Banbury Michaelmas Fair (Bridge St, Market Place Road and Cornhill, Broad St - Temporary Prohibition of Vehicles

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

(BANBURY MICHAELMAS FAIR)
(SPECIAL EVENT) ORDER 2026

Oxfordshire County Council proposes to make the above order on 5 October 2026 which is being introduced for public safety reasons whilst the Banbury Michaelmas Fair is in progress. It is sponsored by Cherwell District Council, 39 Castle Quay, Banbury, OX16 5FD and the County Council is satisfied that it is not practicable to hold the event off road.

The traffic measures will be in force from 6am Tuesday 13 October until 6am Sunday 18 October. The effect of the order is to temporarily prohibit vehicles from using:

1. Bridge Street – from its junction with the access road to the bus station, to its junction with High Street/Broad Street; and from The Tchure along the northern and eastern sides of the Town Hall to where it joins the main length of Bridge Street.

2. Market Place Road and Cornhill – for their its whole lengths;

3. High Street – from its junction with George Street (outside White Lion Walk) to its junction with Broad Street;

4. Broad Street – from its junction with High Street to its junction with George St.

Exemptions are included for emergency services and in the case of 4. to allow for loading/unloading at premises, which can only be reached via those lengths of road. The existing one-way traffic restriction in Parsons Street and Butchers Row will be temporarily suspended to allow use by two-way traffic. The taxi ranks in Bridge Street and Horse Fair will also be moved temporarily to Broad Street and High Street. Fairground vehicles not at the fair will be authorised by Cherwell CDC to display a permit to park on Wildmere Road Industrial Estate.

The alternative traffic routes for the closure are:

Westbound: Cherwell Street, George Street, Broad Street, Marlborough Road, High Street, Horse Fair, North Bar Street, Castle Street;

Eastbound: Castle Street, North Bar Street, Horsefair, High Street, George Street, Cherwell Street.

The relevant provisions of The Oxfordshire County Council (Various Roads – Cherwell District) (Map Based) (Prohibition and Restriction of Waiting and Permitted Parking) Order 2021, and The Oxfordshire County Council (Cherwell, Oxfordshire – Various Roads) (Map Based) (Traffic Management) Order 2026 will be temporarily suspended for the duration of the measures associated with the event.

Documents giving more details are available for public inspection at: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/eventorders

Copies may be made available on request. (Ref: S26-039)

Traffic Regulation Team for the Director for Communities, County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND.