Witney MP Robert Courts has accused Oxfordshire County Council of ignoring the views of residents and traders in its 'single-minded’ determination to close the high street.

And he said the lack of a long-term plan is causing  ‘chaos’ with the high street in limbo – neither open nor closed.

Mr Courts has written to Tim Bearder, cabinet member for highways at the county council, saying everyone in Witney needs to have the opportunity to have their say on the future of the town centre.

Cllr Bearder approved the closure of the upper part of the High Street and Market Place to motor vehicles, with few exemptions, in December 2020.

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In the letter, co-signed by Witney South councillors Mark Johnson and David Harvey, Mr Courts said businesses and residents did not feel listened to both prior to the decision "and subsequently when they have expressed concern at the detrimental impact the closure is having on their businesses and daily lives.”

He referred to the county council’s consultation in which 50 per cent of respondents opposed the closure and a further 10 per cent expressed concerns. 

“This has led many in Witney to conclude that the consultation was nothing more than a box-ticking exercise,” he wrote.

“Sadly the county council’s cavalier attitude and lack of a clear plan, either to support traders or for a future plan for the High Street, appears to be endangering the long-term future of Witney’s centre.

“Rather than continuing with its dismissive and single-minded approach, we call on the county council to engage with local residents and traders, and ensure Witney is adequately consulted on a matter which is having a fundamental impact on our town.

“We also call on the county council to develop and publish a long-term plan for ensuring that Witney has a thriving High Street for many decades to come.”

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He wrote that residents are "profoundly concerned at the chaotic way” the council implemented the closure with no mitigations for offset traffic in Corn Street, Witan Way and Welch Way.

And he said "the misery for local drivers has been compounded by the new 'cycle lane' on Corn Street" which, he said, again appears to have been installed without any long-term planning.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said it is "currently waiting to hear if is has been successful in its bid for millions of pounds of Government funding for the transformation of Witney town centre.

"More details on the plans will be available once the outcome is known."