A controversial plan to allow cyclists on a main town road has been delayed after concerns were raised over the "lack" of public consultation.

Proposals to grant cyclists access to Sheep Street in Bicester will now undergo a full consultation under order of highways chief Andrew Gant following a meeting yesterday morning (April 25).

Sheep Street hosts a market on Fridays and has been a pedestrianised zone in the conservation area of the town centre for around three decades.

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Conservative county councillors for Bicester North and Bicester Town, Donna Ford and Michael Waine, had urged the council to hold a full consultation before agreeing an 18-month experimental period by way of an Experimental Traffic Order - 'ETO'.

Oxford Mail: Councillors Donna Ford and Michael Waine at Sheep Street.Councillors Donna Ford and Michael Waine at Sheep Street. (Image: Contribution.)

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Ford said: "So many residents have been in touch to express their concerns about these proposals.

"The safety of pedestrians and the impact of these plans on our historic market are the main points residents have been raising.

"I welcome the fact the people of Bicester will now get a formal say; however, I am concerned their views might be ignored given Oxfordshire County Council’s track record of ignoring consultation results.”

Mr Gant had said at the meeting: "What I have in front of me is essentially all the local councillors who have responded asking for further consultation.

"I don't have to agree with them.

Oxford Mail: Sheep Street.Sheep Street. (Image: Google Maps.)

"But I would like to respect that and ask officers to take this away and bring it back."

The Wolvercote & Summertown division county councillor clarified this did not mean "putting the decision to a public referendum" and responses would be "analysed and brought back".

"It's the right thing to do," he concluded.

Paul Troop, a registered speaker at the meeting and secretary of the Bicester Bike Users' Group, said: "We strongly support the proposed trial.

"Sheep Street is the ideal place for cycling.

"It's quiet, up to 25m-wide with defined pavement and road areas."

Mr Troop suggested the alternative was "unenforced cycling" which was "the worst of both worlds".

Oxford Mail: Andrew Gant.Andrew Gant. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)

A spokesman for the Coalition of Healthy Streets and Active Travel described current restrictions as "ridiculous" and said "every study of cyclist-pedestrian interaction shows it to be safe".

But Bicester town councillor Michael Waine said: "The fact that pedestrian views have not been sought, is in my view, a major infringement of the democratic rights of the most important group of people.

"Sheep Street is not Cornmarket, Oxford. It is narrower and more constricted, especially on Market Day and other town event days."

Once a full consultation is completed, the decision on whether to allow the trial will be re-visited.