Parking to return to Broad Street

From the archive, first published Friday 27th Jul 2001.

Parking places could be restored to Oxford's most historic street - reversing part of the controversial Oxford Transport Strategy.

At today's OTS Working Party meeting, city and county councillors will vote on options to give Broad Street a facelift.

Earlier this year, working party members agreed to spend £75,000 on a temporary improvement scheme.

When the OTS was introduced, 50 parking spaces were lost and nine converted for disabled drivers.

A recent report, commissioned by county councillors, found the OTS had not damaged trade but Broad Street traders claim they have lost out, and have repeatedly demanded the return of short-stay parking spaces.

Council officers and councillors met traders on Wednesday to discuss options involving further street landscaping or the restoration of 25 short-stay parking spaces.

Graham Jones, an opponent of OTS and spokesman for Rescue Oxford (Rox), said the return of 25 spaces would be a move in the right direction.

OTS planner Samantha Tharme said: "There is a lot of support for some short-stay parking.

"If the scheme is well organised it could work very well."