SIR - After the fire in Oxford at the weekend, which meant Queen Street was closed for most of the day, it was a real breath of fresh air to see it bus-free.

The feel of the whole city centre was far better than it is when Queen Street is choked with buses.

People were moving much more freely.

It didn't seem to be causing much problem having all the eastbound buses loading on the west side of St Aldate's.

I found it, if anything, easier to get a No 5 to Cowley Road than I do when it goes from Queen Street.

I hope Saturday's treat of a bus-free Queen Street was a glimpse of the fairly near future.

If Oxford can cope with it two weeks before Christmas, it ought to be able to cope for the rest of the year.

TONY BRETT

Holywell Ward

Oxford City Council