Oxfordshire County Council has faced criticism from the local business sector following modifications to a major regeneration initiative in Witney.
The authority has defended the alterations to the High Street and Market Square improvement scheme.
Witney and District Chamber of Commerce issued a strongly worded response last week objecting to revisions made to the controversial upgrade programme.
The initiative, scheduled for completion across the current year, carries a financial allocation of £4.4 million.
The scheme originally encompassed installation of additional seating, renewal of roughly 2,000 square metres of existing paved surfaces, addition of over 1,000 square metres of new footway area, and construction of a bus stop serving community transport requirements.
Modifications identified by the Chamber of Commerce and verified by the county council have resulted in the removal of several raised planting containers from the plans, alongside cancellation of certain tree planting commitments.
A council representative explained that original schematics featured above-ground planters as part of the High Street and Market Square improvements.
Revisions were implemented to establish ground-level planting for trees at various points throughout the scheme.
The spokesperson detailed that adjustments stemmed from community input regarding the planting approach, efforts to reduce ongoing maintenance demands, and budgetary considerations to maintain financial control of the project.
Formal approval for the scheme occurred at a cabinet member meeting held in March, with public engagement taking place through a drop-in session the following month prior to commencement of physical works.
The latter phase of the regeneration commenced on 9 August.
The council recognised that the positioning of subterranean utilities and essential drainage remediation works have diminished certain possibilities for ground-level tree installation.
Where circumstances permit, tree planting will continue, with two partly-grown specimens earmarked for placement at the northern section of the scheme boundary adjacent to the Welch Way junction.
Consultations with neighbouring authorities may result in alternative positioning within the town centre.
Adrian Bullock, presiding over the Chamber of Commerce, described the abandoned elements as representing the most significant prospect within the programme to provide lasting benefit to Witney.
He urged the county council to honour commitments made to town residents and prioritise delivery of the improvements that garnered strongest public endorsement during consultation exercises, specifically additional seating, enhanced vegetation, and expanded tree coverage.
The deputy leader of West Oxfordshire District Council labelled the development deeply disappointing and suggested it provided additional justification for structural reform of local governance.
Proposals for establishment of three new unitary authorities were suspended earlier this month after the UK government received legal counsel.
Labour representative Duncan Enright commented that scheduling delays had contributed to the situation and maintained that determinations regarding public expenditure and streetscape design should be made at more local level rather than from county headquarters.
He expressed the view that replacement of the county council structure with a unitary authority for North Oxfordshire featuring strengthened town councils would prove beneficial.