A NEW light-up sign on a gift shop saying 'souvenirs Harry Potter football official merchandise' will help keep Cornmarket Street alive, the owners have said.

The proprietors of the 'University Gift Shop' have also said it will help counteract the negative effect the new Westgate Centre has had on city centre footfall.

The owners have made their ambitious pledges in a planning application to Oxford City Council.

Oxford Mail:

Proposed signage. Pic credit: Applicant/ Oxford City Council

The gift shop is located at number 37 Cornmarket Street, on the corner of St Michael's Street and opposite the new Plough pub.

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It already has non-illuminated signs but now the owners have asked for permission to have something more eye-catching to help boost trade for them and, they say, others.

Oxford Mail:

Google Maps photo of 37 Cornmarket Street before it became University Gift Shop.

Because it is in the city centre conservation area, they need to get explicit planning permission for light-up signs.

After explaining their sign plans to the city council, the shop owners wrote: "Notwithstanding the acceptable impact of the advertisement, it is relevant to comment upon the location within Cornmarket.

"While defined as a primary shopping area in the Local Plan, the opening of the Westgate has seen a number of businesses vacate Cornmarket resulting in vacant shop units.

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"The proposed signage, and the associated business, contribute to Cornmarket as a primary shopping street helping to maintain its vibrancy to the benefit of amenity."

The shop owners have given their name on the form simply as a capital letter A, and included no other personal details.

Members of public can see the full proposals online at oxford.gov.uk using planning application reference code 19/00144/ADV