PLANS to install new bus gates in Oxford have been supported by residents and organisations in the city.

It comes after Oxford City Council carried out a survey of its residents panel between July 10 and July 26.

It asked to what extent the panel supports measures to update transport measures in the city centre.

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Eighty per cent support restricting private cars during the daytime to allow space for cyclists, pedestrians, buses and access to city centre car parking.

The survey found that 80 per cent of residents who travelled to the city arrived by walking, cycling, or taking the bus and that just 10 per cent of residents who travelled into the city used a car.

Oxford Mail:

File photo of smooth-flowing traffic on Oxford High Street. Picture: Ric Mellis

Tackling congestion in the city centre has been a problem for some time and includes the controversial closure of Walton Street.

The saga came to a head on Thursday when Yvonne Constance, county council cabinet member for the environment, refused to follow recommendations to lift the closure on August 17.

Instead, the council will now focus on creating a Low Traffic Neighbourhood for Jericho and Walton Manor.

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It also plans to install a temporary bus gate next month in the Worcester Street/Beaumont Street area, restricting through traffic through the Walton Manor/Jericho area.

In total, 199 people on the residents panel responded to the latest survey which asked a variety of questions about shopping and travel habits and transport measures in the city.

It also found that 80 per cent of residents support removing day-time loading bays in shopping areas to create wider cycle lanes.

Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire Association for the Blind, Pedal & Post, and Oxford University Student Union support transport measures such as bus gates in the city.

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Tom Hayes, Oxford City Council deputy leader and cabinet member for green transport and zero carbon Oxford said: “Oxford’s narrow medieval streets are routinely clogged up with stop-go traffic, with vehicles cutting through, using the city centre as a permanent rat run.

"A survey in 2017 showed that 70 per cent of shoppers to Oxford would come by bus and park & ride, whereas less than 10 per cent would come by car.

Oxford Mail:

A pedestrian crosses the road on Worcester Street. Picture: Ed Nix

"It’s promising to hear the full weight of Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Student Union, businesses, charities, and the residents panel being thrown behind the proposal for two temporary bus gates to cut congestion and protect our economy and jobs."

The council wants to install two temporary bus gates for the city centre on Hythe Bridge Street or Worcester Street, between Frideswide Square and Beaumont Street and on St Cross Road or South Parks Road, between Parks Road and Manor Road.

A survey about this proposal is available online for residents to complete and find out more information.