oxford

Wooden seating and planters made from local recyclable material will be installed, creating a safe and pleasant outdoor place for local people and visitors to relax and safely enjoy the surrounding buildings with refreshments from businesses on the street. The area, which will contain pocket wildflower meadows and lawns, will be open to the public next Thursday. Drop-down bollards will also be installed near the junctions with Magdalen Street and Turl Street to restrict vehicle access between 8am and 9pm, transforming the street into a more people-friendly area with less traffic and safer cycling. A two-way cycle route will be preserved. The city council also hopes to include high quality community and arts events in the space over the summer. The design was developed by public realm experts LDA Design and inspired by discussions with technical experts, businesses and groups. Oxford City councillor Tom Hayes said: “Oxford’s iconic Broad Street will become Broad Meadow, an outdoors space for all to enjoy. The creation of this large outdoor public space will be a shot in the arm for the whole of the city, helping to bring people together safely. "Our aim is to pedestrianise more of the city and give all of Broad Street back to people in the long-term.” A city council spokesman said: "The council is seeking to promote the safe use of the city centre over the summer, to support Oxford’s economic recovery and to inform the development of longer-term options for creating better civic spaces on Broad Street and in other parts of the city in the future.