TEMPLARS Square is Cowley's "village green" and a focal gathering point for the community, the new centre manager says.

And Aaron Bayliss, who took charge of the Oxford shopping centre on November 29, said he hoped to continue with the links founded by the former manager, Wendy White.

Mr Bayliss said: "Templars Square has got a rich heritage of community involvement so I intend to make sure that continues. It's almost like the village green in Cowley, where people come and meet."

Mr Bayliss, who has previously managed shopping centres in Tunbridge Wells, Uxbridge and Slough, said he was keen to keep up links with community leaders by going to the Cowley area committee meetings and neighbourhood action groups.

He said there were no major changes planned, as the centre was operating successfully.

Mr Bayliss said: "We've got a few empty units but some are tactical, because the landlord is not one to take on lots of temporary units to fill the shops with lower quality goods.

"We're looking for things that will complement the existing centre, such as good high street names, particularly in menswear.

"The footfall is absolutely fantastic. We're completely bucking the national trend - where it's going down, we're going up in double figure percentages in certain weeks."

A new heating and lighting system is being installed so by next year the centre will be fully air-conditioned and heated throughout the year.

Work is also under way on the roof, to fix minor leaks, after which redecoration is planned.

Santa's grotto is now open, which Mr Bayliss said he believed would be the only grotto in Oxford other than in garden centres, and will be open on Saturday, then every day from December 17.

There will also be a carol concert led by the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 22.

Mr Bayliss said he hoped to hold activities every Saturday, such as a craft workshop for children and added: "I'm going to be working very closely with a colleague, Patsy Bateman, trying to revitalise and rethink the different activities that can take place within the centre.

"This could be toddler workshops during the school holidays where kids can sit down with their parents and some simple things like colouring and crafts.

"We could also perhaps have crafts fair and a bit of light entertainment."

Edward Hill, 27, of Kelburne Road, who uses the centre with his fiancée at least once a week, said: "I think it is good because you have a lot of key shops there.

"But it would definitely appeal to me if there were more menswear shops - it's more women oriented at the moment.

"It's well used by the community, but it needs a bit of a revamp to draw in more of a cross-section of society."