A LAST-MINUTE intervention by the city council could allow taxis to use a new link road in the Westgate Shopping Centre.
Proposed traffic measures had banned licensed hire cabs from an access road to be constructed between Castle Street and Speedwell Street - giving only local buses and cyclists access.
With many shops, bars and restaurants planned on the south and west side of the £440m development, the City of Oxford Licensed Taxicab Association (COLTA) had strongly objected to the move.
Oxfordshire County Council officers were set to approve the measures before an impassioned speech by taxi driver and COLTA secretary Sajjad Khan and a letter submitted by Oxford City Council.
Both argued that the city's black cabs were vital for vulnerable people, children and late night revellers.
County council board member for Transport David Nimmo Smith decided to open discussions with the city council about allowing cabs access to the road.
The city council proposed allowing taxis to use the road outside of shopping hours - as a conflict with buses had been a main reason for the ban.
A full public consultation on any further proposals is expected to follow.
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