Lib Dems "Call In" Queen Street plans

4.33.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 24th Apr 2009

County Liberal Democrats have "called in" the Cabinet Member for Transport's decision taken yesterday on Queen Street.

Shadow Cabinet member for Transport, Roz Smith, said: "We are asking the Cabinet member to think again for four reasons:

• Moving the bus stops out of Queen Street will increase congestion on St Aldates and High Street.

• Moving the bus stops will also be to the severe detriment of the air quality in St Aldates, High Street and surrounding streets. It should be noted that people live in these streets.

• Pedestrians in Queen Street will still have all the disadvantages of having buses in the street, but without the advantage of being able to actually get on them.

• An interim surfacing scheme, to be replaced with a new surface when Queen Street is fully pedestrianised, is a waste of taxpayers' money.

"Call in" is the process by which a number of councillors can ask the Cabinet or a Cabinet member to think again about a decision. The Queen Street plans will now be discussed by the Environment and Economy Scrutiny at 2pm on 5th May. The Scrutiny Committee can then either agree with the Cabinet member's decision or send it back to him to reconsider.