Witney is expected to receive £2 million towards transforming the town centre through government funding for a scheme to encourage cycling and walking.

The Witney Gazette has learned that the town is set to be one of the beneficiaries in the third round of the government's Active Travel Grants to help transport infrastructure recover from the pandemic and offer real quality of life benefits for active, healthy communities.

The scheme could involve greater use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology and new 20mph zones.

The news follows criticism from Witney MP Robert Courts about the council’s decision to close High Street and Market Square to traffic, leaving the area “in chaos”.

Speaking when the grant bid was made in August 2021, Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Highways Management at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Our council has deliberately put forward an incredibly bold bid for active travel schemes for the county that aim to transform lives and our local environment.

“The scale of the bid means these schemes should benefit the county for the long term; they will allow further upgrades to our county cycle infrastructure and allow us to produce desperately needed holistic plans that will make safe cycling and walking an option for many more residents.

"We know that government recognises the need to shift our dependence away from single occupancy motor vehicles and I sincerely hope that they are willing to match our ambition so that we can help them realise that change on the ground here in Oxfordshire.”

The next step would involve planning and consulting with Witney residents about exactly how any changes get implemented.

It is believed that the council hopes to bring in Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology to Witney, which could happen in May when government powers are expected to be devolved. It is also working with Witney Town Council to implement more 20mph zones.

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson declined to comment until the authority officially heard if it had been successful in its bid. More details on any plans would be available once the outcome is known.

In December 2021, Mr Bearder banned most motor vehicles from High Street and Market Place in Witney in a bid to make the area safer and more pleasant. The closure followed a consultation by Oxfordshire County Council into whether to make temporary traffic restrictions permanent. The measures had been brought in as part of Covid-19 regulations to encourage social distancing.

However the decision has proved hugely controversial and unpopular, with some traders reporting a catastrophic drop in trade.

MP Mr Courts was among many critics who said the apparent lack of planning by the county before and after the closure was potentially harming the town.

And he said local traders and townspeople felt they had been ignored – with 50 per cent of respondents surveyed opposing the closure and a further 10 per cent expressing concerns.

In a letter to Mr Bearder, co-signed by Witney South councillors Mark Johnson and David Harvey, he wrote that residents are “profoundly concerned at the chaotic way” the council implemented the closure with no mitigations for offset traffic in Corn Street, Witan Way and Welch Way.

And he said the ‘misery for local drivers’ was made worse by the introduction of a new ‘cycle lane’ on Corn Street.

Mr Courts ended his letter: “Sadly the county council’s cavalier attitude and lack of a clear plan, either to support traders or for a future plan for the High Street, appears to be endangering the long-term future of Witney’s centre.

“Rather than continuing with its dismissive and single-minded approach, we call on the county council to engage with local residents and traders, and ensure Witney is adequately consulted on a matter which is having a fundamental impact on our town.

“We also call on the county council to develop and publish a long-term plan for ensuring that Witney has a thriving High Street for many decades to come.”

He described it as welcome news that central government is expected to provide the County Council with funding for works on Witney High Street.

But he said: "The awarding of this money does however bring into stark focus how the County Council has irresponsibly caused months of unnecessary chaos for local residents and harm to traders, all while they had no guarantee of receiving any funding. Sadly, this wholly avoidable disruption will still continue for some time to come.

"I hope that the county council will now urgently start listening to local residents and traders so we can all have our say on how this central government funding is spent, and develop a clear plan for the long-term success of Witney's centre."