Andrew Gant
@andrewgant.bsky.social
Liberal Democrat councillor, Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Councils. County Cabinet Member for Transport Management. Also books and music.
I used to catch this bus to school in the 1970s. Good to see it’s still there. And, bus route affected by long-term road closure- why does that sound familiar…?? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reading Buses' Pink 22 route saved days before it was set to end
Reading Council and Reading Buses urged people to use the route, which has been less used since the pandemic.
bbc.co.uk
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2624705... Another spectacular vindication of the LibDem county council’s policies and commitment to partnership working. Our principles make your streets safer, your air cleaner and your public transport better.
£1.5m investment brings more electric buses to Oxfordshire roads
An investment of £1.5m has allowed Oxford Bus Company to put four new electric buses into service
oxfordmail.co.uk
Pavement parking is a growing problem, making life harder for pedestrians, including people with disabilities, parents with pushchairs, and those with limited mobility. This motion calls for stronger local action in a way that works for each community.
We can do this in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley. We need sensible geographies, evidence-based policy, a clear and holistic regional vision, local buy-in, real powers, proper funding, rapid progress to an MCA, and a LibDem Mayor. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Andy Burnham to pledge ‘good growth in every postcode’ in devolution plan
Makerfield MP on course to be PM will argue for more decision-making in regions and communities as he sets out platform for government
theguardian.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Top ask here is better public transport for young people. That’s why LibDem Oxfordshire County Council is bang right to prioritise buses, fares and better use of road space. Opposed by weak Labour, Tories. Transport policy is about so much more than things with wheels.
White working-class children 'failed by schools system'
The inquiry spoke to thousands of young people and their parents, as well as hundreds of teachers.
bbc.co.uk
Such desperately tragic news. Harrison was a wonderful musician, supreme accompanist, fantastic company and a great friend to his many musical colleagues. He contributed so much. I have listened to his playing with awe and admiration. A huge loss. www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/harriso...
Harrison Cole (2000 - 2026)
We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of Harrison Cole, Assisting Organist at King's College.Harrison Cole was a music scholar at Ipswich School, and during his school years he spent t...
kings.cam.ac.uk
This is absolutely brilliant news. There is inevitably a lag in policies to address road safety showing results, but this shows they work. Families and communities are safer thanks to our policies news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxfordshire-...
Oxfordshire bucking regional trend on road safety as casualty figures fall
Newly published provisional government statistics suggest that Oxfordshire is seeing significant improvements in road safety, with serious and fatal collisions falling sharply while the wider Thames V...
news.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Really delighted to be invited to give the Annual Lecture at Oxford University’s Transport Studies Unit. We have achieved much in the county, and there is much more to do www.tsu.ox.ac.uk/events/index...
Events
tsu.ox.ac.uk
Another brilliant new bus service as a direct result of our groundbreaking policies to beat congestion www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article... www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2608045...
Oxford’s New Bus Service Six Hundred Set to Revolutionize Travel for Locals and Tourists – Everything You Need to Know Before It Launches on May Third - Travel And Tour World
Oxford’s Service 600 bus route, launching on May 3rd, connects key locations like the Rail Station, Headington Hospitals, and Oxford Science Park
travelandtourworld.com
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2589058... Rank hypocrisy from Labour. They hail the benefits of clean air and electric buses, but OPPOSED the policies which delivered them. They are openly misleading the voters. Labour are a disgrace. Only the LibDems are delivering a better Oxfordshire
Oxford City Council sets ambitious 2030 clean air target
Oxford City Council has updated its Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for 2026–2030.
oxfordmail.co.uk
More excellent news on improving bus services in Oxfordshire led by the visionary policies of the LibDem County Council www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2588052...
Changes announced for Oxford Tube services to and from London
Big changes have been announced to the Oxford Tube coach service to and from London including an axed Bicester Village stop.
oxfordmail.co.uk
At PMQs on Feb 11 the Prime Minister made a disgraceful and untrue statement about Oxfordshire County Council highways maintenance. Here is my correspondence with the questioner Olly Glover, LibDem MP for Didcot and Wantage
This is a brilliant explanation of the real causes of the condition of Oxfordshire’s roads by my fantastic LibDem colleague Cllr Nathan Ley cllrdrnathanley.substack.com/p/how-the-co...
How the Conservative Party Baked a National Pothole Crisis
They even gave it an official name in Oxfordshire: ‘Managed Decline’
cllrdrnathanley.substack.com
Our policies leading directly to better bus services across the county www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2584194...
