A PROPOSAL to bring buses back to Cornmarket has been condemned as a 'retrograde' step by Oxford City Council leader Bob Price.

Buses were removed from Cornmarket Street when it was pedestrianised in 1999 as part of the Oxford Transport Strategy and Mr Price said their return could make the shopping street almost a no-go area for pedestrians.

Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth has revealed buses could be allowed back in to Cornmarket if Queen Street is pedestrianised on a permanent basis before the new Westgate Centre opens in October 2017.

Mr Price said: "This goes against all our principles and is not something we are happy about – it would be a retrograde step.

"The volume of pedestrians is so great in Cornmarket that I think it would be extremely dangerous and massively increase pollution levels.

"There has been a move towards more cafes and restaurants with tables on the streets and that would become much less likely in Cornmarket.

"Frankly I think this would be a backward step – we should be looking at more pedestrianisation and this would not help the image of the city or pollution levels.

"Cornmarket Street would not quite be a no-go area for pedestrians but it would pretty much be so and it would direct more people towards Westgate, which wouldn't be so good for the balance of the city centre."

But Mr Price said the city council could not prevent the county council from going ahead with the proposal, as it is the highways authority.

Hugh Jaeger, of the Oxford branch of Bus Users UK, said: "If there are fewer buses in Queen Street there is a strong case for some buses in Cornmarket, where we have not seen a lot of pavement cafes.

"When Queen Street was partly pedestrianised in 2009 about five bus stops were removed and this significantly increased walking distances for many bus passengers.

"Connecting up the city is very important and allowing a limited number buses back into Cornmarket could be play an important role in that."

It is understood there could be as many as 12 buses in each direction per hour in Cornmarket.

Graham Jones, of traders' group ROX - Backing Oxford Businesses - said: "There needs to be an open review of this proposal.

"Some of our members can see the sense in putting buses back in Cornmarket because it will improve connectivity for passengers making a trip, for example, from Summertown to Iffley Road.

"It would also help to keep Cornmarket, George Street, Broad Street and High Street alive."

Some shoppers were in favour of buses going back to Cornmarket while others were not.

Angela Arnold commented on the Oxford Mail website and said: "Not sure using Cornmarket is the answer but there does need to be a way for people – elderly, disabled included – from the north getting to buses across Oxford."

County council spokesman Paul Smith said if buses returning to Cornmarket became a 'formal' proposal then it would consult widely on the issue, including with the city council.

Oxford Bus Company spokesman Andy Morison said: "We're delighted to hear that the county council has shown willingness to consider trialling buses in Cornmarket.

"City centre bus priority rules need to be reviewed in the context of the new road layout around the Westgate Centre."