Former transport chief slams 'horrid' abuse

The former council transport chief behind Oxford's congestion charge has said the abuse he faced while in the role was "horrid".

Andrew Gant announced earlier this week that he was stepping down as Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport management after four years in the job.

His time in the position saw the authority introduce multiple contentious measures on Oxfordshire's roads, including a roll out of 20mph speed limits across the county.

But Gant said the controversy over policy often led to abuse, and that he had been hit with personal attacks on social media throughout his time in office.

"I'm not in post anymore, I can probably speak a little bit more freely – it's horrid," he said of the abuse," he said.

During his time in office, he oversaw the introduction of the heavily debated zero-emission zones and the temporary Oxford congestion charge.

Gant, who remains a Liberal Democrat county and Oxford city councillor, said the abuse he had faced was was "not reasonable in a democracy".

"It's unpleasant, it's unnecessary, it's unhelpful and I wish it didn't happen," he said.

Asked if this had affected his decision to step away from his role, he explained: "It's a very demanding role for all sorts of reasons, and that is one of the things that makes it demanding, so yes, in a word."

He said the abuse had "made no contribution" to the policies he spearheaded.

"If those people think that they're somehow affecting the debate, they're not."

"You have to develop strategies as an individual, and mine is just not to read them.

"I don't engage with social media at all, I just don't, that's been my strategy – and it's worked," he added.

His resignation from cabinet earlier this week came less than a month after he apologised for the gathering of incorrect data about Oxford's congestion charge, and criticism of the signage around the scheme.