Repair works have commenced on "dreadful" roads in Oxford city centre which a politician has described as being "long overdue". 

Oxfordshire County Council has put up a sign in Queen Street near the Westgate Centre which says "repairing your roads" as workers are on the scene carrying out the repairs. 

Extent of the works on Queen Street.Extent of the works on Queen Street. (Image: Noor Qurashi.)

This comes as approximately £600,000 was allocated by the council for the work in both Queen Street and Cornmarket Street which Labour city councillor Susanna Pressel described at the time as being in a "dreadful" condition.

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The repairs will involve replacement and refurbishment of paving blocks on the paths using "like-for-like materials where possible".

Cornmarket Street surface.Cornmarket Street surface. (Image: Andrew Ffrench.)

Speaking of the update, Ms Pressel said: "At last. Thank goodness they have finally started on this repair work. Heaven knows it’s long overdue.

"How could the county council have let it get so bad?

"Queen Street and Cornmarket Street are such prominent streets in the centre of a very special city. People come from all over the world to visit Oxford.

Susanna Pressel.Susanna Pressel. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

"They must be astonished to see how neglected some parts of the city have become.”

Queen Street surface.Queen Street surface. (Image: Andrew Ffrench.)

County council highways chief Andrew Gant had responded to Ms Pressel's reaction at the time saying: "Yes, I do think they are in a dreadful state, and I'm very glad we're doing something about it.”

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About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi