A new pavement café culture with improved parking and fewer buses are the main demands in the latest survey of traders in the High Street area of Oxford.

The survey, conducted by the Oxford High Street Business Association, aimed to find out what sort of street the traders want before major resurfacing work is carried out by Oxfordshire County Council highways staff.

Resurfacing work at the Carfax end of the High Street was completed earlier this year, and work on the central section from Turl Street to Longwall Street is expected to take place in the autumn or in 2008.

Association spokesman Graham Jones said: "We have found the feedback from this survey very informative and the results will be useful in our discussions with Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, the bus companies and various local organisations with an interest in the issues raised by the survey."

Some 77 per cent of businesses asked, said they would welcome some pavement widening, where possible, to create a "more relaxed and ambient atmosphere" and some spaces for tables and chairs.

Mortons and The Buttery, in Broad Street, both want to put tables outside during the summer.

Mr Jones said that a significant number of businesses indicated that they have problems with deliveries. He said although a similar number thought that the bus gate should stay where it is, some are badly affected by it, with deliveries having to take a lengthy alternative route.

Sixty-eight per cent of those surveyed wanted to see some additional parking in the High Street, especially in the evenings and at weekends.

The survey was delivered to 120 businesses and other organisations in the High Street area, and the association received responses from 66 of these, representing a 55 per cent return. Organisations which replied included retailers, colleges and language schools, financial, insurance, property and medical services, restaurants and hotels and hairdressers.

Worries were expressed about the buses using the High Street, with 62 per cent wanting to see a reduction in the number and 55 per cent believing that the speed of buses was the biggest safety concern.

Other aspects covered included pedestrian crossings, cycle rack provision, trees, seating, deliveries and lighting. The association will discuss the findings with the county council to ensure that the findings are taken into account before any new designs for the street are finalised.

Sixty seven per cent of those surveyed said they were happy with the arrangements for their refuse collection. However, exactly half felt that the streets were not cleaned regularly enough or at the best times.

Ian Hudspeth, county council cabinet member for transport implementation, said: "We can't make any promises to traders but we are happy to discuss their proposals regarding pavement cafes, provided they didn't have a detrimental effect on traffic flow."

WHAT PEOPLE THINK: Dr Adrian Gregory, 42, a history lecturer at Pembroke College, said: "It would be nice to have more seating areas outside - I think the Oxford Castle development is very nice. But I do use the bus to get into the High Street and through traffic is always going to be a problem.

Paul Gowland, 40, from Witney, said: "I have just come back from Corfu and there are lots of pavement cafés there. I think widening the pavements in the High Street would give the street a more European feel."

Jennifer Brown, 23, from Oakley, Bucks, who often visits Oxford to shop, was not in favour of the proposals. She said: "There are lots of quite side streets in Oxford which would make better locations for pavement cafés."

Ian Bishop, 66, from Lorne, near Melbourne, Australia, said: "There are lots of sidewalk cafés where we live and I use them quite a lot. We need wider footpaths because the cafés take up too much room."

Johnny Morrison, 36, who helps run Oddbins off-licence, said: "A tramline to reduce the number of buses would be a good idea - it would be less polluting. Wider pavements would be welcome too - it would give Oxford a more contemporary soul."

Lenka Maskova, 35, from Abingdon Road, Oxford, said: "I don't think pavement cafés in the High Street are a good idea. It's the main route for London buses and it would be too noisy."