A TRANSPORT expert claims bosses have ‘washed their hands’ of Oxford’s traffic problems – and is calling on them to bring in local congestion charges to tackle jams.

Peter Headicar hit out at Oxfordshire County Council’s claim that it did not have the cash to pay for schemes such as new bus lanes and more park-and-rides.

The council’s draft transport plan – which sets out priorities to 2030 – is out to consultation until January.

Mr Headicar, a reader in transport planning at Oxford Brookes University, said: “The plan lists many good things the council would like to do but acknowledges the lack of resources to do them.

“Are we expected to believe that this is the end of the story?

“Can a transport authority wash its hands of responsibility simply because it hasn’t the money to do what it would like?”

He said congestion would get worse as more people moved to the city – and the county council had clearly failed to address traffic problems because of full park-and-rides and jammed major routes.

He added: “There are other options available which could remedy the situation, combining local congestion charges for car use or levies on workplace parking with the use of revenues to fund transport improvements.”

Council bosses last week said schemes paid for by developers as part of building deals were likely to go ahead.

The council has proposed park-and- rides at Eynsham and Bicester, and bus priority measures on the A40 and the approaches to Swinford Toll Bridge and Thornhill park-and-ride.

It has also pledged to cut traffic around the university science area and to redesign Frideswide Square outside Oxford railway station.

But cabinet member for transport Ian Hudspeth said schemes would only be funded when cash was available. He said: “Priorities change as circumstances change and we hope that financial support from central government will increase once the nation’s current fiscal difficulties come to an end.

He added: “There have been comments from some other people that the draft plan is too ambitious given the current state of the Government’s balance sheet and the inevitable squeeze on funding this will bring.

“The current draft document was written very much with the knowledge that funds would be limited for some years to come.”

Last week, Mr Headicar hit the headlines over a £2,500 study he produced for Oxford City Council which the authority did not publish. His report criticised the city council, claiming its building plans for the city did not consider transport enough.

For information on the county’s draft transport plan, call 01865 792422.