Bitcoin millionaire asked £224k towards Oxford cycle parking

Israeli-Canadian Bitcoin millionaire investor Roy Sebag, who owns GoldMoney Properties, bought the Clarendon Centre in 2024 for more than £30m.

Since last year, the centre has been closed with retailers including TK Maxx moving to the Westgate shopping centre or other locations.

Earlier this year, the business has sent in plans to Oxford City Council to revamp the centre and square.

How the new square could look at the Clarendon Centre (Image: GP Clarendon Square Ltd)

Oxfordshire County Council has now asked the developer for £224,060 to put towards parking spaces for bicycles in Queen Street and Cornmarket Street.

Tim Peart, transport technical lead at County Hall, has written a letter to Oxford City Council requesting the money from the developer.

Mr Peart said: “The applicant proposes that a number of public cycle parking spaces could be accommodated on Queen Street and Cornmarket Street.

“Identifying suitable locations for more cycle parking in the city centre has always been a challenge.

“In addition, the scheme that OCC are collecting contributions towards will include cycle parking and other alterations to those streets.

“I would be keen to avoid abortive works whereby the applicant installs public cycle parking spaces only for these to be removed and relocated at some point after.

“Given that the Queen Street / Cornmarket Street scheme will include cycle parking, we propose that this matter is resolved through the contribution to that scheme.”

Kevin Cox, of Thames Valley Police, said the force has concerns around the proposed “large and enclosed” public cycle store.

He said it “limits surveillance” over the bicycles and will create “opportunities for concealed theft attempts” from the storage.

“Details need to be provided regarding how public cycle storage will be adequately protected from targeted theft attempts,” he said.

Mr Cox added: “The proposed development is likely to become a key focal space within the city centre, providing an area of public open space, of which there is currently very little within the locality.

“Following extensive meetings with the applicants and site owners, I am confident that their proposals for site management and maintenance are robust, realistic and achievable.”

Nick Small, for Oxford Bus Company, said: “Successive major development projects and not least the Westgate, have shown that the [cycle] space required is not insubstantial, and accommodating it is not straightforward without potentially causing wider conflicts.

“We note that the applicants have worked hard to maximise provision without unduly burdening pedestrian circulation and the wider experience of the public realm.

“With this challenge in view, it is appropriate to highlight the frequency, capacity and range of bus services serving the site, which by any measure, are exceptional.”

Oxford City Council will decide on the plans in due course.