Oxfordshire County Council and St. Modwen, the master developer for the Kingsgrove housing development, have worked together to construct the new route that extends between the A417 east of Wantage, and the A338 north of Wantage. This provides easier travel for both residents of the Kingsgrove housing development and visitors to the area.

A three-metre wide path for walking and cycling runs along the length of the road, while the original entrance to the Kingsgrove development is now for pedestrians, cyclists and buses only.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “Wantage is a historic market town that has seen, and will continue to see, significant growth in much-needed new homes and associated community facilities. The need for this scheme was established long before planning approval was obtained, and I am delighted that the entire route is now open.

“King Alfred Way will encourage active travel through the provision of high-quality pedestrian and cycle facilities, together with opportunities for travel by bus. It is also expected to help reduce congestion and noise levels, and improve air quality, within Wantage town centre.

“The opening of the road is reflective of the commitment, hard work and successful collaboration between the county council and St Modwen – together with suppliers working on behalf of both parties.”

Thomas Snell, Development Manager at St. Modwen, said: "We’re incredibly proud to have played a central role in delivering the new road, a project that not only enhances local infrastructure but also supports our growing Kingsgrove community.

“By improving connectivity and prioritising sustainable travel options, this road reflects our commitment to creating thriving, future-ready places where people can live, work, and enjoy their surroundings.”

Officially opened by Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot and Councillor Iain Cameron, Deputy Mayor of Wantage, the link’s new title – King Alfred Way – commemorates Wantage’s royal history. The name pays tribute to King Alfred the Great, who was born in Wantage in 849, and who is the inspiration for the name of the Kingsgrove community – referencing Alfred’s apple orchards, which once covered the area.

Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot said: “Residents in Wantage and beyond have been eagerly awaiting the opening of this road for some time, following some delays. I am pleased to see it open and hope it will be of benefit to all road users in the coming months and years.”

Ends

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The road, north of Wardington, was closed by Oxfordshire County Council on Monday after the sinkhole appeared in the centre of the carriageway. Emergency diversion routes were immediately put into place.

Following visits to the site by inspectors, the council’s contractors are planning to begin repair work today. It is hoped that the road can be opened and the repairs completed by the end of the month, depending on what is found once water is pumped out and excavation work starts.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is an extremely busy road, which is why we have made it a priority to have a repair programme in place within days.

“We will reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so. We hope this will be by the end of December but, unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to work of this nature. In the meantime, we would urge motorists to follow the diversion routes that are in place to ensure everyone’s safety.”

The suggested diversion route is between A423 Southam Road and the A425 Daventry Road.

It is believed that the sinkhole is a result of the recent flooding of the River Cherwell, causing washout of fill to affect a brick water pipe (culvert) running under the road. The most recent inspection of the culvert by the council’s highways teams, carried out before the flooding, showed no cause for concern in the culvert’s condition.

The washed out material has blocked the watercourse, submerging the culvert. The water will be pumped out to enable the culvert to be inspected, so that the full extent of required repairs can be determined.

The culvert may need to be temporarily replaced by a pipe to enable the sinkhole to be backfilled and the road reopened while a longer term repair is planned.

Cllr Gant added: “This is a pretty stark example of the kind of pressure our large and rural road network is experiencing from extreme weather. I am very grateful to our officers and contractors for getting out on site as soon as possible to put a plan in place for mitigation and repair.”

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The project has provided much needed pedestrian crossings, a continuous, widened cycle and footpath, and a southbound bus lane on the A44 between the two roundabouts, a total distance of approximately two kilometres. 

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “It’s great to see the new crossings and cycle and pedestrian paths, which make walking, cycling and wheeling much safer and more comfortable on this major route. With the new bus lane, these works are part of our commitment to prioritise the health and wellbeing of residents and invest in an inclusive, integrated and sustainable transport network.” 

The project is part of county council’s north Oxford corridor improvements programme, which provides transport infrastructure to support the expected housing growth across Cherwell. 

Improvements along the A44 and the two roundabouts include:

• A new parallel crossing on Cassington Road at the junction with the A44.
• A new signalised toucan crossing on the A44 to the north of Cassington Road.
• A new continuous, widened pedestrian and cycle path on the western side of the A44.
• A new dedicated southbound bus lane.
• New bus stops near Couling Close.
• A new footpath on the eastern side of the A44.
• New and improved informal crossing facilities.
• Improved street and footpath lighting.
• Maintenance and strengthening to rail bridge slab structure.
• New signalised crossings on the Pear Tree interchange.
• Additional traffic lanes on Pear Tree interchange to improve bus journey times., and
• Tie-in with adjacent north Oxford works. 

The project has also provided a new accessible footpath with railings down to the Oxford Canal towpath and involved the planting of over 200 standard trees, 635m2 of shrub planting, 1700m2 woodland mix seeding, 850m2 wildflower grassland and over 2,000m2 of open grassland seeding along the route. 

Improvements to the A44 between the Pear Tree interchange and Cassington Road roundabout have been delivered with the county council’s construction partner Milestone Infrastructure Ltd. 

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An electric car club pilot scheme has proved so popular that 15 vehicles are set to remain in place at more than 10 new and existing locations around the county, following the end of the 18 month trial period.

Since the pilot scheme was launched in April 2023, it has attracted over new 1,200 members, seen over 5,200 individual hiring sessions and led to more than a quarter of a million electric miles being driven.

The scheme has been coordinated by Oxfordshire County Council and is supported by Oxford City Council and Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils who have hosted the pilot vehicles in their car parks. The vehicles have been provided and operated by hire companies Co Wheels, Enterprise CarClub and Zimbl.

The success of the extended trial scheme means that car club vehicles are set to continue in the following locations:

• Abingdon – Cattle Market and West St Helen Street car parks (Co Wheels)
• Banbury – Calthorpe Street West and Windsor Street car parks (Zimbl)
• Bicester – Claremont car park (Zimbl)
• Eynsham – Back Lane car park (Co Wheels)
• Henley – Greys Road car park (Co Wheels)
• Oxford – Redbridge and Seacourt Park and Rides (Co Wheels and Zimbl)
• Wallingford – Cattlemarket car park (Co Wheels)
• Witney – Woodford Way car park (Enterprise CarClub).

New car club vehicles are also set to be introduced at these new locations:

• Chipping Norton – New Road car park (Zimbl)
• Woodstock – Hensington Road car park (Zimbl)
• Thame – Upper High Street (Co Wheels).

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “The popularity of the EV car clubs has led to the continuation of the schemes in many places, meaning even more residents and businesses can try out these shared cars for themselves.

“Car clubs give people the chance to use an EV when they need one, without the expense of owning or leasing one outright. They can make it much more affordable for people who don’t drive every day and provide real-world experience of driving electric without a long-term commitment.”

It is estimated that a successful car club vehicle can take on average 20 individually owned cars – often petrol or diesel vehicles – off the road.

EVs in the scheme can be hired from £5.95 per hour, including insurance, plus 12p per electric mile.

If demand for car clubs continues and funding can be identified, then it’s likely more car club locations will be introduced within the next few years. Residents can submit locations where they would like to car clubs using Oxfordshire County Council’s EV charger and car club demand tracker.

Updated details about the EV car club pilot and where your nearest car club location is can be found on the Oxfordshire County Council website.

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Oxfordshire County Council and its highways maintenance contractor, Milestone Infrastructure, have worked hard to ensure that the county’s roads keep moving and stay safe when the colder weather hits – as it did earlier this week – while also reducing long-term costs and environmental impacts.

The new salt barn at the Deddington highways depot, near Banbury, was built by Ryebridge Construction on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council. The barn keeps road salt in the optimum conditions for spreading, both avoiding wastage and ensuring that the salt is more effective, so smaller quantities can be used.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We are committed to keeping our network of major roads free from ice and snow to minimise the risk of accidents and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. This investment in new equipment and skills demonstrates how serious we are about it.”

The new Deddington barn can hold 2,800 tonnes of road salt, enough to grit over 23,333km of roads. The roof is fitted with solar panels, generating approximately 50kw power for the grid.

With the completion of the salt barn project, there is now no uncovered road salt stored in Oxfordshire, putting the county ahead of many other local authorities. Oxfordshire has a 5,500 tonne capacity salt barn at the Drayton highways depot, near Abingdon, which was opened in 2018, and a 2,200 tonne capacity barn sited at the Woodcote winter depot in south Oxfordshire.

With more than 10,000 tonnes of salt stored across the county, the council's winter maintenance team is more prepared than ever.

Oxfordshire’s winter preparations have also been boosted by the arrival of a new fleet of gritting vehicles, consisting of 16 26 tonne trucks, 11 18 tonne vehicles, two 7.5 tonne trucks and one 3.5 tonne ‘baby gritter’, to treat very narrow roads and the park and rides. In total, 30 vehicles are stationed at three winter depots across the county, ready for when the temperatures drop.

