Traders in Oxford have described the revamp of the city's main shopping street as disastrous, writes Andrew Ffrench.

They are demanding reassurance from council officers that the £2.2m improvement of Cornmarket Street will be properly finished.

Two years ago, the street was pedestrianised as part of the Oxford Transport Strategy and the city and the county councils launched an ambitious plan to completely re-pave the footways and carriageway, using expensive York stone and granite slabs.

Stenoak, the contractors carrying out the work, have laid new slabs between the George Street junction and St Michael Street, and then concreted in some gaps while they wait for the arrival of specially designed iron drain covers.

No-one from Stenoak was available for comment.

The result has alarmed traders, and members of the public, who are anxious that the street is not left looking such a mess.

Bill McCardle, policy manager for the Oxfordshire branch of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, said: "I have just left Cornmarket and I could not believe my eyes.

"Decent paving stones have been roughly cemented in, and the work is an absolute shambles.

"This is a crucial street and we will not tolerate it being left in this state. If traders are worried, then what must the public think?" Graham Jones, a spokesman for traders' group Rox (Rescue Oxford), which was opposed to the Oxford Transport Strategy, added: "A large number of traders have contacted Rox to say they are very concerned that the work looks disastrous.

"There has been major disruption and traders have not seen anything so far that has led them to believe that what is being carried out will be any better than simply placing a big strip of Tarmac down the middle of the road.

"The work is costing a great deal and traders would like to think that they, and shoppers, are getting value for money."

Mr Jones added that it was crucial for first-time visitors and tourists to leave with a good impression, following the terrorist attacks on America.

"There may be fewer tourists coming after September 11 and we must ensure that they get a good impression, because then they will be more likely to return," he said.

Amanda Morrison, who has been overseeing the work for the city council, declined to comment. While the city council has provided the bulk of the funding for the project -- £1.8m -- it is the county which is taking charge of thebuilding project because it is the highways authority.

Samantha Tharme, senior transport planner for Oxfordshire County Council, said contractors were on target to finish the first stage of work by the end of October.

The second stage of work will resume after Christmas and New Year and finish in the spring.

She added that she wanted to reassure the public and traders that the job would be finished to a high standard.

"This is a high priority job, which will be done well, not half-heartedly," Miss Tharme said. "It is a work in progress and not the finished job."

The first indication that contractors were experiencing problems came when some of the new paving slabs had to be pulled up because of faulty pipework.

Last month six granite slabs were removed after contractors discovered problems with pipework. Workmen discovered the pipes had not been properly completed. The slabs were not damaged and could be relaid.

In December last year new paving laid outside Debenhams on the corner of Cornmarket Street were damaged by workmen. Councillors demanded the granite flagstones be relaid.