Roadworks halted to boost festive shopping

Last month, traders complained when Oxfordshire County Council appeared to renege on a pledge to stop the roadworks on November 22, before restarting them on January 11, suspending the work for 49 days.

Shopkeepers were told that work between Turl Street and Longwall Street would stop on December 10 and start again on January 7 instead, a break of just 27 days.

But after traders complained, the council agreed to revise its timetable and promised that work would finish on November 18 with a re-start of January 11.

The work is due to be completed in April.

Some traders do 40 per cent of their annual business during the run-up to Christmas.

Philip Scaysbrook, who runs Hoyle’s traditional games shop, said: “I’m glad the council listened to our complaint.

“To be fair, it corrected the mistake straight away and finished the work when it said it would.

“It’s now a great time to come and shop in the run-up to Christmas, and we are looking forward to a very busy time.”

Graham Jones, spokesman for the Oxford High Street Association, added: “There is now a great opportunity for people to enjoy Christmas shopping without having to worry about the roadworks.

“I think there is always the potential for people to be put off by roadworks, and they made it difficult for people to cross the road.”

Council spokesman Paul Smith said that work would start again in the second week of January.

Other parts of the High Street have also been improved by the county council.

During 2006, the carriageway between Turl Street and Carfax was reconstructed.

The drainage and kerbing were improved using high-quality York stone, and pedestrian crossing facilities were upgraded at the Covered Market entrance.

In the same year, the section of the High Street between Longwall Street and Magdalen Bridge was given smart new York stone pavements.

In 2007, the worn-out road between Merton Street and Magdalen Bridge was rebuilt.