The winter service crew of 60 highly skilled drivers have all undertaken familiarisation sessions to get them used to the new trucks and some drivers have also completed additional skid pan training at a specialist training centre in Hampshire.

Richard Lovewell, Milestone Infrastructure Business Director said: “Keeping Oxfordshire’s roads safe and mobile throughout the winter is a top priority for Milestone. With Oxfordshire County Council, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the county is well prepared, no matter what the weather holds.

“With the new salt barn and gritter fleet, over 10,000 tonnes of salt in stock and 60 expert drivers on standby across the county, we’re all set for when the temperatures drop. Thanks to all the staff who have gone above and beyond to ensure we are ‘winter ready’ and especially to those who go out every year in challenging conditions to keep our network moving.”

Oxfordshire County Council salts approximately 42 per cent of Oxfordshire’s road network, one of the highest rates in the country.

While Oxford City Council looks after the gritting inside the Oxford ring road, Oxfordshire County Council has responsibility for the rest of the county – including all A roads, B roads and some C roads, apart from the M40, A43 and A34, which are covered by National Highways.

Gritter drivers treat 26 routes across the county in each gritting session, covering over 3,500km in total, of which 1,960km (1,200 miles) are salted – that’s the equivalent of travelling from London to Iceland.

Cllr Gant added: “While we make great efforts to keep roads clear in winter, drivers must never assume that a road will be free from ice and should adjust their driving to suit the conditions. If you do find yourself behind one of our gritter lorries, which are restricted to 30mph when they are carrying out their work, please be patient and considerate – remember that they are there to keep you safe.”

Last winter, which was relatively mild, the gritters were sent out 25 times between November 2023 and March 2024, with around 4,523 tonnes of salt spread on Oxfordshire's roads. The average number of treatments over the past six years is 37.

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Single bus fares will be capped at £1 every Sunday in December in Oxfordshire – an improvement on last year’s offer, which only included the Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This measure proved popular last year, with more people using the bus as a result. So, we are delighted to be able to not just repeat it, but to expand it by including the Sunday after Christmas too.”

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Group, said: “This is great news for passengers, the bus industry and the local economy. The festive period is crucial for the visitor economy and retail sector and an expensive time of year for many, so this scheme will help everyone and encourage more people to travel sustainably for Christmas shopping or festive get togethers.”

The 2023 offer led to an estimated 7.4 per cent increase in bus journeys and it is hoped for a similar result this year.

Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach, said: “We are pleased to once again support this initiative, offering £1 bus fares on Sundays throughout December, in Oxfordshire.

“This scheme not only makes festive travel more affordable but also encourages sustainable transport options during a busy time of year. We look forward to welcoming more passengers on board and helping everyone to enjoy the festive season with ease and convenience.”

The December fare cap is one of many measures funded by a £1.9 million government grant in 2023 to improve bus services over two years.

Bus users can also continue to take advantage of the recently introduced MyBus ticket, offering almost unlimited travel on nearly all local services for a fixed daily or weekly rate. More than 100,000 journeys have already been made with the ticket in a little over three months.

Park and ride users can also carry on making savings thanks to the joint parking and bus travel ticket. The ticket, which offers parking for 16 hours plus return bus travel, remains at £4 for a car with one adult or £5 for a car with two adults until April 2025. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.

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The council is creating the habitat, along with installing mammal culverts and an otter tunnel, as part of the construction of the south westerly section of the road. It will be on land set aside for a flood compensation area and will have the added benefit of improving flood resilience for local buildings and roads by holding excess water.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “The wetland habitat is going to increase biodiversity hugely. It will attract a whole range of wildlife, provide food for foraging birds and small mammals as well as flowers for insects in the spring. It will also offer cover for nesting birds and shelter for hibernation.

“Access to the wildlife wetland area will be open to the public, so local residents will be able to enjoy walking along gravel paths and watching as it matures over time."

The area will be planted with a mix of meadow grassland, semi mature native trees including black alder, silver birch and Scots pine and shrubs such as elder, wild privet, blackthorn and hawthorn. The species will complement existing habitats with some species able to tolerate wetter conditions around the flood compensation area.

Wildlife-friendly structures – eight precast concrete culvert boxes with integral mammal shelves – have now been craned and secured into place beneath the new road layout. The new culverts will drain water away from the road during heavy rainfall and flooding and the mammal shelves have been set into the side walls of the culvert at a higher level to provide a safe passage for badgers and other wildlife.

A precast concrete pipe for an otter tunnel has also been placed adjacent to Elm Bridge and Lady Brook, again set in at a higher ground level than the existing brook, to allow mammals to safely move around the area when the brook is flooded.

Councillor Roberts added: “These specialised construction elements used on this scheme, will help reduce our impact on the environment and provide mammals with refuge during extreme weather events.”

Ecological surveys conducted in late November 2023 as well as back in 2021, found badgers, otters and water voles in the vicinity, alongside red kites, bats and other birds.

Richard Stonehouse, Contracts Manager at Milestone Infrastructure, said: “Milestone is proud to be working alongside Oxfordshire County Council to help protect wildlife and provide a new wetland habitat. We understand the impact that road improvement works can have but our aim is to improve the overall local biodiversity.

“That’s why we have carefully designed and created the mammal culverts and otter tunnel, and we hope that the new wetland habitat will be enjoyed by local residents and wildlife alike.”

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Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS), the University of Oxford and Thames Valley Police (TVP) are teaming up to hold the Vision Zero safety event in Broad Street on Monday 4 November from 10am - 7pm.

Visitors will be able to explore a range of stalls offering safety advice and information, aimed at helping to protect the most vulnerable road users. Once darkness starts to fall, OFRS and TVP will carry out their ‘Be Bright Be Seen’ operations, educating cyclists putting themselves and others at risk by riding without lights.

Andy Ford, Road Safety Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “There are many reasons why cyclists and pedestrians can become involved in road collisions. However, by ensuring they have lights, and wear bright clothing, we can easily improve their visibility to other road users and reduce the risk they will be hit by drivers.”

The Be Bright Be Seen campaign stand will be open throughout the event, offering free bike lights and hi-viz clothing, while the community policing teams will be giving away free bike locks and offering bike safety and security advice, and information about the laws around e-scooters and e-bikes.

Cycling campaign group Cyclox will be there, as well as an HGV, supplied by Huws Gray, to help people to understand where blind spots occur in the cab.

There will also be innovative cycle safety systems on display, such as the FHOSS cycle lane and the Oxford Robotics Institute RobotBike which is carrying out trials in Oxford to monitor safety in overtaking cyclists, as well as information about cycle training.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Vision Zero is our ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on Oxfordshire’s roads by 2050. No person should be killed or seriously injured as the result of a road collision, whatever mode of transport they are using.

“Education is a key part of this, whether you’re a motorist, a cyclist, or a pedestrian – or all three. So, it’s great to see so many organisations coming together in Broad Street to share advice and information that could help prevent lives from being lost on our roads.”

The University of Oxford will be providing a mobile mechanic from 10am - 4pm to carry out cycle safety checks and minor repairs for all visitors on a first come first served basis. The service is free, but users will have to pay for any parts.

Dr David Prout, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Oxford, said: “The cyclists, scooter users and pedestrians being hurt on the roads are our friends, colleagues, students and family members; every death or injury is a tragedy that could and should have been prevented.

“Our goal is streets that are truly safe for everyone, and to reach it we need the whole community to work together, from individuals and families to the councils, universities and emergency services. We hope this event makes a real difference to keeping people out of harm's way, no matter how they choose to get around Oxford.”

Sergeant Pete Neale of the Oxford Central Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Thames Valley Police, in partnership with our local agencies, is dedicated to making bike safety more accessible and promoting safer riding habits in our community.

“Officers from the Neighbourhood Team will be present at the event to educate cyclists on best practices for safe riding. Additionally, we’ll be offering advice and providing security equipment to help protect bikes and reduce the risk of theft.”

The Broad Street event comes shortly after the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, published a road safety strategy to reduce deaths on the roads in the region, including Oxfordshire.

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Oxfordshire County Council is awarding the grants, ranging from £2,730 to £21,000, to fund drivers, operating costs, recruiting and training volunteers and promotion.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Oxfordshire’s community transport sector is a lifeline to many people. The grants will make a big difference to all nine organisations and help them to continue the fantastic work they are doing.”

The recipients, who will receive their grants over two years to support continuation of their schemes are the Volunteer Driver Service, covering north Oxfordshire; OurBus Bartons; Vale Community Impact; Cholsey Volunteers; West Oxfordshire’s Volunteer Link-Up; Didcot Volunteer Drivers; Yarnton Care Committee; Wallingford Volunteer Drivers; and Weston-on-the-Green Parish Council.

