Maypoles, Morris dancers and traditional entertainment could be coming to East Oxford under plans to extend the city’s May Morning festivities east of Magdalen Bridge.

For the past three years, Magdalen Bridge has been closed in the early hours of May 1 to try to deter May Morning revellers from jumping off the bridge into the River Cherwell and injuring themselves.

But it effectively cuts off the east of the city from celebrations in the centre.

Now it is planned to hold events in and around the Plain roundabout during the road closure to cater for people living and working that side of the bridge.

Nuala Young, chairman of Oxford City Council’s east area committee, said: “We spoke to an elderly lady who told us she had been to every May Morning for 40 or 50 years until the bridge closed, so we’re trying to build back up the tradition that was interrupted by the closure of the bridge.

“We have a wonderful view of Magdalen Tower from our side of the bridge, so the idea is people will come here and then rather than just letting people drift back, we could have things for them to do.”

She is planning to approach the Headington Quarry Morris Dancers to see if they would be prepared to take part.

Other attractions could include a tug of war, which could be ‘town versus gown’, and a maypole, along with events at the Angel and Greyhound Meadow.

A meeting will be held at the Cape of Good Hope pub, at the Plain, at 2pm on Friday, February 13, where residents and businesses are invited to offer their views about what kind of events they would like to see.

Mrs Young said: “It could be even better than the activities on the other side. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, like things in East Oxford always are.”

The plans were welcomed by local business owners.

Magdalena Kurt, who runs the Tick Tock Cafe, in Cowley Road, said: “I think it would be a good idea.

“They have things for May Morning in the city centre, so if we could have something this side too, it would be good, because a lot of people come into the area for it.”

And Carol Haben-Jones, manager of clothes shop The Ballroom, at the Plain, said: “Anything that brings business and interest to the Plain and Cowley Road is good.

“I would like to see anything that’s really traditional. If they could get a maypole that would be really beautiful.”

A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said it was planned to close the bridge again this year but the exact details were still being agreed by all the parties involved.

fbarsdsley@oxfordmail.co.uk