Proposals to operate bendy shuttle buses on Oxford High Street from an interchange near Magdalen Bridge are to be dropped in the face of widespread opposition.

Pensioners and residents warned East Oxford would be cut off from the rest of the city if buses were stopped at the Plain and passengers forced to switch to giant shuttle buses to get into the city centre.

The idea was put forward to slash the number of buses travelling up and down the High Street as part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Transform Oxford plans.

With the shuttle bus idea widely viewed as unworkable, County Hall is to rely on new Government legislation, which gives councils a decisive say about bus numbers and frequency of services.

The council now wants bus companies to sign up to a partnership agreement, to rid the city of the worst elements of bus deregulation, paving the way for measures such as joint ticketing to reduce near-empty buses.

County councillor Ian Hudspeth, cabinet member for transport, said: “It was an idea we put forward. It was never cast in stone and we have listened to concerns.

“It is clear a large number of people are happy with the vision to improve the pedestrian experience in the city centre, but wary about the idea of a bus interchange east of Magdalen Bridge.

“So we are now looking at different ways to do things.”

Tony Joyce, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said: “The inconvenience the interchange would cause was unnecessary, and would be a serious disincentive to use buses.

Philip Kirk, managing director of Oxford Bus Company said, “We are pleased the idea of making passengers change buses at The Plain seems to dropping down the county’s list of ideas.”

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