OurBus Bartons, which serves the Bartons and its surrounding areas, received £20,000 to help promote its services, including its new electric vehicles, which were paid for by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Richard Brown, Chair of Trustees of OurBus Bartons, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant as it will allow us to maximise the way in which we will use our new electric buses as they settle into service.

“We are one of the first community transport operators to use electric buses on timetabled services. We won a national UK Bus Award for our innovative approach working with our community.

“These buses are supporting our services from Middle Barton to surrounding towns, our commuter services to Heyford Station and to Steeple Aston, to connect to the Stagecoach services to Oxford and Banbury. The difference in the quality of the ride and the level of sound is appreciated by all our passengers.” 

Community transport is part of the voluntary sector and plays a key role in filling gaps in service where public transport is not available. It helps provide safe, accessible, cost-effective, flexible transport run by the community for the community in rural and urban areas.

Community transport can include car clubs, community minibuses, dial-a-ride, lift shares, taxi shares and voluntary car schemes.

Some groups offer services just for their members, while others are open to the public. They can take disabled people to work, children to school, sick people to healthcare and older people to the shops. Some run local bus routes and provide transport for a wide range of clubs and other groups.

The council supports the development of not for profit community transport groups and services.

Small start-up grants to help groups in their development are available, while the council can also help with the cost of training volunteers as minibus and passenger assistants.

More information is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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The archaeological investigations were undertaken of behalf of Oxfordshire County Council in preparation for the new A34 interchange at Lodge Hill.  Discoveries included deeply buried sediments from the area’s ancient river systems dating back to the Middle Pleistocene period and some flint tools, reflecting early human presence from this era.

Experts from Oxford Archaeology, commissioned by the councils’ contractor, Balfour Beatty, dug 16 trial trenches, 12 test pits and two boreholes. The work was part of a planning condition to explore any potential archaeological remains and any ancient sediments that would be affected by the new interchange. 

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: Archaeological investigations like this are an important part of the process of delivering construction schemes. They help us identify and understand past features and residents of the area and record them for future generations. 

“Oxfordshire has a fascinating history – not just its people, but its geology too. These remains offer a glimpse into the ancient ecosystems that existed here during the interglacial periods.”

 Excavations found evidence of the Lodge Hill Channel, an ancient river system that crosses the site in a southwest to northeast direction. This channel, which is buried beneath a younger layer of gravel, has silty sediments up to 5m deep in places, with remains of ancient fossil material such as snail shells, fish bones and plant matter in its deeper parts. A piece of a Palaeolithic flint handaxe was also found from deposits that directly overlap the ancient channel fill.   

The channel deposits at Lodge Hill are probably part of the same river system as similar deposits found nearby, also in north Abingdon, where Sugworth Lane crosses the A34. The Sugworth Lane deposits have been recognised as of national significance for their fossil faunal remains, which contains an extinct species of vole.

Although no major archaeological remains were identified in the trenches, a few flint artefacts were also found that reflect later prehistoric human activity at the site. Three worked flints were found, probably from the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods.  

The archaeological evaluation also revealed a few undated features, including two small pits, a linear ditch, and a series of postholes, likely of post-medieval or modern origin, along with quantities of Roman pottery and medieval tile fragments. 

Carl Champness, Project Manager for Oxford Archaeology said: “The discovery of a rare lower-middle age handaxe and the interglacial channel deposits at Lodge Hill dating between 600,000-500,000 years ago may provide new insights into a lost landscape. This is only the start of the story, and we hope planned further investigation and detailed analysis of these remains, will help enhance our understanding of the early occupation of Britain.” 

Francis Wenban-Smith of University of Southampton, Palaeolithic specialist for Oxford Archaeology, said: “These are very exciting finds. Artefactual evidence of this period is exceptionally rare in the Upper Thames landscape north of the Goring Gap. The presence of flint tools gives an insight into the mobility of these ancient humans, since flint raw material would not have been available at the site. The human species involved was probably Homo heidelbergensis, who were the ancestor of the Neanderthals, and who periodically occupied Britain in warmer climatic episodes between c. 800,000 and 400,000 years ago.” 

Image provided courtesy of Oxford Archaeology

Image 1 shows the Lower/Middle Palaeolithic handaxe identified in the North drift gravel deposits in Test Pit 21 

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A new shuttle service will be provided for people affected by the re-routing of buses due to the weight restriction on Donnington Bridge Road in Oxford.

Oxfordshire County Council will use its own minibus fleet to provide the off-peak shuttle service – the 46A – from Mondays to Fridays, starting on Monday 14 October.

This will comprise four return journeys between Cowley Centre, Florence Park, Donnington Bridge and Speedwell Street in Oxford city centre to provide some connectivity for essential travel between 10.30am and 2.30pm.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “The absence of buses on Donnington Bridge Road for essential safety reasons has been a huge inconvenience for people in this area who rely on public transport, especially those who find it difficult to walk longer distances to use alternative bus services.

“Our officers have worked hard to try to alleviate some of the problems and we’re delighted to be able to unveil this shuttle service to connect passengers with the places they need to be.

“By using the council’s own vehicles when they are not in use elsewhere, we are able to reduce the costs involved, improving value for money.”

The 7.5 tonne weight limit was imposed by the county council on Donnington Bridge in August after ongoing monitoring revealed that the condition of materials in the structure required further assessment.

As a result, it was no longer possible for three bus routes – the 46, BB1A and ST1 – to operate via Weirs Lane and Donnington Bridge Road.

This lack of bus services between Iffley Road and Abingdon Road meant that direct connections to shops at Cowley Centre and medical and leisure facilities on Abingdon Road have been broken. To improve this situation, the shuttle journeys will be timed to connect to service 46 journeys at Cowley Centre.

The council’s fleet of minibuses provide transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and adult day centres but are available on weekdays between 10am and 2pm to provide this shuttle service. Timetables will be available from the usual online journey planners and at bus stops in due course.

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The automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera will be used to fine motor vehicles making the prohibited manoeuvre.

Despite the existing restriction, many motorists are still turning left, which increases road safety risks to other vehicles and road users.

Cyclists will continue to be permitted to make this left turn.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management said: “This is an extra measure to help improve safety at The Plain for all road users, especially the most vulnerable such as pedestrians and cyclists.

“This is a very busy roundabout and the banned left turn is a road safety hazard, which increases the risks for all road users. There was a good deal of support for the installation of a camera to deter this.”

Motor vehicles will continue to be required to drive around The Plain and then take the Iffley Road exit.

Motorists who contravene the restriction will receive a £70 penalty charge notice, discounted to £35 if paid within 21 days.

The camera is being funded by the council’s Vision Zero programme, set up to reduce road safety incidents and eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions across Oxfordshire by 2050.

The decision to install the ANPR camera was made by Cllr Gant in October 2023.

Safety measures at The Plain were prompted by the death of a cyclist in March 2022, which led to improvements in November 2022 as well as loading restrictions in 2023.

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Four parish councillors are the latest recruits helping to fix problems on the county’s roads more quickly.

The Kidlington parish council volunteers received their training – and cans of spray paint to mark up defects – from Oxfordshire County Council last month to become Fix My Street ‘super users’.

They are among about 150 super users across the county trained to inspect potholes, blocked drains and damaged kerbing since the pilot scheme started in 2019. And the search is on for more.

All residents are encouraged to report road or street problems on Fix My Street, which can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website. But super users can sometimes fast-track the process instances by ordering the defect repairs directly with our contractor.

Councillor Lesley McLean, Leader of Kidlington Parish Council, said: “Enrolling as Fix My Street super users is an ideal way of increasing community involvement in areas that will improve our village. There is huge public interest in fixing potholes and unblocking drains, and now our members can use their local knowledge and contacts to target the county council’s resources where they are needed most.

“Our residents can be reassured that the report they make on Fix My Street will be prioritised through local super users, where the criteria is met. We look forward to getting stuck in with our spray cans and doing our bit to make our roads safer.”

The super user volunteers are only expected to cover their local area on mainly residential or quieter roads, not A-roads, and only when it is safe to do so. All equipment and training is provided.

Although county council highways officers inspect their areas regularly, additional help from local people increases the number of defects that can be repaired and makes the process more efficient.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I am constantly in awe of the work that volunteers do in our county, and I am incredibly grateful for the time and effort the Fix My Street super users put in to make our highways teams aware of problems on the roads.

“Their local knowledge, enthusiasm and hard work are helping us to resolve potholes, kerbing and drainage issues more quickly and efficiently. I would like to thank them for their efforts and invite more people to join them in improving the situation on the streets where they live.”

Any residents or organisations wanting to become Fix My Street super users should email volunteercoordinationteam@Oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information.

The Fix My Street super users are among the initiatives that form part of the county council’s Oxfordshire Together (OXTOG) programme of volunteers.

Other volunteering opportunities include road sign cleaning, maintaining public rights of way, school crossing patrols, managing salt bins, providing community transport, or joining one of the county’s more than 100 community action groups.

