A CITY centre street has been temporarily pedestrianised to allow for outdoor, socially-distanced dining.
The road closure in St Michael’s Street, from the junction of Cornmarket to Society Café, started on Saturday and will be in place daily from 10am to 6pm.
It means restaurants, pubs and cafés will be able to safely set up tables and chairs for customers in the road.
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This is intended to ensure adequate space is available for diners to keep apart, to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus while they eat.
Moveable plant boxes have been planned outside Society Café to block the road and stop vehicles, including mopeds, from accessing the street.
The pedestrianisation is part of work the city council is carrying out across the city centre to support businesses through the coronavirus pandemic.
The city worked on the plan with Oxfordshire County Council which gave permission for the road closure on Friday.
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The closure, which will be in operation initially until September 3, will provide outdoor seating space for The Plough at 38, The Nosebag, The Three Goats Heads, Mission Burrito and Society Café.
Six bike racks are being moved to a nearby street, and disabled ramps are also being installed.
City council deputy leader Tom Hayes said: “Without outdoor seating, some restaurants and bars will not have sufficient space to be able to open safely.
“The next few months are going to be crucial for Oxford’s hospitality sector and we are committed to helping.”
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