OXFORD’S Frideswide Square is set to be redesigned in a bid to ease congestion at one of the city’s most notorious traffic bottlenecks.

The junction near the railway station has long been viewed by motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and rail users as a transport planning disaster, with the complex web of bus lanes and traffic lights clogging up the western side of the city.

But Oxfordshire County Council has decided to make the remodelling of the square the new priority of its multi-million pound Transform Oxford programme, that will see much of the city centre pedestrianised over the coming five years.

County Hall yesterday announced that it would be focusing on Frideswide Square following the completion of the first phase of work on Queen Street, which saw bus stops relocated, buses cut by a third and extensive repaving and resurfacing.

The council says it wants to deliver “a complete reworking” of the junction to create an attractive public space and new gateway to the city from the west.

And the redesign is expected to see the removal of all traffic lights from the square to provide new options for traffic re-routing.

The creation of two major roundabouts is likely to be among the possibilities considered.

The county council, however, insisted that no firm decisions had been taken on the final shape of the scheme.

It will first hold a consultation this spring with key organisations in Oxford, with a further consultation on more detailed proposals in the summer.

Ian Hudspeth, county council cabinet member for infrastructure, said final decisions would be taken later this year. The likely cost is put at £2m.

He said: “We feel that changes to improve traffic flows there could be the key to unlocking various other changes that we could make as part of Transform Oxford.”

Last month, Christ Church reaffirmed its commitment to the city council’s vision of creating a multi-million gateway area around Frideswide Square.

The redevelopment of the square is viewed as a key element in the regeneration of the city’s West End.

Christ Church, which owns the site, is hoping to transform the area with a mix of shops, restaurants and housing.

But it warned the scheme could be between five and ten years away.

A £100m scheme was hit by the recession when the developer chosen by Christ Church for the redevelopment was placed in administration.

Plans announced last year to transform Oxford’s railway station will have major implications for Frideswide Square.

The station is to expand to the other side of Botley Road within two years.

This £10m scheme will see the creation of a new platform in the long-stay car park in Becket Street, with a new pedestrian bridge to be built over Botley Road.

The Transform Oxford scheme has already seen the creation of a partnership signed by the county council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach.

This agreement will deliver joint ticketing and timetabling to reduce bus numbers.

After Frideswide Square, the council will go on to focus on George Street and Magdalen Street, which are expected to be pedestrianised, and introduce improvements to Broad Street.