Benefits of £4.4m Oxfordshire high street refurb questioned

The chair of the Witney Chamber of Commerce has said that the scheme to redevelop the town’s high street delivers “no economic benefits” on its own because the area already operates at capacity now.

This comes as Oxfordshire County Council prepares to begin work on the delayed project, with construction to commence in mid-May and finish in November 2026.

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Andrew Gant, the county council’s cabinet member for transport management, said: “The works will be undertaken in phases, starting on the western side of the street, with traffic movements restricted to southbound only during this phase.

“Works will then then switch to the eastern side of the street when traffic will only be permitted northbound on the High Street and Market Square between the Corn Street and Welch Way junctions.”

Andrew Gant (Image: NQ)

A spokesperson for the local authority said the works will make it easier for people to move around the High Street and access it.

The completed scheme will include new seating areas and trees, resurfacing of approximately 2,000m2 of existing footways and creating over 1,000m2 of new footway space, and a new bus stop for community transport.

However, chair of the chamber of commerce Adrian Bullock said they have a number of concerns from the reduction in the size of the carriageway to the fall in the number of taxi spaces.

Witney and District Chamber of Commerce chair Adrian Bullock (Image: Witney and District Chamber of Commerce)

Mr Bullock said: “We are confident a scheme accommodating short term parking, improvements to the paving, the same size taxi rank as now, increased disabled spaces and some beautification could have been achieved without requiring 2.5 sq km of new paving and access restrictions.”

He added that his group’s focus would be on making the area more attractive to visitors in other ways, working with West Oxfordshire District Council on marketing and better directional signage.

Witney High Street and Market Square (Image: OCC)

Local councillor Thomas Ashby also had worries, including about the construction period’s impact on local business.

Considering this, the Liberal Democrat-run county council has appointed an on-site public liaison officer who will work with parties impacted to ensure suitable access is maintained throughout.

Mr Ashby, a Conservative, said: “As businesses navigate a climate of increased taxation by the Labour Government, I worry that the summer construction will hinder our hospitality trade by eliminating outdoor service areas.”

Conservative councillor Thomas Ashby (Image: Thomas Ashby)

He also criticised the cost which has risen from an initial £1.98 million to £4.4 million.

“All funded by the taxpayer,” he added.

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The county council said: “The additional funding will help to deliver more of what local people told us they would like, while meeting increasing materials and labour prices.”

However, Mr Bullock was also unimpressed.

“There is no doubt the High Street needed improving,” he said, “and we are pleased that something is being done”.

“We are however disappointed that the cost has spiralled to £4.4m and that even with this enlarged budget some areas of paving will see no works or improvement.”