THE first phase of a scheme to pedestrianise Oxford’s busiest shopping area was given the go-ahead today.

Despite Oxfordshire County Council facing calls to delay its plans to remove bus stops in Queen Street, approval was given to the £985,000 scheme by the authority’s head of transport, Ian Hudspeth.

Work is set to begin at the end of June with the council aiming to cut the number of buses Queen Street by a third by removing seven bus stops, with two replacements being provided in Castle Street, two in New Road and one in High Street.

Despite agreeing with the plans in principle, Oxford Civic Society and Liberal Democrat councillors asked for the scheme to be delayed for 12 months until the formation of a partnership between the city’s two main bus companies Stagecoach and the Oxford Bus Company.

Mr Hudspeth said local powers to form bus partnerships were so new that no-one knew how long that could take.

He said: “We have got to make sure we deliver the benefits to the city of Oxford sooner.

“There was always going to be short-term pain, but we think it’s worth it for the long-term.”

Hugh Jaeger, of Bus Users UK, said: “The only thing this will get rid of in the city centre is people from Blackbird Leys, Barton and Rose Hill who find it more difficult to get there.”

Tony Joyce, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said: “There will be winners and there will be losers, but the sad part about it is the losers are the least advantaged members of society.”