Major bus service changes announced across Oxfordshire
Major bus service changes for Oxfordshire have been announced by Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel.
oxfordmail.co.uk
Really great to speak to the wonderful Big Issue recently about transport policy in Oxford www.bigissue.com/news/environ...
The truth behind the 15-minute cities controversy in Oxford, explained
15-minute cities has proven controversial on X with Sharron Davies and Right Said Fred speaking out about a traffic scheme in Oxford.
bigissue.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... This costly folly is right next to an existing bridge. The funds could have built a safe A40 crossing at Barton Park (binned by Labour). Labour oppose every active travel measure. Ask your Labour candidate which Labour policy they support- they probably won’t know.
Controversial Oxpens Bridge construction takes step forward
Oxford City Council announces that contractors have been chosen to build the Oxpens River Bridge.
bbc.co.uk
The Labour government recently announced a colour-coded “ranking system” for local authorities on highway maintenance. Three Labour politicians wrote to me about it. Here is my reply
I have today sent the attached open letter to Anneliese Dodds MP
Astonishing success of 20mph policy in Wales. So proud to have helped deliver this benefit for so many communities and local people in Oxfordshire. Thanks to our policy their lives are better, their children are safer.
Nearly 900 fewer people injured since 20mph introduction in Wales
Figures show a 25% reduction in the number of injuries on Wales' roads in the past 18 months.
bbc.co.uk
Cllr Walker of course promoted and supported 20mph in his own division. He was right to do so. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2537651...
New figures reveal how much was spent on 20mph limits across county
Almost £2.5 million has been spent by Oxfordshire County Council on rolling out 20mph speed limits in towns and villages like Banbury, Kidlington…
oxfordmail.co.uk
Great victory for a terrific candidate and councillor, worthy successor and colleague to the wonderful Debby Hallett and Emily Smith. Good swing to LibDems too! (Much less importantly, why couldn’t Labour be bothered even to field a candidate in the heart of what it thinks of as “Greater Oxford”?)
Lib Dems hold on to seat in Oxfordshire council by-election
The Lib Dems have held their seat by a landslide in a recent Vale of White Horse District Council by-election in Oxfordshire.
oxfordmail.co.uk
Chaos and civil war in Labour. Cllr Taylor has praised congestion schemes elsewhere. Cllr Brown called for urgent action. Labour asked for the citizens assembly: it asked for a congestion charge. Labour designed the filters. Now they oppose it all. Cllr Hunt stands against her own party. She’s right
City council expected to oppose controversial plans for 'tolls on main roads'
Councillors are set to vote on whether Oxford City Council will oppose divisive proposals to introduce a congestion charge on several major roads.
oxfordmail.co.uk
Tory Matthew Barber has criticised the Lib Dem County Council for a sign which was actually put up 14 years ago – by the Tories. He could’ve checked his facts, but he didn’t. Welcome to Tory/Trump post–truth world. Not good enough in his position. I hope Mr Barber will apologise.
Concerns raised after resident spots part night lighting sign on street lamp
A statement has been issued after a sign suggesting a controversial street lighting scheme is already in place raised concerns.
oxfordmail.co.uk
A pitiful number of homes. Barely a third are affordable. The rest is concrete and cars, piling misery onto local roads. And Cllr Brown calls this a success. Same at Oxpens. And the Kassam. Affordable housing was torn down at Westgate. Oxford Labour don’t care about housing or healthy travel
Housing Minister visits first residential phase of Oxford North
The Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, has visited the first residential phase of the new Oxford North innovation…
oxfordmail.co.uk
Calling Zelensky a “Dictator” must be where the line is drawn. It is my sincere hope that the whole political spectrum in the United Kingdom will speak with one voice in opposition to Trump’s lies.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... This is a man whose idea of free speech, democracy and the rule of law is to deny the outcome of an election and pardon people who storm the seat of government by force. Tin-pot despots have balked at less. Europe is better than that. Time to show it.
JD Vance attacks Europe over free speech and migration
The vice-president's speech at the Munich Security Conference was denounced by several European leaders.
bbc.co.uk
Great to catch up with David Hughes, CEO of East West Rail, at the brilliant rail conference in Oxford recently. So many exciting opportunities for Oxfordshire and our wider region if we get the decisions around the new agenda right. We need vision and leadership. Oxfordshire has it in spades.
Our region adds huge value to inward investors. Our challenge and opportunity is to leverage the right outcomes for Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, not repeat the mistakes of the past. That’s what a real strategic vision can deliver. This is the moment.
UK revives plan for Oxford-Cambridge Arc
Government aims to double economic output of science-rich region between Britain’s two best-known universities
ft.com
