Decision details

The Committee received a verbal update on the Witney High Street social distancing measures from the District Council’s Business Development Officer.

Members were advised that a public survey, run by the District Council had taken place and the responses on how to move forward with the measures were split. Options would be prepared and debated at the District Council in the coming weeks and would include, continuing the current measures until January, keeping the measures without walking barriers in the road, or supporting the County Council on more permanent restrictions.

Members were asked their thoughts and the consensus was that the restrictions had made shoppers feel safer and less polluting environment. A shift had been made towards walking, cycling and improving pedestrian access and that business had not suffered due to the lack of thru traffic. There was optimism that permanent restrictions could help breathe new life into the town centre. Comments made from the public on reduced footfall did not seem to be borne out by the evidence.

There was some concern in recent weeks, due to an improving national situation, that restrictions were being adhered to less than they were and if permanent measures were to remain, the Corn Street/High Street junction would need to be re-considered and the planters may need to be relocated further down the road in the interests of safety. There would also need to be some thought given to enforcement of any new regulations.

The Committee also discussed how the future of the town centre could be looked at as a whole, all three tiers of local government were stakeholders on how to bring about improvements.

Resolved:

That, the verbal update provided by West Oxfordshire District Council’s Business Development Officer be noted.