PART of a city centre street will be pedestrianised for a further 13 months after a trial closure received glowing feedback.

St Michael’s Street will be shut to traffic from the junction of Cornmarket Street to Society Cafe until September 30, 2021 to allow outdoor, socially-distanced dining.

The section of road has been closed between 10am and 6pm every day since July 25, with the temporary order expiring today.

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But after proving popular with traders and customers, Oxford City Council has secured an agreement to extend the closure.

The council’s deputy leader Tom Hayes said: “We’re currently talking to businesses about how we can maximise the benefit to an even greater extent.

“It’s pretty clear from talking to businesses and their customers in recent weeks that the creation of more liveable streets is going down really well.

“The city council has further ambitions to pedestrianise additional city centre streets to help reboot the local economy during some of the toughest times that we’ll know.

“With the end of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, it’s clear we needed further stimulus for local businesses.”

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The city council is using a temporary traffic regulation order after gaining permission from transport authority Oxfordshire County Council.

The closure of the 50-metre stretch has allowed restaurants, pubs and cafés to maximise capacity, while complying with social distancing regulations.

As well as Society Cafe, it has provided outdoor seating space for The Plough at 38, The Nosebag, The Three Goats Heads and Mission Burrito.

Moveable plant boxes are outside Society Café to block the road and stop vehicles, including mopeds, from accessing the street.

City council officers are now working with businesses to assess the impact of an extended closure on deliveries, a spokesperson said.

They are also in discussion with waste collections providers, street cleaning teams and the emergency services on how it will affect their operations.

The spokesperson added: “Further details on the proposed extension will be released in the days ahead as agreement is reached with the businesses, service providers and emergency services.”

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St Michael’s Street was the first city route to be part-pedestrianised after lockdown, with others soon following.

Tables and chairs are in place in George Street, between Cornmarket Street and New Inn Hall Street, until September 20.

Outdoor seating has also been set up in areas of Cornmarket Street and Broad Street.

The city council is lobbying the county council – who would have the final say – to pedestrianise the latter, in the hope of creating a European-style plaza.