The long-term future of Banbury Fair was thrown into doubt this week.
Castle Quay shopping centre manager Jim Harris wants the fair moved from its traditional town centre site.
He said today's high-tech rides and amusements were not suitable for modern streets and should be banned from inner-town areas.
Mr Harris said shops in the Castle Quay complex would lose trade - and newly-laid road and pavement surfaces in Bridge Street would be spoiled if the fair remained where it was.
Cherwell District Council admitted that the matter was under discussion, but said it was too late to change this year's arrangements.
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