Details about OXTOG are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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More than 200 requests to reduce speed limits to 20mph in towns and villages have now been approved in Oxfordshire.

Yesterday, 25 applications were given the go ahead by Oxfordshire County Council, including ones in the towns of Banbury, Thame and Wallingford. It takes the total number of approved 20mph schemes in the county to 214 since the project began in 2022.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is an incredible landmark and I want to thank all the communities who have been in touch with us, asking to make their residential streets safer and more pleasant places.

“Throughout the delivery of this programme we have been clear about the advantages it brings. You are seven times more likely to survive if you are hit by a car driving at 20mph than if you are hit at 30mph.

“Reducing speeds in residential areas is a vital pillar of our commitment to Vision Zero – our ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.”

The latest areas to have their applications approved by Cllr Gant at a decision-making meeting also included Appleford, Appleton with Eaton, Berinsfield, Brize Meadow, Buscot and Buscot Wick, Chadlington, Culham, Ducklington, East Hagbourne, Fernham, Freeland, Fyfield and Tubney, Horley, Kelmscott, Little Wittenham, Middleton Stoney, Northmoor, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Souldern, Sibford Gower, Tiddington and West Hendred.

Decisions on more than 30 other applications are set to be made in the future.

Unlike the approach taken in Wales, where the 30mph limit was changed by default to 20mph in built-up areas, the Oxfordshire rollout has been led by residents in the towns and villages and each scheme has been tailored to local needs.

In fact, the Welsh approach has now been revised and is much closer to Oxfordshire’s, with much greater local input from councils into whether, and how, speed limits should be changed.

To be eligible for 20mph in Oxfordshire, an application must initially be supported by each affected town or parish council and the local county councillor.

A public consultation then takes place, with opportunities for people to influence the design and the adoption of the scheme within the constraints of the approved 20mph policy and guidance.

Once the remaining schemes are implemented across the county, a period of monitoring and evaluation will take place to assess the effectiveness of the measures, and any locations where further intervention may be beneficial to ensure the outcomes of the project are achieved.

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The anticipated start date is Monday 9 September.

The first closure will be in place between the Sir Geoffrey Arthur building and Marlborough Road on the Grandpont side of the riverbank. The opposite bank on the City/Friars Wharf side and the Gasworks Pipe footbridge will be unaffected.

Following completion of the Grandpont works, a second set of closures will come into force from late October, as work takes place along the towpath from Folly Bridge south to Donnington Bridge.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This work forms part of our commitment to invest in the county’s blue-green infrastructure and it will safeguard this towpath for many years to come.

“We realise how popular this towpath is but the safety of users and workers is our priority and so we ask people to be patient and observe the closure.”

A combination of signed diversionary routes and local towpath width reductions at the work areas for both sites will be in place until the repairs are completed.

The repair work is aimed at restoring damaged stretches of towpath along the river and safeguarding the riverbank.

It will involve the use of machinery and extensive reconstruction, which is why the towpath must remain closed. For their own safety, people are asked to adhere to the signed diversions and observe obstructions along sections with width restrictions.

It is hoped that the towpath will fully reopen soon after this work is completed, which is expected to be the beginning of February 2025.

However, it is possible that the dates may have to change due to severe weather or other constraints affecting the works.

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Diversions will be in place between 8pm on Friday 2 August and 6am on Monday 5 August while the roundabout is closed.

Motorists are asked to be aware of the closure and to use the suggested alternative routes.

There will be no travel along the eastern bypass between the Heyford Hill roundabout and the B480 Cowley Road interchange in both directions during the closure.

Westbound traffic travelling along the eastern bypass will be reduced from dual carriageway to a single lane, with traffic then taken off at the B480 Cowley interchange to join the signed diversion route.

Eastbound traffic travelling along the eastern bypass will be subject to a similar lane closure as well as a speed reduction, so traffic arrives at the Heyford Hill roundabout in a single lane at safer speeds. From there, traffic will be diverted around the diversion route.

The Sandy Lane West slip road will also be closed where it joins the eastern bypass heading west towards Littlemore roundabout.

Bus companies will still operate a service between Sandford-on-Thames into the city. This will utilise Oxford Road, Cowley Road, and Church Cowley Road before resuming its usual route.

Arrangements are in place for residents in the affected area to continue to access their homes while the closure is in place.

By carrying out the work over a single 24/7 closure, the resurfacing can be completed quicker and more cost effectively with as little disruption as possible.

There will be separate crews working both day and night to ensure continuous working throughout.

The alternative approach would have seen the work taking place over 11 separate nights of closures, causing more disruption to residents and businesses, increasing the cost, and leading to a potentially poorer standard of work due to more opportunities for water to enter the road surface.

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Work will begin on Saturday 27 July at the London Road site and is expected to continue until 1 October 2024.

The park and ride will remain open although parking capacity will be reduced from 1,335 spaces to about 600.

Bus stops for services to the city centre and Oxford’s hospitals will be moved to the main car park so that repairs can be carried out at the existing bus turning circle. The main car park will not be open to park in, with exception of the disabled parking bays.

The terminal building, with toilets, coffee kiosk and waiting area, will remain open during this period.

Updates on the situation, including messages about queueing traffic, will be shown on the electronic display boards around the city.

The city’s four other park and ride sites will be unaffected while the work is carried out at Thornhill.

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Measures to improve road safety and bus journey times on Oxford’s Woodstock Road have been approved today by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy.

The improvements are focused on the area between St. Giles and the Wolvercote Roundabout (A40) and are designed to work with other measures to enhance journeys made by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.  

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “Oxford looks forward to a greater demand for sustainable travel solutions to meet expected increases in population and jobs. These plans are one part towards answering that need on one of our city’s busiest roads.

“We have committed to making sure our highways are safer and work better for all our road users. We are implementing cycle way improvements and crossings that really prioritise the safety of people walking and wheeling.”

The improvements include:

• Replacing a section of the southbound bus lane between Wolvercote and Squitchey Lane with a northbound lane on the other side. This will be implemented as a trial under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO), and follows advice from local bus operators
• Pedestrian crossings on the junctions of roads between and including Bevington Road and St. Margaret's Road
•  Off-road cycle path on Woodstock Road between Frenchay Road and St. Margaret’s Road, and
• Zebra crossing on Woodstock Road near Bevington Road.

Works are expected to take place between August 2024 and March 2025, and will be sensitively phased to keep disruption to a minimum.

The project is funded through the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

More information

• Full details of the proposals presented to the cabinet meeting can be viewed in the report (item 5, pp13 - 23)
• General information about the Woodstock Road Sustainable Travel Improvements plan can be viewed at any time on oxfordshire.gov.uk/woodstockroad
• Crossings are designed to meet LTN 1/20 guidance

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The MyBus Oxfordshire ticket offers passengers daily or weekly travel around the county, covering most routes and operators, for a fixed price.

It means that one ticket, costing £6.50 a day and £25 a week for adults or £3.50 a day or £14.50 a week for under-19s, gives you unlimited access to more than 150 bus services run by 12 operators in Oxfordshire.

The offer has been developed by the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership, a collaboration between Oxfordshire County Council and the county’s bus companies to promote the use of bus services through Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding provided by the government.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Whether you want to explore the county or make your journey to work easier, the MyBus ticket presents a simple, joined-up and good value bus travel solution for Oxfordshire’s residents and visitors.”

This is the first time that such a ticket has been offered for the whole of the county, and across multiple operators.

Both the county’s main bus providers, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach, offer day tickets for unlimited travel on their own services across Oxfordshire. There are also day tickets available within the SmartZone, which covers the area in and around Oxford city, that are valid on both operators’ services.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and Pulhams, said: “We have a lot of experience in delivering multi-operator ticketing via the Oxford SmartZone scheme, and it’s great to be able to expand this principle across all bus services countywide. We’re pleased to support the council in this exciting initiative on a trial basis to help encourage more people in the county to give bus travel a try.”

Chris Hanson, Managing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “We are excited to be part of the first countywide multi operator ticketing scheme for Oxfordshire. We look forward to continuing to work with Oxfordshire County Council and other operators to promote the tickets to residents and visitors, illustrating how easy it is to travel around the brilliant network we all offer.

“MyBus tickets will make travelling across our county, using the network of services, seamless.”

Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Reading Buses and representative of the smaller bus companies in the region, said: “We are pleased to see this scheme that will reduce the cost of bus travel for customers and improve connectivity between routes regardless of who is running the service.”

All tickets can be purchased on participating bus operator websites and mobile apps. Day tickets are also available to purchase when boarding the bus.

Full details of the scheme, including which routes and operators are included, are available online at www.mybusoxfordshire.org.uk, Oxfordshire’s new bus partnership website.

BSIP funding, which has totalled £14.6 million for Oxfordshire to date, is for measures that will increase long-term bus patronage, help maintain service levels, ensure essential social and economic connectivity for local communities and promote innovation in the industry.

