THE least surprising news of the day is that our shiny new Westgate Shopping Centre will soon be under way after approval of the £400m plans by councillors last night.

The joys of John Lewis and many other new stores and restaurants will soon be upon us.

This is indeed something to celebrate and a much-needed shot in the arm for the city’s retail economy.

But for all those licking their lips at the prospect of shoppers pouring into the city, there is an elephant in the room that must be tackled: our hideous traffic.

It’s all very well having a world-class shopping centre in the middle of Oxford, but if getting there means sitting in endless jams, even the draw of John Lewis may not be enough to keep them coming back.

The county and city councils, with Government support, must come up with firm, feasible and permanent solutions to a problem that blights the county and costs business millions of pounds each year.

And it must happen sooner rather than later.

We have had lots of imaginative, radical ideas of late, for the A40, A34 and the city.

But the time for talking is almost over. We need action from our politicians and we need it very soon.

Residents, shoppers and businesses expect nothing less.

 

 

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