Businesses see 'big drop' in trade after road closure

2 hours ago

Phil Mercer

News image — Queen Street in Oxford closed for roadworks

BBC Pedestrians and cyclists navigate a section of road closed and blocked off with green Harris fencing — Queen Street in Oxford closed for roadworks

Businesses near the closure of a busy city street say they have seen a significant drop in trade.

Queen Street in Oxford is being resurfaced outside the Westgate after York stone paving installed when the shopping centre was refurbished in 2017 cracked and became uneven.

The Art Café on Bonn Square says it has seen a 40% fall in business since the closure began on 30 Septmeber and is looking at closing early each day. Both Castle News and Classy Barbers on New Road said business had halved.

Oxfordshire County Council says the work is being carried out by Landsec, owner of the Westgate, and has apologised. It is due to be completed by 26 October.

Shoppers are currently having to use a narrow pathway to access the Westgate and buses are being diverted along different routes.

In a statement, the council said: "Because of the large area of carriageway affected, and the presence of hoardings on one side of the road, we are asking pedestrians to use the walkway provided, and for cyclists to dismount."

The closure of Queen Street has added to problems facing Oxford's bus companies already dealing with delays to the west of the centre after the introduction of a traffic filters trial.

A bus turns away from Queen Street in Oxford with cones and roadworks signs blocking the road. — Bus diversions are in place due to the closure of Queen Street

Luke Marion, from the Oxford Bus Company, says its buses are now having to travel further.

"The problem is that extra mileage involves going down to Oxpens and the railway station to turn around," he said.

As a result it has led to long delays and services being cut short of their destinations to maintain timetables.

He said bus services have not been considered properly in planning when roadworks happen but now Oxfordshire County Council has a bus champion that will hopefully improve things in the future.

Last year, a Westgate Centre spokesperson said the road was "originally planned as a pedestrianised walkway" with the surface fitted for this purpose, however the "current vehicular usage" had led to deterioration of the surface.

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