Plans to improve bus services and refurbish Oxford's historic High Street will be hit, along with road safety programmes.
Two of Oxford University's most prestigious colleges have called for an end to the "vandalism" of the historic High Street by transport planners (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2191475.0.university_colleges_fight_bus_stops_plan.phpAll Souls and University colleges claim one of Europe's most beautiful streets is being ruined by pollution, noise and clutter, resulting from "ill-thought out" bus policies.
The attack was prompted by news that Oxfordshire County Council wants to put more bus stops in the street.
But the colleges said more buses would spoil views of the medieval college buildings, while condemning students to endure "24-hour-a-day bus noise and air pollution".
All Souls' bursar Thomas Seaman said the effect of two bus stops in front of the college's main entrance was "too appalling to contemplate".
University College domestic bursar Elizabeth Crawford said:
"Increased numbers of bus stops will inevitably mean more buses.
"You may be interested to know that pollution levels in Oxford feature in questions on A-Level geography papers, because they are so closely comparable to those in Mexico City and Beijing.
"The High Street has already become a sorry sight in terms of signage, street furniture and street layout, and your proposal will simply make it into a bus station."
Graham Jones, of the Oxford High Street Business Association, said businesses were upset the council seemed bent on pushing through its plans without sufficient consultation.
But Ian Hudspeth, the council's cabinet member for transport, said:
"The proposals were sent out to colleges and businesses to get some feedback from them and see whether they agree.
"It's important to highlight that we want to work with them, not against them."
