Oxford hotelier Jeremy Mogford has called for a new 'task force' to be set up to find an alternative to new traffic filters.

Oxfordshire County Council is planning to introduce six new bus gates around the city as a way of reducing congestion.

The six new filters are not due to be installed until after Network Rail work in Botley Road is concluded in October 2024.

READ MORE: Victorian mansion to be turned into student rooms 

Mr Mogford, who owns the Old Bank Hotel and Quod restaurant in High Street, the Old Parsonage and Gees in north Oxford, says a new task force could hold talks on alternatives to the new traffic filters - otherwise known as bus gates - as he believes they would be harmful to businesses.

He said: "These proposed measures are the traffic filters or bus gates on the six most important, inner connecting streets, which will restrict most cars for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, more LTN closures, the suggested ultra-low emission zones (ULEZ), a work place parking levy and a continuing policy of reducing available parking with ever increasing hourly parking charges.

Oxford Mail: Hotelier Jeremy Mogford"In my opinion and that of my colleagues, businesses and residents from every corner of Oxford, including Summertown, Headington, Cowley and Iffley Road, we feel that this unwelcome cocktail of restrictions will irreparably damage the economic and cultural vibrancy of the city of Oxford forever."

Mr Mogford, who leads Oxford Business Action Group, added: "There is absolutely no need to spend the proposed vast financial sums installing traffic filter monitoring cameras with the associated on-going costs of the daily administration and follow up paperwork.

"We are offering to put together a ‘special task force’ made up of responsible Oxford citizens, business-people and experts, who will look at traffic build-up hot spots throughout the city and we would take a common sense approach to trying to improve the flow.

"We will recommend applying tried and tested solutions wherever possible.

"Traffic lights timing adjustments, additional traffic lights, alterations to road markings and junction layouts, we would look at alterations to pavement widths and signage and are confident we can improve traffic flow and bus journey times.

"To be fair to the county council, in certain instances they have already started this process."

County council leaders said they were open to dialogue with the city's business leaders.

Oxford Mail: Oxfordshire county councillor Duncan EnrightDuncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for travel and development strategy said: "As many people will recognise, Oxford’s streets were not designed for the volume of traffic they carry today.

"Making the best use of the city’s constrained road network is an exceptionally complex challenge that the county council has been focusing on for many years.

"We believe the council’s planned measures are the answer to freeing up space in the city centre, cleaning the air we breathe, getting our bus services moving and making walking and cycling the natural first choice.

“Our specialist officers have met recently with the Oxford Business Action Group to discuss concerns about highways and retail and we are very happy to meet again with the group and other businesses to listen, discuss ideas and explain our plans to improve movement around the city.

“We are aware of many factors impacting on businesses as we make the slow path to recovery after the pandemic, in economic terms and as consumer activity has shifted towards more home working and increased online shopping.

"These challenges are being felt across the county and indeed across the country so cannot be attributed solely to a particular transport strategy.

"What is clear is that congestion is not good for anyone. We value the vibrant business community in Oxford and are listening to their feedback as we introduce and trial measures to tackle the chronic traffic in the city that affects everybody.”

Oxford Mail: The six new traffic filtersThe decision to proceed with the traffic filters trial was made by the council’s cabinet on November 29 last year following public consultation.

The trial will include further consultation and will begin after Botley Road is reopened in autumn 2024.

The locations for the six new filters are:  St Cross Road, Thames Street, St Clements, Hythe Bridge Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way.

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get: 

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website 
  • Advert-light access 
  • Reader rewards 
  • Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.