THIS is the design chosen for a £1m makeover of Bicester’s Market Square.

The north side of the square will be pedestrianised and there will be two-way traffic on the south side.

The plans include new paving and crossing points, street furniture, public art and landscaping.

The development will see 34 parking spaces lost from Market Spare, costing Cherwell District Council up to £90,000 in revenue a year.

However, there will be 10 free short-term spaces along the south side of the square, as well as an area for loading and unloading.

The taxi rank will remain in Market Hill, with space for 11 cabs and three disabled parking spaces.

The project is a joint initiative between the district council and Oxfordshire County Council, who have pledged £250,000 and £750,000 respectively.

Work could start in January 2012, weeks after the expected completion of the town centre redevelopment, and is expected to take about six months.

But the move has been criticised by some who say planners have jumped the gun and the decision has been based on 325 people who submitted a feedback forms, of which only 176 residents preferred this option.

Town and district councillor Les Sibley said the population of the town was 32,000 – so the decision was based on feedback from one per cent.

He said: “It appears to me that the people certainly have not given them a clear mandate to go ahead with this scheme.”

He added: “It’s ludicrous to push ahead with a scheme when they don’t know what impact the town centre redevelopment will have on traffic flow. It’s a recipe for traffic chaos, congestion and pollution.”

The district council executive approved the final design and it will go before county councillors in the coming weeks.

Norman Bolster, the district’s executive member for economic development and estates, said: “It will create an area in the centre of Bicester for people to use or where you can sit in the sunshine and have a cup of coffee.

“I’m sure businesses and residents will find difficulty because there is not so much free parking.

“But we went out to consultation and that’s what people said they want. Fifty per cent said this is what we like – we rarely get a clear result in public consultation.

“It was an open consultation and anyone could have taken part if they wished – it was not hidden anywhere.”

Last night a spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said the design put forward reflected the views of traders and residents.