The key figure behind moves to make the centre of Oxford a Business Improvement District has spoken of his disappointment at having his plans rejected.

Traders voted against the plans that would have meant them paying an extra one per cent on top of their business rates, in return for extra services, such as deep cleaning of the streets and street wardens.

Of 356 votes cast, 56 per cent rejected the proposal, in a turnout of 41 per cent.

Oliver O'Dell, chief executive of city centre management company OX1, said: "I'm very disappointed. It's a missed opportunity.

"If you look at other successful cities around the country, pretty much all of them have a Bid, but Oxford likes to be different."

Mr O'Dell believes the move failed because businesses could not see beyond paying extra money over and above their normal rates, despite the original proposed levy of 1.5 per cent being cut to one per cent.

He added: "If you look at other Bids that have been successful, the levy has not been that important, as it has acted as a means of bringing in other funding. Businesses in Oxford didn't understand that opportunity."

OX1 spent "under £40,000" on the process, according to Mr O'Dell, the majority of which came from the South East England Development Agency, although some has come from Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

He said he would analyse the results of the ballot and try to discover what businesses wanted.

He added: "If that includes whether they feel city centre managment is necessary in Oxford, then I'm quite happy to have that debate."