TRADERS in Oxford High Street are fighting council plans to use photographic evidence to prosecute motorists who flout a daytime traffic ban.

Under the Oxford Transport Strategy, traffic -- apart from buses and taxis -- is banned from St Aldate's and High Street between 7.30am and 6.30pm. However, at one point, 900 cars a day were ignoring the rules.

A camera was installed near the bus gate in High Street, but a legal loophole meant photographs could not be used in prosecutions.

Camera evidence has been used only to identify repeat offenders, who are then stopped and prosecuted by police officers who catch them red-handed.

Now county councillors are planning to use new legislation which will allow them to police the restriction themselves by the end of the year.

Traders, who said the closure of High Street to traffic has seriously damaged trade, fear the enforcement will make the situation worse. Graham Jones, secretary of the Oxford High Street Business Association, said: "Traders do not want this to happen, and we will be lobbying the council's executive board.

"Businesses in High Street have suffered enough, and now that plans for the Westgate Centre have been delayed, the county needs to ensure that traders in this part of the city are being fairly treated. We are not condoning drivers breaking the law, but targeting the abusers in this way will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect, and can only make the situation worse for traders.

"We would like to see some new parking places and the restriction relaxed between 9.30am and about 4pm.

"The council should not be investing in these new measures."

But Corinne Grimley Evans, spokesman for Oxford Pedestrians' Association, said: "There is little point in closing the street to traffic and then allowing it to go through.

"I'm sure most people feel that the rules should be adhered to, and they should make it easier for pedestrians and buses."