PLANS for how Witney and other town centres in West Oxfordshire will look when they reopen next week have been revealed.

Following the easing of the Government’s lockdown restrictions, many town centre businesses will be able to open from Monday.

West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) says its priority is to ensure people can visit towns safely to support these businesses.

Council leader James Mills said: “Our priority is that people feel safe as well as being supportive of local businesses.

See also: Housing planned for cottages 'older than town'

“I’ve been really keen to get things going again and support our local residents and businesses, and reassure people they can go about their days.

“We’ve been working closely with the county council and town councils to to implement measures that reassure people and their safety.

“We’ve been able to put together more detailed guidance and bring this together at pace in response to the Government announcement.

“We’re here to help and support businesses so that they can get customers coming back in.

Oxford Mail:

“We will adapt things if need be and if someone says they’re not sure about something then we can look at in the light of day.”

There will be a 20mph speed restriction in town centres, whilst in Witney access will be only from the Woodford Way and Welch Way junction eastwards along Welch Way towards the High Street.

Welch Way between Costa Coffee and High Street will be closed, whilst there will be restricted access from the Buttercross, through Market Square to the High Street.

On-street parking on the eastern side of the High Street (north of the Welch Way mini roundabout) will be suspended so the pavement there can be widened.

Read more: Ten thousand home plan backed by city council

A pop-up cycleway southbound from Witan Way to High Street will also be implemented, in order to encourage more green travel.

Mr Mills said: “There are far more people cycling and we want to support more people doing this so by putting in the cycleway it encourages that and gives cyclists a more direct route into the town centre and keeps them safe too.”

The council leader added that he wants businesses to reassure customers of their safety, with packs designed to do that.

The packs are to be provided to all town centre businesses, and will contain: a letter with information and links to guidance on safely reopening; checklists to ensure health, food and safety requirements are being adhered to; social distancing floor stickers; posters displaying the limit of the number of customers, and a poster with a map to signpost customers to the nearest public toilets and hand washing facility.

See also: Better cycle lanes and pavements: Council starts work with £597,000

WODC said that the new measures have been subject to a coronavirus risk assessment and comply with the Government guidelines.

The council added it has worked closely with the highways team at Oxfordshire County Council to implement the measures, which will enforce safe social distancing in the district’s town centres.

From Monday, non-essential shops across the country are free to reopen, including clothes and book shops.