A LACK of nightlife in an otherwise thriving Oxfordshire town could start to have a serious effect on local business owners, councillors have warned.

In a survey organised by Witney Town Council, the people of Witney complained there was nowhere to go to party during the evening.

The town’s one nightclub, Izi, shut in September 2013, and party-goers have since had to get the bus to Oxford, Swindon or even Cheltenham for a night out.

Taxi firms claim they are suffering from a lack of customers as a result.

Greg Dunstan, 50, has been working for Angela’s taxi company in Witney on and off for 30 years.

The driver said: “Ever since Izi’s shut down it has killed the nightlife in Witney.

“Lots of youngsters go to Oxford – they want to go clubbing and Witney has just got restaurants now.

“It can be busy sometimes on Saturday. but Fridays are very quiet.”

Izi’s nightclub, which used to be in the Market Square, closed in September 2013 after director Shaun Hartless said increasing competition and high business rates left the venue struggling.

It had been open for 12 years and was a popular nightclub for young and old in the town.

But party-goers are turning to other areas for a night out now.

Rob Opher, who owns Thirst bar in Park End Street, Oxford, said he saw a large number of people from Witney at his club.

He said: “I know Witney well and I know it has a lack of late night entertainment. The one bar it did have has now been turned into Como Lounge.

“The problem is, it’s down to operators. If I wanted to open a venue in Witney who would I serve in the week? The business model does not fit in with paying high rates and rents and then just opening on a Friday and Saturday. I wouldn’t make any money.”

Jason Lyon owns Roppongi nightclub in Oxford and said he had seen a lot of attention on his club’s Facebook page from Witney residents.

He said: “Of course I don’t get much time to ask where my customers are from, but we do have a lot of people from Witney liking our Facebook page.

“There is one group, who all work at a care home in Witney, who come a lot.”

Andrew Webster, who owns the Oxford Retreat bar, added: “People from Witney people tend to come to Thirst and Lava Ignite, the late night bars.”

Dr Suzanne Bartington, a town councillor for Witney, said without a nightclub the town’s economy could be seriously affected.

She said: “I think there is a concern regarding the impact on the economy, for both business owners and taxi drivers.

“So many young people just go into Oxford for nightlife now, because we are lacking that significant sector.

“But some residents feel very much that they want to maintain the character of the town, as a Cotswold market town, and not taint it in any way with the antisocial behaviour of nightlife.”

Youth worker Perry Kerslake, who helps run the annual charity Lib Fest at the Leys, said if he wanted a big night out he would not choose either Witney or Oxford.

The 20-year-old said: “I would go to Cheltenham, to be honest, a bit further afield. Witney is boring now since Izi’s closed down. If I go out here I usually go to Fat Lil’s. It’s so dead here on a Friday.”

Paul Spink, owner of music venue Fat Lil’s, said his business was usually crammed on Friday and Saturday nights until 2am.

Earlier this year police reported that antisocial behaviour had dropped 17 per cent in 2014/15, compared to the year before that when Izi’s was open.