CITY council leaders say they are confident Burgerfest, a street festival celebrating Oxford's links with its German twin town, will go ahead despite a dispute with a university college.

The traditional German festival, featuring food stalls and performances from visiting German cultural groups, are a central part of the 70th anniversary celebrations for the Oxford-Bonn twinning link.

But Oxford University's Balliol College raised concerns about the event, due to be held in Broad Street on Saturday, May 27 from noon until 4pm.

Bonn Week 70th anniversary celebrations run from Thursday, May 25 to Sunday, May 28, and the college complained Burgerfest was scheduled for a 'Red Zone', a protocol designed to ensure students studying for exams are not disturbed by civic events.

Earlier this month Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said Dr Rachel Quarrell, Dean of Broad Street-based Balliol College, wrote to the council's events manager to say Burgerfest should not go ahead.

Following a subsequent meeting between councillors, council officers and college staff, Mr Price said issues surrounding noise and access were very close to being resolved.

He added: "It was a very positive meeting and I think there is now an entente cordiale.

"Balliol and Trinity colleges are very supportive of our links with our European partners, particularly in the context of Brexit.

"One or two details are still being worked up but I am confident Burgerfest will go ahead."

Saturday May 27 is one of the dates in the Red Zone when undergraduates are expected to have 'very heavy work levels'.

On the same day, the Oxford Philharmonic celebrates Bonn 70 event will take place at the Sheldonian Theatre.

Christine Simm, the city council's board member for culture and communities, said Burgerfest was a 'one-off event' which would not be excessively noisy.

She added: "Some of the details are still being discussed but Dr Quarrell was very helpful and this has all been sorted amicably.

"On the day there will be some music for a period of time but it is not expected to last for four hours."

The protocol said events were not permitted in the 'Red Zone' unless special exemption was provided by the city council’s events officer and the Broad Street Stakeholders committee.

The committee includes representatives from the city and county councils, Oxford University and the Oxford colleges in and around Broad Street, Carfax ward councillors, Broad Street Traders Association and the Covered Market Traders Association.

The Oxford-Bonn link was one of the earliest twinning links and part of the reconstruction of Europe after the war.

Dr Quarrell was unavailable for comment but said earlier the college was in discussion with the council.