The money has also been used to fund a £1 Sunday fare cap in December 2023 and 2024, and support and improve bus services in both rural and urban areas.

Last month, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the adoption of an updated BSIP for Oxfordshire for 2024-25. Publication of this document was a condition for release of the final instalment of the existing funding allocation for Oxfordshire for this year.

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Residents and businesses have shown incredible patience with more than a year of disruption to their lives because of this project, which has already had its timetable altered twice before and seen its closure dates extended. We have expressed our deep dissatisfaction to Network Rail and to the Department for Transport about this.

The launch of the council’s traffic filters trial planned to start in November is now in question, with various options being considered as a result. The trial aims to tackle Oxford’s chronic congestion problems and dramatically improve bus journey times. We are calling on and working with Network Rail to find an acceptable solution to this situation quickly.

The council remains incredibly supportive of improvements to the rail station for Oxford with improved capacity for passengers and freight, which is vital for the development of projects such as East West Rail.

In the meantime, we will continue to do all we can to work with partners to minimise the impact on the rest of the road network.

Residents will benefit from safer cycling and walking routes after proposals to improve paths and crossings between Oxford Business Park and Hollow Way were approved at a county council cabinet member decision meeting on 20 June.

The improvements on the stretch of the B480, Garsington Road in Oxford will make it easier and more enjoyable to walk, wheel and cycle and will improve road safety.

The plans include a new crossing, new and improved paths for walking and cycling, and road humps at side roads for safer crossing and to encourage careful driving at junctions.

Bill Cotton, Oxfordshire County Council’s Corporate Director for Environment and Place, said: “Garsington Road is a key route in our city network – linking the eastern bypass with Oxford’s eastern arc, and providing a business centre with a thriving business park that is home to over 65 diverse businesses and facilities.

“Creating the best environments to support active travel in our busy city is hugely important. These changes will mean that more people will be able to choose cycling and walking as part of their daily travel, benefitting health and wellbeing and keeping our vibrant city moving.

“The upgrades to Garsington Road are a part of our commitment to help make the road safer for everyone using it, with a special focus on vulnerable road users.”

The upgrades include:

• A new toucan crossing on the western side of Garsington Road/John Smith Drive roundabout, replacing the existing crossing that is nearby.  The crossing will have lights and will be wider to give more space to cross for people walking, wheeling, pushing prams or with bicycles.
• Extending the existing cycleways on Garsington Road by upgrading footways and cycleways on the southern side of the road. These will be shared use between John Smith Drive and the petrol station, then segregated with marked dividing lines between the petrol station and St. Luke’s Road.
• Adding shared use footways and cycleways around the northern and southern sides of the Garsington Road/John Smith Drive roundabout. This will include raised tables to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists crossing the junctions. 
• Installing flat top road humps at the junctions of Phipps Road, Napier Road and St. Luke's Road to provide a wide continuous footway and promote pedestrian and cyclist priority crossing the junctions. They will also help reduce vehicle speed entering and exiting the side roads.

Construction work to install the improvements is planned for later this summer, ahead of the traffic filters trial beginning in the autumn.

Ends

For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Notes to editors

• You can read more about the project on the county council website oxfordshire.gov.uk/garsingtonroadtravel. The project is funded by the government’s Active Travel Fund.
• More details are in the cabinet report (Page 4, item 7).
• Proposals were open for formal consultation between 25 April and 24 May 2024 – details of this are in the cabinet report (Annex 5, pp235 -244).
• Measures in the central Oxfordshire travel plan and Oxfordshire’s local transport and connectivity plan are designed to make Oxfordshire a better place for everyone.

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Oxfordshire County Council and Voi will continue to provide public hire e-scooters in the city of Oxford, as the government confirms the UK’s e-scooter trial programme will continue.

The e-scooter trial has now been formally extended to the 31 May 2026, enabling the county council to extend its contract with e-scooter operator Voi until 31 May 2026.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It is wonderful to announce our great relationship with Voi is continuing for a further two years. We are delighted to be able to offer people greener, more flexible alternatives to the private car for moving around our historic city.”

James Bolton, General Manager for Voi UK, said: “We are thrilled at the prospect of operating in Oxford for a further two years. It’s been an amazing journey building up the scheme from a small beginning to where it is now. In the last three years we’ve seen increasing numbers of people benefit from using our e-scooters as a safe, affordable and sustainable way of travelling which doesn’t contribute to air pollution or clog up streets with traffic.”

Voi has been operating Oxford’s e-scooter programme since 2021. There are now over 850 e-scooters available for hire in Oxford and they have been used to travel more than a combined 2.5 million miles through the city’s historic streets. That’s the equivalent of more than 100 times around the world.

Highlights of the last year have included a new e-scooter bay with six e-scooters at Wolfson college, and a whole-fleet upgrade to Voi’s Voiager 5 (V5) model.

In addition to regular in-person e-scooter safe riding days, Voi is also launching a brand new free, online safety school: RideSafe Academy for e-scooter riders from 16 June 2024.

Notes:

• More about the Oxford e-scooter trial can be found on the county council’s website.
• To tie in with government trial dates, Voi’s contract with the county council extended to May 31 2026 subject to the government e-scooter trial dates being extended.
• The scheme is closely monitored, and irresponsible or unsafe use of the e-scooters is enforced with user bans from Voi – the county council’s operating partner. Incidents of bad riding practices are well managed and 0.02 per cent of total Voi account holders (UK-wide) have been blocked.
• The public hire e-scooters operate 24 hour since October 2022 – subject to their continued safe, responsible and lawful use.
• The new RideSafe Academy supersedes the previous RideLikeVoila school.
• Voi also offers personal rental options. More details here: https://www.voi.com/blog/long-term-rental-scheme-oxford

For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk
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The combined ticket, which offers parking for 16 hours plus return bus travel, will stay at £4 for a car with one adult or £5 for a car with two adults until April 2025. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.

Joint ticketing, which is now a permanent feature at the five park and ride sites, was introduced by Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach in 2022.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Oxford’s park and rides are the cheapest and most convenient way for drivers to get into the city centre, as well as other locations such as Oxford’s hospitals, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Summertown and Wheatley.

“Joint ticketing has proved to be extremely popular and it is great news that the prices are staying the same for another year. More people on the buses means fewer cars on the road, less congestion and less pollution.”

Users will be able to take advantage of the rollout of 159 cleaner, state of the art electric buses serving the city, thanks to a multi-million-pound deal involving the county council, the bus companies and the government.

Passengers are also expected to see bus journey times reduced once a traffic filter trial on six roads in Oxford begins in November 2024.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “Oxford's park and rides are a key part of the city's transport network and essential to helping reduce congestion in the city. It is great that in Oxford, key stakeholders are continuing to work in partnership to make bus travel as attractive as possible to further reduce congestion and improve air quality.

“We have significantly invested in a new fleet of electric buses and look forward to the introduction of traffic filters, which collectively help towards the overall goal. Freezing park and ride tickets to encourage people to make more sustainable travel choices in the meantime is great news and will be welcomed by our passengers.”

Karen Coventry, Commercial and Marketing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “Anything we can do to encourage bus use over private car is of a huge benefit to us all, so we are delighted to see a freeze in the price of park and ride tickets for the coming year.

“Travelling by bus is by far one of the easiest behavioural switches we can make to improve air quality and protect our environment. With our EV buses due to join those already operating within the city centre this summer, it has never been a better time to forge new, greener habits.”

Councillor Louise Upton, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “It is great news that the bargain-priced, combined parking and bus ticket offer has been extended at all of Oxford's park and ride car parks. It is a great example of working together to support cheaper travel in Oxford.

“The flexibility to stay up to 16 hours means that people working shifts or who are visiting the city until late in the evening can do so without worrying. Please do use the park and rides – hop on one of the new electric buses and take away the stress of trying to find a parking spot in the city centre.”

Oxford has five park and ride car parks around the edge of the city. Three are run by the city council and two by the county council:

• Oxford Parkway Park and Ride
• Pear Tree Park and Ride
• Redbridge Park and Ride
• Seacourt Park and Ride
• Thornhill Park and Ride

Drivers can buy a combined ticket through the RingGo parking app, or at one of the onsite ticket machines.

RingGo users can buy a combined virtual ticket through the app. Users are encouraged to download the RingGo app before arriving.

The joint ticket does not change the prices of parking only, annual, quarterly, or 28-day permit holders. Free parking remains for blue badge holders.

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From today (8 May) until Wednesday 5 June, Oxfordshire County Council is asking for people’s views on the Woodstock Road Sustainable Travel Improvements Scheme.

The council is proposing changing the travel direction of an existing bus lane, as well as a number of active travel improvements to help improve bus journey reliability and make the road safer for everyone using it.

