Liz Leffman, cabinet member for Highways, Construction and Repair at Oxfordshire County Council, said the town centre will still be a “beautiful place” after the £4.4 million revamp.
Concerns have grown in recent weeks after it emerged that several originally proposed features, including trees and planters, would not be delivered as first envisaged.
Business leaders have questioned whether months of disruption to traders and shoppers will have been worth it if some of the project’s most attractive features are scaled back.
Liz Leffman, cabinet member for Highways, Construction and Repair at Oxfordshire County Council (Image: Supplied)
Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, the senior county councillor said there had been “a series of misunderstandings and possibly some miscommunication” about the scheme.
She insisted the project’s original aim of creating a greener and more welcoming town centre remained unchanged.
She said: “The whole plan was around the idea of beautifying and making the whole of the town centre greener and a much more accommodating place for people to be able to come and do their shopping, sit and talk to their friends, enjoy a coffee, and that is still the case.”
The councillor also addressed criticism over the number of trees planned for the scheme, saying utilities beneath the pavement had prevented some trees from being planted in their intended locations.
She said: “There are two trees that we can’t plant because, unfortunately, we found that in the places we were going to plant them, there are a lot of utilities under the pavement, so the roots would not be able to mature successfully in those positions.
“There will be other trees planted in the whole of the area so it will be a beautiful place.”
The scheme, originally budgeted at £1.9 million, has risen to £4.4m. This is backed by additional government funding after feedback during consultation highlighted a desire for a more ambitious scheme.
Construction work on Witney High Street in May 2026 (Image: Ed Nix)
The councillor urged people to reserve judgement until the works are complete before the Christmas lights.
She said: “I know there’s been an enormous amount of disruption and I apologise, but I think when you see it, it will be a very special place.
“What we now have as a plan, which we believe is going to be a very good one, and which will fulfil all the expectations.”
Ms Leffman said some proposed low-level planters were removed following public consultation because residents felt they could become a trip hazard.
She added that alternative planting schemes were still being developed in partnership with Witney Town Council.
She also pointed to essential drainage upgrades being carried out alongside the town centre works.
“Drainage is being dealt with at the moment. It would have had to be done anyway, but we are doing it as part of the project so we don’t have to dig up the town centre again,” she said.
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