21 december 2017 oxfordshire guardian city

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Your guide for your

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From tragedy comes a true triumph War Horse revi ew – don’t miss chan ce to see First World War drama

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City edition Thursday, December 21 - Wednesday, December 27, 2017

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Wishing all our readers and advertisers a merry Christmas

Footfallwup as shoppers give a u o y h s i e W city centreharseasonal boost istmas

Merry C

By Samantha McGregor

OXFORD has seen an increase of tens of thousands of visitors giving businesses a much-needed Christmas boost. Latest figures from December 4 to 10, show the number of people coming into Oxford city centre was up by 13 per cent compared to the same period last year, which translates to 86,000 more visitors to Cornmarket, Queen Street and elsewhere in the city centre. Oxford City Council records footfall in the centre and says Christmas shoppers have helped push figures up. Council leader Bob Price puts the increased footfall down to the opening of the Westgate centre and the popular Christmas market in Broad Street, putting Oxford back on the shopping destination map. He also said more stores were moving into empty city centre units vacated after shops moved to the Westgate centre. A total of 720,605 people visited the city centre between December 4 and 10 and the busiest day was the Saturday with 145,514 visitors. Overall the council said footfall for the year to date is up by 4.1 per cent on the previous year. Cllr Price said: “As expected, the opening of the Westgate centre has given a massive boost to the number of people coming into the city and the

monitoring data shows clearly that this increase has been felt widely across the city centre in the run up to Christmas. “The Broad Street Christmas Market has been very popular again.” Cllr Price said the empty shops in the city centre amounted to about six per cent, compared with the current UK average of 12 per cent. He said: “The empty shop units created by businesses moving to Westgate are filling up fast and from our discussions with landlords it seems that very few will remain empty for long. “Demand for retail space in the city centre is strong and we hope that more independent traders will be attracted by the increased availability of shop units in prime locations.” Footfall counters are in Queen Street, Cornmarket and St George’s Place, with Cornmarket the busiest location.

Stars’ sparkling gesture for children ICE hockey players took some

annual ‘Air the Bear’ teddy toss

players visited the John Radcliffe

time off the rink donate bags earlier and this month, collecting Children’s Hospitalany to give out Keith Donaghy is tohappy to help give advice regarding full of teddy bears to children in teddies fans had thrown onto the hundreds of teddies and other hospital hearing in time for Christmas. ice rink. to youngsters being problems that you may have.presents Oxford City Stars held their Thanks to fans’ generosity, treated over the festive period.

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