PLANS to pedestrianise part of Witney's High Street have been dropped.

Instead, improvements will be made to the High Street and Market Square to make the area more pedestrian friendly.

Last year, the county council, together with West Oxfordshire District Council and Witney Town Council, consulted people in the town on the Witney integrated transport strategy.

The three options were for limited environment improve- ments, pavement widening with measures to cut traffic, or banning traffic apart from buses between Market Square and Welch Way.

More than 2,000 people responded saying they wanted to see improvements to the High Street and Market Square. But there was no overwhelming support for any one of the options.

Improvements will now be made on a gradual basis and there will be further consultations.

District council leader Barry Norton and Witney mayor David Harvey welcomed the decision not to go ahead with pedestrianisation, saying it would harm the unique market town atmos- phere.

County council executive member for transport David Robertson said: "This is a very positive step and an approved strategy will strengthen our ability to bid for funding for transport schemes."