SUMMERTOWN businesses have hailed plans to bring a budget hotel to the area as a way to reinvigorate the "struggling" high street.

Amid continuing concerns about the parking problems an influx of extra tourists could bring, local establishments have welcomed the proposed easyHotel as a potential shot in the arm for the north Oxford district.

Even the owner of a would-be rival hotel on Banbury Road said the new 180-room resort would be a "good thing" for the area.

Gwyn Harris-Jones, who owns the Galaxie Hotel, said: “The high street here is really struggling, so it would be a good thing.

“It will bring people in and it needs doing.

“Without being selfish, I am not sure what sort of impact it will have on my business. I suspect it will be totally fine for us in the summer. In the quieter months, it will make more of an impact and be more of a concern.”

However, Mr Harris-Jones added that he was "seriously worried" about parking – a view echoed repeatedly by residents and various local groups during the planning stages of the project.

The plans, which would see the hotel built on the site currently occupied by Majestic Wine, provoked hundreds of objections on parking grounds, with the county council saying it would cause "severe parking stress".

But businesses have now lauded the plans for bringing in extra passing trade, particularly given that the hotel, run by the company behind budget airline easyJet, would not offer any food or drink.

Andy Bielinski, general manager of the Oxford Kitchen, said: “[The hotel would be] a good thing for me. If anything it can only make positive change.

“I would say 90 per cent of our customers are actually tourists.

“Hopefully it will generate a lot more business.”

Birute Degutiene, shift manager at Summertown bakery Gails, added: “It’s good for us. We are very happy - we are always happy to have new customers.

“Parking is not a problem for us. For our customers, they have two hours for breakfast and then go.”

However, there is widespread concern that already limited parking will be strained further by an influx of tourists.

Developers have stressed that they will encourage – and expect – their customers to primarily use public transport, but many remain unconvinced.

Janet Willis, shop manager at the Summertown branch of Oxfam, said: “It’s pretty busy here already. Parking and traffic are going to be the main problems.

“It’s a shame that space couldn’t be used for something that would serve the local community better. It’s ridiculous that there are no parking spaces at the hotel.”

One resident on Banbury Road rejected parking concerns as being "Nimby".

He said: “I think there are a lot of people who object to any development in the area. Oxford is short of affordable hotels, so I have no concerns.

“I am assuming they will sort parking out and if there isn’t parking, people will have to cope with the park and ride, which is good.

“We are in an urban area, we are a tourist city and we need to provide for that: I am supportive.”

A local shopper added: “I think there are enough hotels around [but] if it brings people to Summertown then that is a good thing.”

Sophie Greenaway, who works at an independent store in Summertown, welcomed the plans but aired concerns that tourists may use the hotel as a base for going into the centre of Oxford, rather than Summertown.

Paul Lancaster, director of developing managers 4Urban Consulting Ltd, which is acting on behalf of owners GHSR LLP, said: “As the developer, we can only see the proposed Easyhotel being good news to the businesses of Summertown. It will not only provide much needed short-stay hotel rooms for business visitors to North Oxford but also a much-needed shot in the arm to leisure and retail businesses in Summertown itself.

“Pubs and cafes are certain to gain as will retailers generally with the increase in international visitors to Summertown.”