CHANGES to Bicester town centre’s road network came into force yesterday.

The £1.3m scheme, devised by Oxfordshire County Council and funded by developers, aims to cut queues and improve cycle and pedestrian routes.

Access to North Street and Roman Way from the Banbury and Buckingham Road roundabout has been closed off, St John’s Street and North Street have become two-way instead of one-way, and traffic lights at the junction of Field Street and St John’s Street have been replaced with a new mini-roundabout.

A new roundabout at the junction of Manorsfield Road and St John’s Street also opened, and vehicles are no longer able to turn right into Bucknell Road from Field Street.

The scheme, which came into effect at 6am yesterday, comes ahead of the arrival of a major new Sainsbury’s in the town centre.

Leaflets have been delivered to households across the town to make sure that residents are aware of the changes.