OFTEN traders are angry when their road is closed for repairs but businesses in Hampshire street are celebrating the fact that their street will be a no-go area for vehicles for the next six months.

The eastern end of Oxford Street was sealed off by Southampton City Council on Monday.

It has been planned to follow on from work to replace the gas main and will begin with the repair of the damaged paving, which has fallen into a sorry state due to vehicles continuously driving over and parking on it.

The works come less than a year after angry restaurateurs demanded civic chiefs to impose a pedestrianised zone.

The Echo previously reported how traders in Oxford Street said drivers were mounting pavements, parking haphazardly and damaging kerbstones – just three years after the street was transformed into an Italian-style Piazza in a £850,000 facelift.

Now, the road closure and pedestrianisation will be enforced in Oxford Street east of John Street, and is planned to be monitored for at least six months.

It’s a move which has been hailed by councillors and traders.

Bargate ward councillor John Noon believes the street will enjoy a “continental atmosphere” if vehicles are not driving through it.

He added if the experiment proves successful, he would like to see the measures become permanent to help the street’s restaurants and “unique bars”.

“I think this is what most of the traders in Oxford Street have been looking for,” he said.

“It will be a good idea – pedestrianising the street will enhance the area and make the atmosphere much more personal by not having cars driving up and down it.”

Tom Vaughan, supervisor at The Grapes pub in Oxford Street, said he thinks the pedestrianisation will improve the safety of the road, but is concerned there would be a lack of parking for the pub’s customers.

The 28-year-old added: “It’s going to be a problem with people coming to visit.

“However, as there is no physical curb in the road, you get cars driving on the pavements sometimes.

“I also see people walking in the road because it isn’t obvious it’s a road - I have seen people close to getting hit.

“Pedestrianising the road is going to improve the safety of the area.”

The pedestrianisation may even be extended, with the council set to hold discussions with residents and businesses about whether to consider a further trial in the section of the street up to Latimer Street.

A new loading bay has also been proposed to be installed on John Street to provide additional loading and unloading.

The remainder of the paved part of Oxford Street will continue to allow loading and unloading in the mornings from 6am until 11am.

City council transport boss Jacqui Rayment, pictured inset, said: “We are responding to the businesses about the problems that we have had in the lower end of Oxford Street.

“We have spoken to a number of people right along the street and the majority think it’s a good idea and will increase the ambience and the general feel of the area.

“I accept that some of the business owners feel that we do not go far enough and that is why we are piloting it first – to see how it goes. We have problems in the area with poor driving, with some vehicles thinking it’s okay to drive across the new paving areas.

“We have had to already renew the paving on more than one occasion because of the damage caused by vehicles that should not be there.”