RETAIL experts say there is 'no silver bullet' to fix Bicester's dwindling high street as another shop closes its doors.

Last week the doors closed on Dean's Diner in Pioneer Square to create a further empty unit.

New notice boards, surveys and free retail advisers have formed a £10,000 project undertaken by Cherwell District Council over the past six months to help tackle the problem in Bicester but with limited success.

Businesses and residents put the problem down to high rents and rates along with limited free parking.

Paula Pym, a line dancing teacher, started her business as a pop-up in Sheep Street a year ago and is now two months into her permanent base in the high street.

The owner of Paula Jane Boutique, who has benefitted from the district councils retail advisors, said: "I think there are too many businesses such as charity shops and it makes people think Bicester is a cheap town.

"There needs to be more nice shops offering more of a mixture, there is currently nothing for kids except Sainsbury’s."

Over the past few years the town centre has bid goodbye to Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Blue Inc, and Henry's which shut down after 63 years in Sheep Street.

The owners of Dean's Diner, the Richoux Group, confirmed it will be shut until the New year before any decision is made on its future.

Ms Pym added: "A lot of people say parking is a problem and there should be free parking all the time to encourage more people into the town centre.

"They have offered a day free parking in December and more in January but what help is a day when it is coming up to the Christmas shopping period.

"Years ago you could get anything you wanted in Bicester, now people go to Banbury or Milton Keynes."

Cherwell District Council has worked over the past six months to identify the current issues and work on attracting new businesses to the area.

Jason Jones, 17, of the Greenwood Estate, said: “There is quite a lot which has closed down in Bicester and I guess the town centre is a bit shadowed underneath Bicester Village where most people go to shop.

“There is not much offer in the town, I may come here for the cinema for the most part but would probably chose Oxford for any shopping as there is a lot more range.”

At a Bicester town council meeting on Monday Cherwell District Council economic growth officer Julia Aratoon said: “There is not one silver bullet that is going to fix all the issues we have become aware of.

“We have now got a really good picture of what these issues are with responses about parking, business rates and high rents.

“Unfortunately there is no quick fix but Bicester does have a fantastic range of independent retailers we just want to see more.

“We don’t want empty units but unfortunately Bicester does suffer high rents and we now have to understand why and look at every single empty unit which has a different story."

To help boost footfall the council is wiping parking charges across the district on Saturday, December 3, then again in January for the New Year sales.

At the meeting Oxfordshire County Councillor for Bicester Laurie Stratford added: "We need to look up all the empty units, there condition and whether they are ready for let, then look at attracting independents or chains.

"Some people may think it is long overdue but people will want to sort out the town centre.

"The local offering is pretty miserable."