The six visions of how a redeveloped Marriotts Close in Witney could look have been unveiled.

The site, off Welch Way in the heart of the town, will have new shops, houses, restaurants and a multi-screen cinema, but each design looks radically different.

West Oxfordshire District Council has whittled down developers' plans to a shortlist of six, and wants people to look at the plans, fill out a questionnaire and help decide which to choose.

The eight-acre site is made up of the former Witney Town football ground, an old county council highways depot and a free public car park.

The council thinks if a plan is agreed quickly, work could start by the middle of next year. All six developers have proposed a large cinema -- with national chains like Vue, Curzon, Odeon and Apollo said to be interested in running it.

They also list high-street chains like Jigsaw, Hobbs, Marks & Spencer and Next as the kind of stores that will want to open in Witney, and all the designs include multi-storey or ground level parking spaces.

One scheme has space for offices, and two for a gym, and all have some kind of public open area. Some of the plans favour more modern architecture, while others talk about the importance of reflecting the town's history.

The density of each plan plays a big part in how the site would look. One design manages to pack in 179 houses or flats, 22 shops and two restaurants, while another envisages room for 65 homes, 21 shops and six restaurants.

The council's chief executive, Geoff Bonner, said: "I hope we get a strong reaction from the public.

"It's important to realise that while the financial return to the council will be a consideration, if there's strong public feeling for a particular scheme that will be highly influential."

People are being urged to complete questionnaires from one of several exhibitions or at the council's Welch Way shop.

The plans will be on display at the Methodist Church Hall, High Street, on Thursday, March 17, between 10am and 4pm, on Friday, March 18, between 3.30pm and 8pm, and on Saturday, March 19, between 10am and 4pm. There will also be a public meeting at Henry Box School on Monday, March 21, at 7.30pm.

Small-scale plans can be seen at the council's Elmfield office in New Yatt Road and at the Welch Way town centre shop.