A plan to make Banbury the region's first-choice stop-off for shopping, dining, and leisure has been approved by Cherwell District Council's development committee.

A Town Centre Partnership will be given the job of making Banbury a place where people will spend time and money.

The move has been prompted by reports that many towns have declined because of out-of-town retail parks. The plan aims to enable Banbury to achieve its full potential by ensuring the needs of customers are satisfied.

The partnership will include town, district, and county councillors, retailers, conservation groups, civic societies, police, and others.

Its job will be to prioritise issues and set out courses of action.

Nine key objectives have already been identified.

**Easy access in to and around the town centre for all users

**An atmosphere of safety and security in the town

**A high quality physical environment

**The co-ordinated marketing and promotion of the whole of Banbury - incorporating Castle Quay and the historic area of the town

**Further retail and leisure development

**To encourage inward investment and to maximise local and national sources of funding

**To co-ordinate cultural and civic functions

**To promote tourism

**To build on what is already established in the town by working together for a common purpose.