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Oxford needs help as number of empty units increase
While footfall in the Westgate Centre appears to be healthy, there is not enough it seems to sustain businesses across the city centre.
There are still quite a few empty units in Cornmarket and in Queen Street the former Topman and Topshop stores remain unused.
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That could soon change, according to the latest planning application, as there is a plan to turn the retail space into offices.
As the Clarendon Centre reinvents itself, with a similar move away from total retail, we are perhaps going to see this more and more.
At least the city centre markets seem to be thriving right now.
The Covered Market is being well looked after by the city council, with new innovations and new traders.
And Gloucester Green food market was buzzing when I was there the other day.
Good luck to Dosa Park which has opened a second restaurant in West Way Square.
I know bosses wanted to expand their operation but were held back by the pandemic.
And I’m hopeful a community group is successful in raising the funds to take over the Red Lion pub in Yarnton.
Leanne Charlett is leading the campaign and she has taken the pub to heart after living there for a decade when she was growing up.
Hopefully pubs will be busy this bank holiday weekend if the weather stays fine.
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About the author
Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning.
You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.
