IDEAS such as closing the high street to cars and enlarging the bus garage are among those put forward to improve transport links in Uxbridge.

A committee made up of Hillingdon Council and Transport for London representatives, and local organisations, met for the first time at The Chimes shopping centre on Friday.

Headed by Janet Rangeley, the transport and spatial development representative for the council, the aim was to discuss the future of transport in the town which was recently given Metropolitan hub status.

Top of the agenda were issues regarding bus reliability and safety, including the future of the bus garage in Bakers Road. Gavin Hindley, from TfL said: "We've had many ideas over the years but so far none of them have come to fruition, although that's not through want of trying.

"We need a three acre site that we don't have to pay for as we simply don't have the money to do that.

"The simple solution is to expand the bus station but the question is how?"

Tony Dunn, manager of The Chimes, told the group: "In my opinion the town centre is being restricted by its inability to interact with its public. After 6pm at night I worry for people who use it (the bus station).

"The police do a great job but it still does not entice you to use that area. There is too little space and too few buses."

Councillor David Routledge said: "My view is that the area from the High Street to York Road needs to be closed off to all cars but those needing access.

"Drivers simply don't give way to the buses and this causes jams which back up for ages and cause major problems.

"All the car parks in town can be accessed from other roads so I cannot see any problem with stopping cars using that piece of road."

The group will meet again soon to continue discussions and Mrs Rangeley said: "The future of many of the major developments and projects in the town centre will hang on having the transport links in place to make them work.

"That means considering the short, medium and long term goals."

Councillor Douglas Mills, cabinet member for partnerships, said: "Uxbridge is vitally important to the borough. None of these improvements will happen overnight but I hope we can get an agreement which will begin by improving the existing routes as well as introducing more north-south orbital links which many agree are a major deficiency locally.

"The completion of our athletics track and Olympic pool will make Uxbridge and its surrounding areas change for the better.

"We need to have current and applicable transport that supports this goal - that is the backbone of this whole debate."