THE future of Oxford's transport system is to be shaped by a newly-hired team of consultants.

The city and county councils have commissioned the joint study to build on the aspirations of the Oxford Transport Strategy, as well as inform Oxford City Council’s emerging local plan.

The study, to be undertaken by staff from Phil Jones Associates, is to be managed by the city council.

The commission will work until December, with consultants examining vehicle movements in the city centre, including public transport, walking, and cycling.

According to an email sent to councillors, consultants will be asked to 'understand the existing movement network in the city, including changes resulting from the opening of the Westgate Centre in October, and review existing city and county council transport strategies and policies.'

But the councils insisted the consultants' study was not 'driven' by the £440m new shopping centre opening on October 24.

City council leader Bob Price said: "The study will be a complex piece of work that would not fall within the remit of highways engineers.

"Given the workload of the county council highways staff they have remarkably few officers.

"This is part of the local plan process, which runs to 2036 and will move forward with the traffic aspects, which are very important.

"We need to flesh out the detail of what may happen regarding a zero emission zone in the city centre and further pedestrianisation."

The councils have not revealed the cost of the consultancy but Mr Price said the city council's share would be paid for from the local plan budget.

Last week the six councils in the county which make up the Oxfordshire Growth Board announced they were close to finalising a plan that will help secure vital investment in roads and infrastructure until 2040 and beyond.

The draft infrastructure strategy is backing major investment projects including improvements to the A34, rapid bus routes linking key locations, an East-West Rail link from Oxford to Cambridge, reducing congestion on the A40 between Oxford and Witney and redeveloping Oxford station.

A joint statement from the city council and Oxfordshire County Council issued by city council spokesman Chofamba Sithole said the local authorities were working together with consultants on a 'city centre movement and public realm study'.

He added: "This work will form part of the evidence base to support the local plan.

"It will take into account and build on existing work such as the Oxford Transport Strategy, looking further ahead to 2036.

"The study will further develop a detailed understanding of the existing movement on the network in the city centre, helping to assess the implications of the emerging local plan development strategy.

"It will develop and assess options to deliver increased movement capacity in the city centre that prioritises the creation of attractive streets and public spaces, and movement of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport."

Last week the county council revealed a series of measures that would be put in place to combat congestion which could be created by the opening of the Westgate Centre, including a roadworks embargo in the city centre from October 20 to the new year.