What next for Oxfordshire transport after Gant’s surprise departure?

After four years championing policies that challenged the dominance of the car, Andrew Gant admits the demands of driving Oxfordshire’s transport policy have taken their toll

Oxfordshire County Council’s transport chief has resigned after an eventful, sometimes contentious, four years in the role, during which he oversaw the roll-out of 20mph zones, active travel infrastructure, School Streets, zero emission zones, the transition to electric buses and Oxford’s temporary congestion charge.

Andrew Gant said part of the reason for his decision to step down was the abuse he received on social media from those opposed to transport policy. He held on to his ward seat, despite considerable efforts to oust him, in local elections in May 2025.

He told LTT: “You have to develop strategies to deal with the abuse. It does take its toll over time.”

Gant described the role as “hugely fascinating and rewarding, but also extremely demanding. You have to keep an eye on the demands and the effect it has on other bits of your life, and I just decided that four years was enough.”

Cllr Rebekah Fletcher has been selected as the new Cabinet Member for Transport Management.

A week after Gant announced he was stepping down, Lib Dem Councillor Tim Bearder became new Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, taking over from Councillor Liz Leffman. 

It remains to be seen if the changes in personnel will lead to a re-set in transport policy.

Leffman paid tribute to Gant, saying that under his guidance, “Oxfordshire has become a flagship for safer, cleaner transport and active travel, with the introduction of 20mph speed limits, safer cycling and walking in our towns and villages, and the introduction of electric buses and the temporary congestion charge in Oxford”.

During his time as cabinet member, Gant brought in more than 200 20mph schemes in towns and villages across Oxfordshire. This led to disagreements with local bus operators, that claimed the measures would make services unviable, while members of the public argued the lower speed limit was being introduced in locations where it was unnecessary.

Gant was also criticised for introducing a temporary congestion charge in October 2025. The scheme was brought in to reduce congestion in Oxford while Botley Road is closed, which has delayed the start of a trial of camera-enforced traffic filters (LTT922). Free travel on park & ride was also introduced as part of the scheme.

The Botley Road scheme, which is part of the £161m Oxford Station Enhancements Project, has been delayed by a range of problems including the unearthing of a Victorian brick archway on the site.

Earlier this year, operators Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel reported that temporary congestion charge and free travel on park & ride had improved bus service reliability (LTT932).

The c-charge involves motorists paying a £5 fee to travel through one of six points in Oxford city centre.

Last month the council reported that the c-charge had raised £4.2m, and said it was considering using this revenue on measures such as a discounted £3 combined parking and bus ticket; secure cycle parking; and dealing with ‘missing links’ in the active travel network such as pedestrian crossings (LTT937).

Being a councillor is a ‘privilege’ says Gant

Andrew Gant was first elected to Oxford City council for the Lib Dems in Summertown in May 2014.

He currently represents Wolvercote & Cutteslowe at the county level, and Cutteslowe & Sunnymead for the city council.

Gant, a stipendiary lecturer in music at St. Peter's College, Oxford, intends to continue as a ward councillor despite leaving his cabinet role.

Gant told LTT: “Being a councillor is an extremely honourable thing. It’s a great privilege to have the trust of the voters. One of the things that tends to get a bit pushed to the side when you’re in a cabinet role is the whole local ward and division level work. So, I will certainly look forward to getting more engaged in that. And the other thing is I have a life. I do other things as well, which have been neglected.”

 ‘Bringing in electric buses my proudest achievement’

Andrew Gant said that overseeing the roll-out of electric buses in Oxford has been his proudest achievement as Oxfordshire’s transport boss.

In 2023, a deal worth £82.5m was agreed between Oxfordshire County Council, the Government, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach to fund a fleet of new battery electric vehicles. There are now 159 electric buses in the Oxford area.

Provisional data suggests that bus fleet electrification has reduced roadside citywide nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations across Oxford by an average of 10% from 2023 to 2024, and up to 24% in areas of high bus traffic such as St Aldates and High Street.

The transition from diesel to electric buses also cut roadside traffic related noise in central Oxford by an average of 5.1 decibels, the data shows.

“It gives me a huge amount of pleasure and pride when I see those beautiful vehicles,” Gant told LTT. “I know the sort of policy framework that led to the buses being there. The buses have reduced congestion and made it safer and easier for people to walk and cycle. They run on better routes, so more people will use them. We've been able to offer free park and ride, so they are an emblem of this virtuous circle of making the environment better by improving the transport choices that people have.”