The feedback gathered will help inform a county council cabinet decision on whether to approve the work.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I encourage people to look at the proposals and help us understand the impact they’ll have. There is a clear link between active travel and improved physical and mental health. Children who walk or cycle to school will be healthier, have a more active social life, do better in the classroom and live longer. Sitting in a traffic jam harms everyone, inside and outside the car.

“Woodstock Road is used by many people travelling by bus, bike and on foot or with mobility aids, both from within Oxford and travelling to and from other areas. By investing now and providing space and facilities for making journeys other than travelling by car, we can better manage traffic in the coming years with planned growth and housing.”

The proposals cover the area between St Giles in Oxford city centre and the Wolvercote Roundabout (A40). The proposals are designed to work with other measures to improve and encourage journeys made by walking or wheeling, cycling and public transport.  

The project has two phases. Phase one involves a bus lane change, which proposes to remove part of the 24-hour southbound bus lane between Wolvercote (A40) and Squitchey Lane and replace it with a like-for-like northbound bus lane on the other side.

Phase two is focused on the southern end of the Woodstock Road and covers a series of active travel (cycling, walking and wheeling) priority measures for the Woodstock Road including:

• New and improved side road crossings.
• An extension of the shared use, off-road cycle path on the western side of Woodstock Road.
• The installation of solar studs along cycle lanes throughout Woodstock Road to improve visibility.
• A new zebra crossing on Woodstock Road between Observatory Street and Bevington Road.
• Localised sections of improvements to the condition of footway/off-road segregated cycle lanes.
• Various road marking amendments.
• A new full time bus stop clearway on the east side of the Woodstock Road.
• The relocation of a marked parking bay outside Belsyre Court.

People can take part in an online survey on the county council’s digital engagement and consultation platform, Let’s Talk Oxfordshire. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 June 2024.

Subject to approval by the council’s cabinet, the proposed works could start this summer.

The project is funded through the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

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A well-preserved wooden well of suspected late Bronze-Age date, was found recently during archaeological excavations at the site of Oxfordshire County Council's project to build the south-westerly section of the Benson Relief Road.

The excavation was undertaken by Oxford Archaeology working on behalf of the council. It uncovered the significant find during an archaeology ‘strip, map and sample’ exercise that was a planning condition for the scheme, to ensure any archaeological finds are recorded.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “This find gives fantastic insight into the area’s past land use. It is thought the well may have been used for agricultural irrigation purposes for settlements nearby.   Archaeological surveys like this are an important part of the process of delivering construction schemes. They help us identify and understand past residents of the area and record them for future generations. 

“Other evidence of Bronze Age activity has previously been identified in and around Benson and as far as Wallingford. The excavations undertaken as part of the Benson Relief Road help to further our understanding of this rich landscape and demonstrate how widespread the activity was.”

 John Boothroyd, Senior Project Manager at Oxford Archaeology, said: “When investigating what appeared to be a standard pit for the site, the archaeological team started exposing the remains of a preserved wooden post driven vertically into the ground.  Further excavation revealed that these posts formed the uprights of a wattle structure that lined the edge of the pit. Preservation of wooden structures from this period is rare and the remains have survived all this time, due to being buried in waterlogged ground.

 “Despite the extremely challenging conditions, the team were able to expose and fully record the well in the ground. The specialist soil samples that were collected will also help establish what the surrounding landscape would have been like, and the intensity to which it was settled, when the well was actively being used.”

The timber structure was digitally recorded before experts from Oxford Archaeology gently dismantled it by hand for removal. A sample of the preserved wood has been sent for further specialist recording that will identify the type of wood used, and if any evidence of the tools used to cut and shape the timbers can be determined.

Various other pieces of struck flint, animal bone and pottery used for storage and waste, were also found on site. The wood, along with the rest of the artefacts recovered from the site will be stored with the Oxfordshire Museum Service, and the results of the excavation published in a full report.

Images - provided courtesy of Oxford Archaeology

• Image 1 shows the well as it was being excavated
• Image 2 is a close-up of the well, showing the wattle structure

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Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet today approved the strategy and action plan entitled Oxfordshire – Safe Roads through Vision Zero to 2030.

The document builds on the council’s adoption of Vision Zero in 2022, a concept that originated in Sweden in the 1990s as a road safety approach. The ambition is to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Oxfordshire’s roads to zero by 2050, with targets of a 25 per cent reduction by 2026 and 50 per cent by 2030.

It also follows a public consultation on the proposed strategy, which received more than 1,300 responses.

Paul Fermer, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Highways and Operations, said: “The case for Vision Zero is clear. Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 128 people were killed on Oxfordshire roads, and a further 1,130 were seriously injured. This has a devastating impact on individuals and families, and on our communities in general.

“Vision Zero starts with a simple premise, that no human being should be killed or seriously injured as the result of a road collision, whatever mode of transport they are using.

“Although there has been a long-term downward trend in reported road collisions and injuries in Oxfordshire, recent figures show they are now on the increase. We need to take a zero tolerance attitude to having anyone else killed or seriously injured on our roads.”

Each year, on Oxfordshire’s roads, there are:

• an estimated 30,000 collisions of all types;
• approximately 1,250 reported injury collisions; 
• approximately 30 deaths, 245 serious injuries and nearly 1,250 slight injuries reported.

The Vision Zero programme aims to ensure the highway network is safely designed, implemented and maintained with Vision Zero at the heart of all decision making. The programme has a £4 million capital budget for measures delivered by 2026, plus £250,000 of revenue funding.

Vision Zero focuses on a whole safe system approach, rooted in the belief that every death reflects a human failure in the system. This ensures that the programme is not just a technical solution but also encourages a behaviour change and cultural shift towards a more human-based approach to road safety.

This safe system approach encompasses five aspects; safe roads and roadsides; safe vehicles; safe speeds, such as the council’s 20mph programme; safe road users; and the post collision response, from the initial onsite first aid through to the analysis and reviews of road safety incidents.

Better use of road safety collision data will be vital in achieving Vision Zero. The council will look at near miss data to understand the flow of traffic at junctions and review the causes of slight incidents before they become a serious or fatal collision, as well as analysing actual collisions.

The data will be used for identifying collision hot spots, prioritising maintenance at these sites and improving road safety infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. It will also be used to identify road users’ behaviours and other road safety factors that contribute to collision hot spots. Enforcement, education or publicity activity can then be carried out to help reduce the risks.

Mr Fermer added: “We do not underestimate the challenges of implementing Vision Zero. It is a challenge that requires political and social commitment, including technical expertise across other councils and Thames Valley Police, and financial investment.”

Since Vision Zero was adopted – prompted by the deaths of two female cyclists in Oxford in the space of a few weeks in early 2022 – work has been carried out at The Plain roundabout in the city aimed at making it safer for vulnerable road users, including cyclists.

Work is also planned at many other sites around the county to tackle problems such as improving road safety at dangerous junctions, cycle safety, turning conflicts and to create safer routes to school.

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Oxfordshire County Council has now formally entered into a grant funding agreement with Homes England to secure £17.33 million of infrastructure grant funding for the A34 Lodge Hill interchange scheme. This is the first scheme to enter into contract with Homes England for the provision of Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land (BIL) funding.

The county council has also entered into a contract with Balfour Beatty for the design and build of the scheme. Detailed design has already begun, with construction of the local traffic calming works and the layby upgrades to the A34 expected to start later this year. The main construction of the two new south-facing A34 slip roads is anticipated to start in autumn 2024, lasting approximately two years.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “The A34 Lodge Hill scheme will improve connectivity to and from the north of Abingdon, avoiding the town centre and making it easier for people to choose walking, cycling or taking public transport as part of their daily routine.

“Securing funding from Homes England and appointing a design and build contractor represents major milestones for the project, and the council is now in a strong position to accelerate towards construction. This project has been in development for a long time and is much needed and wanted by the residents of Abingdon.”

The council will work in partnership with Balfour Beatty to satisfy the planning conditions as soon as practicably possible, as well as work collaboratively with National Highways to agree the design and construction methodology, followed by construction of the new A34 slip roads.

Pauline Schaffer, Director of Infrastructure Funding at Homes England, said: “We are pleased to have now entered into contract with Oxfordshire County Council. Our multi-million pound funding will provide strategic transport infrastructure, unlocking 820 homes in north Abingdon and supporting wider housing and economic growth in the area.

“We are committed to working with ambitious local authority partners seeking to meet their local housing needs through delivery of key infrastructure.”

Matt Parkes, Project Director at Balfour Beatty, said: “We are pleased to be working alongside Oxfordshire County Council to bring the A34 Lodge Hill Interchange scheme to life. This important transport infrastructure project will support regional economic growth and on completion, will significantly improve connectivity and accessibility for local residents and the travelling public alike.”

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Oxfordshire County Council and its contractor Milestone Infrastructure Ltd will be visiting more than 50 locations between 8 April and 3 June to carry out surface dressing work. The programme is part-funded by the government, with £2.629 million coming from the Department for Transport’s road resurfacing fund.

