A TRADERS’ group in Oxford is insisting it will retain an independent voice now that a new City Centre Task Force has been created in Oxford.

Business leaders from across the city have agreed to join together to work out how best to improve the centre, at a time when the high street is suffering and across the UK 14 shops every day have been closing.

One possibility which has already been discussed is the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) – where businesses in a certain defined area are asked to pay a financial contribution towards improvements.

READ MORE: Could new BID be the answer to city centre's problems? 

No BID has yet been established but it is high on the agenda for new members of the task force, which includes the Mogford Group, run by hotelier Jeremy Mogford, who runs the Old Bank Hotel and the Old Parsonage.

Other members include Mary Clarkson, the city council’s executive member for the city centre, Phil Southall, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, and Jesus College.

But long established traders’ group ROX – Promoting Oxford Businesses – is not yet on a list of members.

Spokesman Graham Jones said: “We are happy to work with the task force, or be part of it if that’s required and discussions are ongoing at the moment.

“It’s not a bad idea to create a task force but ROX will need to keep its independent voice on behalf of the traders it represents.

Oxford Mail:

“Transport is one of the key issues for Oxford and there are lots of transport issues that need to be pushed forward.”

At present buses are allowed to use Queen Street but only on an experimental basis until April, when the county council could launch a fresh pedestrianisation bid.

Mr Jones added: “I think it’s sensible to keep buses in Queen Street - there isn’t a proper alternative for them to turn round - sacrificing part of Worcester Street car park for a turning circle is not the right answer.”

Earlier this year ROX spoke out on a series of issues affecting the city centre, including proposals for a Zero Emission Zone.

Other task force members include the Westgate Centre, John Lewis, the Clarendon Centre, the Covered Market, Thames Valley Police, Oxford Preservation Trust and the county council.

Jesus College is in charge of a multi-million pound revamp of Northgate House, on the corner of Cornmarket Street and Market Street, which will feature retail units and student accommodation. The city council has backed the proposals and construction work is expected to start in the new year.