A petition has been created to stop the £4.25 million Bicester Market Square regeneration project.
The petition, titled 'Stop the £4.25 million enhancement plans. Keep our Market Square the same', was created on August 8 and has so far received almost 350 signatures out of the goal of 500.
The plans, which form part of a larger ambition to regenerate Bicester Town Centre, aim to transform the market square into a multipurpose community hub and events space.
Laura Duggan, who started the petition, wrote: "I am starting this petition as a business owner of one of the businesses that will be affected by the planned changes to the Market Square.
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"After speaking to other business owners on the Market Square we would like to start a petition to stop the works going ahead as our businesses will not only be at risk with the closure of the traffic but will be impacted negatively as the works take place outside our premises with diggers and machinery for months on end.
"£4.25 million to enhance our Market Square is a large sum of money especially when it can impact our local businesses in negative way."
Local business owner, Jonny Morgan, who runs The Fat Zebra cafe in Bicester Market Square, told the Oxford Mail he has signed the petition.
His business has been in the Market Square for two and a half years.
Mr Morgan has concerns about the pedestrianisation of the area, particularly for elderly people who rely on parking.
He said: "We're not averse to change, but we are averse to losing the parking lot.
"It will kill the businesses in Market Square, that's not even a question.
"If you come to the Market Square at 6pm, it's mayhem - all the takeaways are rammed.
"If you take away their parking, all these takeaway businesses - mine included - will go."
One person, who signed the petition, wrote: "I think it will ruin the Market Square and we will lose even more local businesses. We don't have much left here anyway."
Another said: "It's simply not necessary, lots of units are already empty and it'll force out those local businesses that are impacted by the works."
In response to the petition, a spokesperson for Cherwell District Council said: “We are aware of this petition and have been engaging informally during our walkabouts with local businesses about the public realm project following our business engagement event.
"We understand the apprehensions about potential impacts on traffic flow and business activity around the town centre.
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"The goal is to improve the experience for businesses, residents and visitors alike. We are committed to ensuring that any improvements support, rather than hinder, the town centre's economic vitality.
“No proposals, designs or decisions have been finalised yet, and we are at the beginning of our engagement process, seeking to understand how the town centre is used and what the community desires as Bicester continues to grow.
"We are organising a series of engagement events in the autumn and dates will be shared soon through social media, posters in shop windows and other ways so that everyone can have the opportunity to be involved and share their views.”
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