Around one million square metres of carriageway will be treated, making it the biggest surface dressing programme undertaken in Oxfordshire for at least 20 years.

Bill Cotton, Oxfordshire County Council’s Corporate Director for Environment and Place, said: “We know how important the quality of our roads is to our residents and this significant programme of work will help keep many miles of highways in a better condition for years to come.

“Surface dressing is one of the most cost-effective methods of roads maintenance and spring is the best time to start this programme of work. We would urge motorists to watch out for notifications of the work taking place and to drive carefully after it has been carried out.”

Driving too fast on a recently treated road can result in broken windscreens or chipped paintwork, as the friction from the tyres can dislodge loose chips. There is also an increased risk of skidding while the new chippings ‘bed in’.

For these reasons, an advisory speed limit of 20mph will be put in place. It is important to adhere to these low speeds until all warning signs have been removed.

Richard Lovewell, Business Director for Milestone’s Oxfordshire contract, said: “We’re proud to be embarking on Oxfordshire’s biggest programme of this kind in 20 years. Surface dressing is one of the best and most cost-efficient and sustainable way to extend the life of our county’s roads.

“Thanks to close collaboration with Oxfordshire County Council and our supply chain, we’ve planned the work in a way that minimises disruption and maximises efficiencies. We’ve also positioned Oxfordshire right at the start of the national surface dressing season.”

Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, said: “Motorists in Oxfordshire deserve safe, modern and smooth roads they can rely on. I’m delighted to see Oxfordshire County Council making good use of the £2.6m government funding we have provided to tackle potholes and keep motorists moving across the county.

“We’re taking decisive action to resurface roads and fix potholes by investing an extra £8.3 billion in the biggest ever funding increase for local road improvements, which is enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of roads across the country, and made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.”

Surface dressing involves applying bituminous emulsion on to the road as a binder. This is followed immediately by the application of chippings to dress the emulsion layer.

The method offers many advantages, including:

• Sealing the road surface to keep out water, one of the major causes of deterioration and potholes.
• Reducing the deterioration of the road surface.
• Restoring the necessary level of skid resistance to reduce skid-related traffic collisions.
• Enabling worn out road surfaces to last longer, increasing the time before structural maintenance is required.
• Maximising the cost effectiveness of limited highway maintenance budgets. 
• Minimising traffic disruption and congestion as large areas of roads – up to 100,000 square metres – can be treated in a single day.

The work is highly weather dependent and cannot be completed in wet conditions. Therefore, the earlier in the year it can be started, the more likely it can be completed with minimal disruptions.

Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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Following Oxfordshire County Council’s allocation last year of £1.2 million for rural public and community transport, further new buses will be launched on April 15 to connect more villages to market towns and Oxford.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I’m really delighted to be able to back our commitment to high quality public transport with real delivery and budget, in rural areas as well as our larger towns.

“Not everyone has access to a car and so public transport is essential to help people get around for work, shopping, and socialising. We know there is a demand for bus services in these locations, which can’t be met by the commercial operators, and we are glad to be able to help fill this gap.”

The new services will all be operated by accessible minibuses from the council’s in-house fleet but will be open to all bus users.

The announcement follows the introduction in November 2023 of new bus routes to villages, which had been without public transport since 2016, and the allocation of grants worth nearly £425,000 to improve community transport in Oxfordshire last month.

The new routes are:

• 42: Abingdon to Oxford via Sunningwell, Bayworth, Boars Hill and South Hinksey (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
• 49: Cuddesdon and Denton to Cowley Templars Square and Oxford City Centre (Tuesdays and Thursdays; on Tuesdays via Toot Baldon and Marsh Baldon and on Thursdays via King's Copse and Cowley Tesco).
• 79: Hornton, Horley and Hanwell to Banbury Town Centre and Banbury Gateway (Thursdays only).
• 85: Goosey, Charney Bassett, Lyford, West Hanney and Denchworth to Grove and Wantage (Wednesdays only).
• 107: Oddington, Charlton-on-Otmoor, Fencott and Murcott to Bicester via Langford (Fridays only).

Timetables will be available on Traveline later this month.

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Money from the Department for Transport will seed fund a major rollout of infrastructure worth over £10m that will see more than 1,300 public chargers delivered in the county by the end of 2025. The rest of the funding will largely come in the form of investment from the EV chargepoint operators themselves.

Oxfordshire County Council led the application in close collaboration with Oxford City Council and Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils.

The programme aims to create a reliable, easy-to-use, contactless EV charging network spanning the county. This will give more people the opportunity to switch to an EV – regardless of where they live or their parking situation – to improve Oxfordshire's environment and air quality.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with responsibility for Climate Change, Environment, and Future Generations said: “This funding will provide a huge boost to Oxfordshire’s growing EV charging network and build on our leadership in this field, removing one of the blocks to EV ownership. One of our top aims is to get reliable, contactless public EV charging into rural and deprived areas, ensuring that nobody will be left behind in the transition to driving electric.”

The programme, known as OXLEVI, will be the largest deployment of public EV charging infrastructure ever seen in Oxfordshire and will treble the amount of public chargers currently available.

The focus will be on standard 7kW chargers that residents without home chargers can use overnight at discounted rates. The new EV chargers network will also provide much needed top-up charging for residents, visitors, commuters and working drivers during the daytime.

The scheme is expected to include the installation of rapid chargers and charging bays suitable for van drivers, disabled drivers and EV car clubs. Most of the new EV chargers will be installed in off-street parking locations such as council car parks, building on the success of the Park and Charge project, which installed 250 EV charging points across council car parks in Oxfordshire between 2021 - 2022.

In line with national policy change, the LEVI funding will see Oxfordshire County Council take on the responsibility to deploy EV Infrastructure on the highway, including delivery of phase two of the Go Ultra Low Oxford project (GULO), which will see a minimum of 100 GULO chargers delivered in Oxford alongside the LEVI chargers.

The county council is also looking to launch a grant scheme to enable parish councils and associations to create community EV charging microhubs by installing EV chargers at village halls and community centres.

Some EV chargers will also be installed on the highway in areas where insufficient suitable off-street car parking is available.

Councillor Anna Railton, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice, said: “This funding will help ensure that electric vehicle charging infrastructure is consistent across both Oxford city and county by aligning it under one countywide approach, while securing the principles set out in the Oxford EV Infrastructure Strategy – with access as equitable, convenient and easy as possible for residents. We are looking forward to collaborating with the county council with their rollout within the city to help meet Oxford’s electric vehicle charging needs.”

Councillor Freddie Van Mierlo, South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Nature Recovery, said: “This investment will complement and expand capacity already delivered by South Oxfordshire District Council in its car parks, which is proving popular, especially in Henley.

“Market towns and rural areas can often lack suitable off-street parking, putting off EV ownership. I’m pleased this scheme is focusing on filling these gaps to better support residents wanting to switch to EVs, as well as supporting parish and town councils.”

Councillor Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Action, said: “EV ownership is growing in the Vale, recent grants through our Climate Action Fund have gone to EV projects such as charging points in Blewbury and an EV car club in Harwell. For EV use to grow even further, the number of chargers has to increase in readiness, and we should do all we can to facilitate this.”

Councillor Andrew McHugh, Cherwell District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Cleaner and Greener Communities, said: “Supporting environmental sustainability is a key priority to Cherwell District Council and this funding will enable us to improve and expand access to electric vehicle charging across the district.

“Electric vehicles are rising in popularity as more people look to play their part in addressing the challenge of climate change. There’s already a great level of take-up for electric vehicles in north Oxfordshire and I hope that those considering one will be encouraged to do so by our expansion of charging infrastructure and provisions.”

Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Change at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “This latest funding announcement is great news. Boosting the number of publicly available electric chargers and investing in a wider network of charge points is pivotal to helping people transition to electric, while giving those who’ve already made the move more opportunities to charge at a time and place convenient to them.”

Anthony Browne, Technology and Decarbonisation Minister, said: “This Government has a plan to help speed up the installation of EV chargepoints, which we’re getting on and delivering. This dedicated funding to local councils is part of our plan to ensure people can switch from a petrol or diesel car to an EV when they choose to do so.”

Oxfordshire’s councils will shortly be tendering for suppliers to deliver and operate the new public EV charging network and will announce more details of site locations following full feasibility studies later this year.

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The first Respect our Workforce Week runs from 11 - 15 March. It is organised by campaign group Stamp it Out and is supported by Oxfordshire County Council, its highways contractor Milestone and has the backing of Thames Valley Police.

The past decade has seen a rise in reported incidents, with a minority of motorists or residents taking their frustration out on roadworkers over delays as improvements are made to the network.

In Oxfordshire, some workers have been confronted with a knife, racially abused, physically manhandled and even threatened with shooting.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It is completely unacceptable for people to act in this way against those who are working in dangerous locations in all sorts of weather conditions to improve the condition of our roads.

