A £2.7m spruce-up of Oxford has come under fire from opposition councillors.

Former council leader Stan Taylor described the spending plan two weeks ago as "an ambitious, modern programme to create a better Oxford, worthy of its people and fit for the Millennium".

The ruling Labour group's bid to spend the money on ten major projects and many more smaller ones over the next two years was approved yesterday. But the Greens and Liberal Democrats criticised the group for suddenly revealing their plans in the middle of the financial year.

Green councillor Paul Ingram told the strategy and resources committee: "I have to say this puts me in severe difficulties because we have not been consulted on this.

"Where much of this may be very positive, it leaves me in a difficult position." Among the schemes is a £1m plan to buy and install street furniture and paving stones in Broad Street and Cornmarket Street. The roads are to be closed to traffic and pedestrianised under the Oxford Transport Strategy.

Corinna Redman, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the council should apply for matching funding for this from English Heritage and European funds, as had been done in other historic cities such as Cambridge.

She said: "We would have an extra £m to spend.

"Our priorities would be re-roofing our neglected community centres, improvements to Gloucester Green bus station and funding for the complete refurbishment of the Horspath Road maisonettes - if this turns out to be the course the council pursues." The committee agreed that they would look at the options put forward by the Liberal Democrats, which also included upgrading the design of a proposed new bridge over the ring road at Cutteslowe and funding a competition to design a fountain at Gloucester Green.

The council will be spending £300,000 on refurbishing public toilets, £300,000 on new play equipment at children's playgrounds, £200,000 on central heating in 1,000 council homes and £200,000 on refurbishing sheltered housing as well as other schemes.

The cash is to come from property sales, income from planning fees and a surplus from the City Works budget.

Cllr Bob Hoyle told the meeting: "I think they are an excellent set of proposals."

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