Street wardens could go on patrol in Bicester as part of a blueprint to boost the town's quality of life.

Exclusion orders used to ban known troublemakers from the town centre also feature in the Cherwell District Council proposals.

The three-year action plan looks at ways of promoting tourism, ensuring good public transport links and improving how the town centre looks.

The council wants easy access to the town centre for both pedestrians and motorists. The study, which was welcomed by town councillors this week, will also look at the feasibility of setting up a park-and-ride service.

The council has also produced similar schemes for Banbury and Kidlington.

Chamber of commerce president, Keith Watson, said the chamber was keen to see a comprehensive plan put together for the town centre.

He said: "The town centre is facing a lot of competition, you have only got to look around. Milton Keynes, Banbury and Oxford are looking at developing. If Bicester doesn't get itself together and co-ordinate it, it presents a real threat to the future well-being of retailers.

"Bicester is at a crossroads. It's fared reasonably well compared to other market towns, which is rare, but I think we have got to find a way to build on that element."

Bicester's police chief, Inspector Ray Howard, said he saw the idea of street wardens as being a positive move.

He said: "I think if nothing else it is eyes and ears for us, as we can't be everywhere. The more people we have got, the better. It is additional resources."