TRADERS in Jericho have welcomed an announcement that a controversial barrier preventing through-traffic from Oxford city centre could be removed.

Oxfordshire County Council, which closed the road to motor vehicles overnight in mid-2019 without any public consultation and extended the closure, has now told residents that it is looking at removing it.

Traders had complained of the road closure with some reporting a detrimental effect on sales, and have welcomed the apparent U-turn.

Read again: Has council made a U-turn on Walton Street barrier?

A spokesperson from the Jericho Traders Association said: “It’s been a challenging time for Jericho businesses and it seemed odd to be restricting ‘destination-Jericho’ traffic to our 40 plus shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants with the current barrier.

“The new proposal to remove the barrier is something which the businesses broadly support. It would be a big morale boost for us all at such a tricky time. Being able to draw a line under this and rebuild our businesses with the road closure situation resolved would create stability for us all and attract new businesses in.

“Our shopping neighbourhood is a beautiful Victorian annexe to central Oxford with a cosmopolitan vibe.

“Customers have been using our shops a bit like a market town during lockdown and we’re looking forward to bouncing back.”

Householders in Jericho and Walton Manor are now being asked to give their views on proposals to make it safer for cycling and walking in a county council consultation.

The county says the measures will aim to address through-traffic on residential roads so that residents can enjoy a quieter neighbourhood and feel safer when they walk, cycle or use mobility scooters.

Councillor Yvonne Constance said: “We have listened to what changes local people want to be made. Now we’d like the specific views of residents on how they feel about the proposed measures to make sure we address the needs of the community in Jericho and Walton Manor.”