CREATING a pedestrian area, traffic calming and better public transport are among residents’ suggestions to improve Walton Street in Oxford.

Other ideas from a recent survey of all residents in Jericho included better enforcement of the street’s 20mph speed limit and widening the pavements.

The survey was carried out by the Jericho Community Association, and revealed that 50 per cent of residents have suggestions for the main road.

A total of 70 per cent of respondents said they had at least one car, a van or a motorbike, and 36 per cent referred to traffic and transport issues as ‘dislikes’.

The survey was distributed to all residents in the Jericho area living in the Jericho and Osney ward, where there are about 6,800 residents.

Jericho and Osney Labour city councillor Susanna Pressel said the survey results should be carefully considered. She said: “I think the suggestions definitely need to be taken into consideration.

“I think the traders would be the first to complain if pedestrianisation was suggested because they would say that people need to drive to the shops, so that would have to be looked at very carefully.

“I think we do need wider pavements, because they are very narrow in some places and drivers and cyclists do get very angry when they see pedestrians jumping on to the road in front of them.”

She said the results of the survey had been passed to both Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Council and would form the basis of discussion for a small group set up by the association which will meet traders.

Sheila Bailey, who co-owns Daisies flower shop in Walton Street, said she would welcome the idea of pedestrianisation and wanted to be involved in discussions about the survey results.

She said: “I think it could really work. I’m not so sure where all the traffic would go, but I think that wherever pedestrianisation happens it seems to draw people to an area, and I think that’s what would happen here.

“Obviously we have deliveries like everyone else up here, but if businesses in Cornmarket can manage, so can we.”

Traders and community leaders are due to meet council officers next week to discuss the survey results.