TRADERS have delivered a petition to County Hall urging councillors to rethink £1m proposals to pedestrianise Bicester’s Market Square.

Lynn Wright, of Bicester Beds, and Bicester Chamber of Commerce chairman Ben Jackson took their fight to Oxfordshire County Council and handed in a 5,961 signature petition. The move came after joint proposals by Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council were revealed.

Cherwell’s executive approved plans to remove all the 34 short-term car parking spaces, pedestrianise the north side of the square and introduce two-way traffic on the south side.

The scheme is now under review because of budget cuts.

Mrs Wright said: “We went there to represent people within Bicester who do not want the Market Square being pedestrianised and want to keep one way traffic. The support we have had has been phenomenal.”