Retailers have come up with their own ideas for the future of Bicester's Market Square.

They aim to reduce traffic and give shoppers priority, but still allow delivery lorries and taxis to operate.

The proposals by Bicester Chamber of Commerce have been presented to Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council and will go to a meeting of Bicester Town Council.

The traders' suggestions include one-way traffic on the south or Barclay's Bank side of the square and linking the northern or Crown Walk side to the central car park.

They also want to retain a delivery lorry and taxi access, opening up Wessex Way and also make nearby Priory Road one-way from the Chapel Street end to London Road. At present, Priory Road is two-way.

In its introduction to the proposals, the chamber said they were designed to improve the town centre around Market Square and represented major changes for those who lived and worked in the area.

Many people from all sections of the local community would want their voice heard and opinions considered, it said.

The chamber, which represents the majority of businesses in Market Square, believes the shops and other businesses to be among the most important for their considered views.

During the initial stages of this process, the chamber concluded that an invitation from Cherwell to take a seat on the Market Square steering group reflected the importance which the Oxfordshire county and Cherwell district councils attached to the opinions of the business comm- unity.

Having heard the views of the other interested parties, the chamber assembled a working group to examine the existing proposals and draft its own ideas.