A new bylaw is being brought in to stop illegal street traders blocking busy shopping streets in Oxford.

Following consultation with residents, businesses and the police, the city council has agreed to introduce the bylaw to control the activities of people setting up stalls or trying to sell products like insurance or henna tattooing.

It is designed to stop illegal street traders blocking key shopping streets such as Cornmarket Street.

Central, south and west area committee chairman Bob Price, said: "We are putting in place this new bylaw to ensure that pedestrianised areas in the city centre are attractive to shoppers, and that street traders and buskers do not have an excessive impact on the street space.

"The bylaw is flexible and will not affect -- for example -- sellers of The Big Issue.

"We will, however, be working with the police and have the power to stop touting activities that are clearly obstructing and causing annoyance to the public."

The bylaw is the latest in a series of measures to improve the city centre introduced by the council, the police and partners in the ATMOSPhere crime reduction partnership.

These include a clampdown on aggressive begging, alcohol-free zones and a busking code of conduct.

The Green Party opposed the bylaw, claiming that it could also be applied to campaigning stalls, student fundraisers, placards advertising Town Hall events or Big Issue sellers.

Green councillor Craig Simmons said: "We want a lively, vibrant city centre, not one which has been stripped bare so that only the chain stores remain."

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