a report on this from its Cabinet meeting of 19 July. Meanwhile until the Secretary of State has ruled on the matter OCC

may not be able to implement the proposed bus ban. Cllr. Yvonne Constance now holds the

brief for transport and environment matters within the CC Cabinet. Unfortunately, she was absent on 19 July and did not hear the presentations and concerns made. We are asking interested groups to join us in seeking an information-sharing meeting with Cllr. Constance.

John Paine 8 September 2017

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Campaigning

Oxfordshire Pensioners

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