DAYTIME parking will be banned, road repairs put off and a popular bus stop suspended in Oxford in a last-minute bid to prevent gridlock when the new Westgate Centre opens next month.

Traffic lights could even be temporarily re-installed in Frideswide Square – after a £6.7m 'shared space' redesign removed them in 2015 – in an attempt to cope with the 41,000 shopping trips expected every day to the new John Lewis department store and 125 other shops and restaurants.

And with about a third of shoppers expected to arrive by car, the city will even get a crack team dedicated to spotting and solving traffic crises when they arise.

Oxfordshire County Council has this week revealed the host of quick-fixes it is looking to roll out from opening day on October 24, but one county councillor has already said the measures will not be enough to stop gridlock.

Liberal Democrat John Howson said the Conservative-led authority had still not done enough to prevent gridlock on main routes into Oxford including Abingdon Road, Botley Road and Frideswide Square.

Mr Howson said: "I think there has been a lack of creativity by the county council when it comes to planning how Oxford's roads will cope.

"I don't think the council has properly faced up to the significant increase in shoppers the Westgate will bring.

"We want to avoid a situation like the one on Boxing Day at Bicester Village a few years ago when the roads were jammed up – Christmas at Westgate could cause catastrophic congestion if the right measures are not in place."

The county proposals include:

• A roadworks 'embargo' from October 20 preventing all non-emergency works on 'strategic routes' in and around the city until the new year.

• Suspension of parking on Abingdon Road during the day for the first six days

• Suspension of the bus stop by the Abingdon Road Nisa store to 'aid traffic flows'

• A 'mobile team' on constant standby to help solve traffic problems who will put up temporary traffic lights at Frideswide Square if necessary

• Temporary signs directing people to park-and-rides as the first choice, with more signs nearer the city centre directing drivers to the new 1,000-space Westgate car park.

• Permanent electronic signs detailing where spaces are available, due to be installed 'around the time of opening'.

Fears of traffic chaos have been exacerbated by the fact that a £4m extension of Seacourt Park and Ride car park on Botley Road, which Oxford City Council said would be needed to cope with the 15m visitors expected at the new £440m centre, hasn't even been started.

Last month the Oxford Mail revealed that John Lewis, Primark, Next and other stores have been ordered to appoint a 'travel plan champion' and put together a package of 'nudges' to prompt shoppers and the centre's 3,000 employees to leave their cars at home.

They will be told to give out 'positive messages' that alternatives to cars are quick, convenient and inexpensive, to influence shoppers' behaviour and help roads cope if and when the number of shoppers flocking to the Westgate soars from 5m to 15m each year as predicted.

Mr Howson said one of the major problem areas could be Frideswide Square where congestion could build at rush-hour if buses and other vehicles queued up on the roundabouts.

For this reason he said the county definitely should put up temporary traffic lights during the morning and evening rush-hours.

He also urged Westgate Oxford Alliance to pay for a free shuttle bus transporting shoppers from Oxford station to the Westgate Centre and provide additional electronic parking signs to advise shoppers on the ring road which car parks, including park-and-rides, have free spaces.

He said: "More should be done to encourage rail passengers who want to shop at Westgate to catch the train in from Oxford Parkway, Didcot and Radley stations. Special ticketing arrangements could be agreed with the rail companies."

County council leader Ian Hudspeth denied there had been a 'lack of creativity' in the plans.

He said: "If there is major congestion there would be a review instantaneously and measures taken to try to relieve the congestion."

According to 2013 data in the shopping centre's travel plan, 28 per cent of shoppers on a Saturday could travel in by car.

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree added: "The council is working very closely with the Westgate, city council and bus companies in the run-up to the opening on a range of transport issues. Much work has been done by all parties to ensure that the opening is a success for all.

"Work on transport schemes which include Frideswide Square and Oxford Parkway have been completed intentionally ahead of the opening of the Westgate Centre."

Brendan Hattam, general manager at Westgate Oxford Alliance, said: "We have worked hard, together with our retailers and the city and county councils, to create an ambitious travel plan to maximise awareness of sustainable travel options to Westgate Oxford, ensuring they are convenient and attractive to all staff and visitors.

"We are committed to minimising traffic disruption during peak times, while attempting to increase the proportion of people walking, cycling and using public transport to access Westgate and decrease the proportion of single occupancy trips by car."