New wayfinding project to help people explore Witney town centre
A new wayfinding project will make it easier for residents and visitors to explore Witney town centre and enjoy its shops, public spaces and local attractions. Wayfinding refers to the information which orients people in a space and guides them to a destination. It can include signage, maps, and other forms of communication.
Councillor Duncan Enright, Executive Member for Economic Development, said:
“Witney is a thriving market town and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to enjoy everything it has to offer. Clear and accessible wayfinding information will encourage residents and visitors to spend longer in the town and support local businesses. This is an important step in making Witney town centre an even more welcoming and attractive place for residents and visitors alike.”
Working with Witney Town Council, Oxfordshire County Council and the Witney Chamber of Commerce, the Council is developing plans for improved signs across the town centre to help residents and visitors navigate more easily between key destinations, shopping areas, public spaces and attractions.
Adrian Bullock, Chairman of Witney and District Chamber of Commerce, said:
“We are proud to collaborate on this project to enhance the visitor experience of Witney town centre. This, along with other initiatives we have in development, will help raise the profile of the town, attracting more visitors and increasing money spent in our local businesses.”
The project is also exploring a complementary digital interactive map, making information easier to access while strengthening links between physical signage and online information. Alongside this, the Council is investigating placemaking opportunities, including decorative gateway features that could celebrate Witney's heritage, strengthen the town's identity and help guide people between different parts of the town centre.
The wayfinding project forms part of a wider programme of improvements planned for Witney town centre.
The project will be supported by Section 106 funding. Section 106 funding is money paid by developers through legal agreements attached to planning permissions to help support communities as new development takes place. The funding can only be spent on projects set out in those agreements.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Executive Member for Planning and Infrastructure, said:
"Section 106 funding gives us an important opportunity to invest in projects that improve our town centre and benefit local communities. These new arrangements will help us move projects forward more quickly once they are ready, so residents can see the benefits sooner while ensuring the funding is used in line with the legal agreements that secured it."
The Wayfinding Project is expected to receive around £84,000 of Section 106 funding, helping it be delivered alongside other planned improvements for Witney town centre, helping ensure developer contributions are invested efficiently for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.
Contact Information
West Oxfordshire District Council Communications Team
Notes to editors
The Council approved a new decision-making process on spending Section 106 funding at its Executive meeting on 15 July 2026. Funding for projects in Witney town centre can now be made by the Council's Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Finance. This will reduce delays by allowing funding to be approved once project costs have been finalised, rather than requiring a separate Executive decision for each allocation.
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