Draft Bicester Conservation Area Appraisal November 2009

9.3 Causeway character areaThe Causeway is a historic route whichchannels movement and views from theparish church of St Edburg and the site ofthe old priory to Market Square andthrough the town centre to the old LondonRoad. This indicates the historicimportance of the space which is beliedby its current character and appearance.The Causeway is a bottleneck for trafficwhich enters a one way system fromChurch Street through to the MarketSquare. Bollards have been installed toprotect pedestrians from traffic mountingthe pavements in this narrow stretch ofroad.Although the buildings lining theCauseway are only 2-3 storeys in height,their proximity and strong building linecreates a feeling of enclosure.Traffic bottleneck, looking westOpen section of River BureThe character area has no trees or othervegetation although open canalisedsections of the River Bure can be seen atthe eastern end where the Causewayjoins Chapel Street.Looking east down the Causeway, threestorey buildings at the narrowest point add tothe feeling of enclosureNo. 7 Causeway, timber framed building in poorstate of repair which has inappropriate lightingattached to the front elevation.37