FEARS that the Westgate Shopping Centre may struggle to fill its 3,000 newly-created jobs have come as ‘no surprise’, the Oxfordshire Green Party has said.

On Saturday it was revealed that not one of the big brands set to open in the centre this October had so far signed up to pay the Oxford Living Wage of £9.26 an hour.

Meanwhile, papers seen by the city council’s City Executive Board suggested shops and restaurants were ‘struggling’ to recruit.

Craig Simmons, leader of the Green group on Oxford City Council, said: “ It comes as no surprise that the Westgate is struggling to recruit.

“ It is increasingly difficult for people in lower-paying jobs to find affordable housing in the city and traffic congestion and costly public transport means that commuting into Oxford is, for many, no longer an option.”

He re-stated the Greens’ contention that Westgate should have been used primarily for affordable housing, adding: “As it is, the net result from the 3,000 new jobs created will be added pressure on Oxford’s already limited affordable housing stock further pushing up prices.”

A large employment fair for Westgate is set to take place in the Town Hall on Wednesday, June 21.

Last week city council leader Bob Price said it was too early to know for certain if firms were struggling.