Residents back plan to turn road into cul-de-sac (From Bicester Advertiser)

Residents back plan to turn road into cul-de-sac

7:00am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News

North Street residents with their petition

RESIDENTS living in a busy Bicester road fully support plans to change it into a cul-de-sac.

People living in North Street have signed a petition backing proposals by Oxfordshire County Council to make major changes to town centre roads.

However, businesses in North Street say closing off the street would cause “gridlock, problems for deliveries and harm trade”.

Earlier this month the council launched a consultation over £1.3m worth of road changes it says will improve traffic flow.

Joe Dickson, 49, of North Street, launched the petition and has collected about 60 signatures.

He said: “Residents are 100 per cent in favour of it and can’t wait for it to happen. This is one of the busy thoroughfares into town, to turn it into a cul-de-sac would mean no more traffic, no more filth, no more buses dropping off at 4am. The price of properties will go up overnight by 15 per cent.”

Phil Whiting, 46, who has lived in North Street for 12 years, fears if heavy vehicles continue to use of the road it could affect the structure of properties.

He said: “The problem is we have seen an increase in traffic over the years.”