“I was shocked to learn that 70 per cent of roadworkers are the victim of verbal or physical abuse every month, while half say they have been verbally abused in the last seven days. That’s why we are supporting the Respect our Workforce campaign and urge everyone to treat those working on our roads with common courtesy.”

Milestone has formed a roadworker safety group as part of its commitment to ensuring the health and safety of everyone working on the highways and created an app for employees to report verbal threats or assault.

Jim Daughton, Milestone Operations Director, said: “No one should face abuse simply for doing their job. At Milestone we are committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on the road network – and that includes our staff.

“Our teams are now equipped with body worn cameras and site CCTV is in place, where necessary. The message today is clear: abuse to highways operatives will not be tolerated.”

Kevin Robinson, Founder and Campaign Director of Stamp It Out, said: “Respect our Workforce Week marks a vital point in this campaign. It is not acceptable to abuse a doctor, nurse, teacher, or retailer worker, so why should those working on the public highway accept this too?”

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The trial features electric vehicles (EVs), which can be hired on an hourly or daily basis from district and city council owned car parks around the county. They are currently in place in Bicester, Banbury, Kidlington, Eynsham, Henley, Wallingford, Abingdon, Witney and Oxford.

The pilot has been organised by Oxfordshire County Council and supported by Oxford City Council, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils to assess the demand. The vehicles are provided by hire companies Co Wheels, Zimbl, and Enterprise CarClub.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “I’m extremely pleased to see the positive response to EV car clubs in many of the towns and villages involved in the pilot. I welcome the extension to the scheme, which will mean even more residents and businesses can try out these shared cars for themselves.

“Car clubs can play a key role in reducing carbon emissions in Oxfordshire, as well as reducing the number of individual vehicles on our roads and helping people to reduce the cost of living. If you haven’t tried them out, now’s your chance.”

Since the start of the pilot, more than 500 new members have signed up to use the EV car clubs and the vehicles have been hired over 2,000 times.

It is estimated that a successful car club vehicle can take on average 20 individually owned cars – often petrol or diesel vehicles – off the road.

The continued success of the scheme is dependent on increasing use of the vehicles in the pilot, so residents are encouraged to make use of introductory offers available and try out their local vehicle while they can.  If the vehicles continue to be well used, some of the current sites could be considered as long term locations for car club EVs, and a wider rollout could also follow in other locations. 

Eynsham car club user, Lisa Hynes, said: “We have used the Co Wheels car in Eynsham and it’s been brilliant.

“It’s right in the centre of Eynsham and has meant that we haven’t needed to buy an additional car as we can use the Co Wheels car as and when we need it. We have really enjoyed driving an electric car too.”

EV car clubs give people the chance to use an EV when they need one, without the expense of owning or leasing one outright. Car clubs can make it much more affordable for people who don’t drive every day and provide real-world experience of driving electric without a long-term commitment.

EVs in the scheme can be hired from £5.95 per hour, including insurance, plus 12p per electric mile. Residents can make use of promotions, reduced membership and driving credit offers as part of the pilot scheme.

Updated details about where your nearest car club location is, and information about promotional offers, can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Lessons learned from the pilot will feed into a countywide car club strategy being developed by the county council later this year.

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From today (28 February) until Wednesday 27 March, Oxfordshire County Council is asking for people’s views on extending the cycle path on Garsington Road between Hollow Way and John Smith Drive on the southern side.

The council is proposing a new 200 metre stretch of cycleway, linking the existing sections, along with safer crossings. The feedback will help inform a county council cabinet decision on whether to approve the work.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I encourage people to look at the proposals and help us understand the impact they’ll have. We believe change to travel and transport has a role to play in improving individual health and wellbeing. That’s why we’re working to make it easier, safer and more enjoyable to walk, wheel and cycle in Oxford and across the county, especially on some of our busiest routes.”

The proposals include replacing a crossing on the western side of Garsington Road/John Smith Drive Roundabout with a wider crossing with lights to give more space for people walking, wheeling, pushing prams or with bicycles; and installing a new crossing on the northern (Oxford Business Park entrance) and southern (John Smith Drive) arms of Garsington Road/John Smith Drive.

People can take part in an online survey on the county council’s digital engagement and consultation platform, Let’s talk Oxfordshire. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday 27 March 2024.

Subject to approval by the council’s cabinet, the proposed works would be carried out in the summer ahead of the planned traffic filters trial..

The project is funded by the government’s Active Travel Fund and would provide pedestrians, people using mobility aids, cyclists and school children safer crossing facilities and priority through the area in line with the UK Highway Code.

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The trial is designed to reduce traffic, make bus journeys faster and make walking and cycling safer as part of the council’s vision for improved travel across Oxfordshire. Traffic filters are also intended to help reduce local air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Early electrical works this week will take place overnight near the filter points at Hollow way, Hythe Bridge St, St Cross Road, St Clements, Marston Ferry Road and Thames Street. One night of work is needed at each of the six locations.

In March, contractors will also clear vegetation on Thames Street island and complete survey work.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “We expect the traffic filters trial to have a big impact, reducing traffic across the city and making it easier to get around. The filters complement other measures in Oxford aimed at improving buses, taxis, walking and cycling.

“We are preparing to begin the trial when Network Rail’s work to improve the railway station is complete in autumn. We’ll keep disruption to a minimum as essential work is done to install signs and electrics over the coming months.

“During the traffic filters trial period, residents can share their views in a public consultation to help the council evaluate the success of the project before a decision is made about whether to continue with it.”

Traffic filters should reduce traffic levels in Oxford by managing the use of certain roads by private car. All other vehicles including emergency services, taxis, buses, coaches, all vans, mopeds, motorbikes and HGVs can pass through traffic filters at all times.

The trial is due to start in October this year, after Network Rail’s work to improve Oxford Station is complete. Before then, contractors working on behalf of the council are installing signage and cameras in stages until September, with most work expected in May and June. Disruption will be kept to a minimum but some traffic control will be needed to ensure safety.

About the traffic filters trial

Traffic filters are part of the central Oxfordshire travel plan and Oxfordshire’s local transport and connectivity plan.

Traffic filters are intended to:

• make walking and cycling safer and easier
• make bus journeys quicker and more reliable
• enable new and improved bus routes
• support investment in modern buses
• help reduce local air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Residents in Oxford and some areas just outside the city will be able to apply for a free permit allowing them to drive through the traffic filters for up to 100 days each year.

Other Oxfordshire residents will be able to apply for a free permit allowing them to drive through the traffic filters for up to 25 days each year.

As part of the trial, there will be a six-month public consultation, and the project’s impacts will be closely monitored. The council may make changes during the trial, including in response to monitoring or feedback.

The filters are not physical barriers. The filter points on six roads in the city will be enforced by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Traffic filters have different operating hours, depending on location. Cars should not drive through the filter point in operating hours unless they have a permit or are exempt. Operating hours for most filters are Monday to Sunday, 7am - 7pm or, at Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, Monday to Saturday, 7am - 9am and 3pm -6pm.

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A conjoined planning and Orders (compulsory purchase order, side roads order and bridge scheme) public inquiry will take place at Bee House in Milton Park, and will sit for 22 days across a 12-week period.

Oxfordshire County Council will present evidence in support of its planning application and Orders for the scheme. If approved, the project would transform travel in the Didcot area for current and future residents as well as commuters. It would provide more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot, as well as reducing congestion in the surrounding villages and improving air quality and noise levels. It would enable more reliable journey times for buses and other vehicles, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, and support allocated housing and employment sites.

The sitting dates of the inquiry will be:

• 20 to 23 February
• 27 February to 1 March
• 26 to 28 March
• 16 to 19 April
• 23 to 26 April
• 8 to 10 May (set as reserve days)

Sessions will start at 10am Tuesday to Friday. Finish times are approximately 5pm Tuesday to Thursday, and 3pm on Fridays. Members of the public can attend the inquiry. For anyone who is unable to attend in person but would like to follow proceedings, each session will also be live streamed.

Following the inquiry, the government appointed inspector will draft a report and present it to the Secretaries of State (for Transport and for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities), who will make the final decision.

The link for live streaming the inquiry sessions will be published on the official public inquiry portal. 

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Twelve organisations are to share nearly £425,000 to help improve community transport in Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council is awarding the grants, ranging from £700 to £135,000, to fund new vehicles, expand schemes, provide new services, offer administrative support and carry out surveys of potential passengers.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, pictured, said: “Most of us take it for granted that we will be able to get to the places we need to. However, when people can’t drive or access public transport, they can be stranded.

“That’s why Oxfordshire’s active and diverse community transport sector is such a lifeline to so many people. From small volunteer car schemes to larger minibus schemes offering timetabled services, we are incredibly grateful to all those who work so hard to keep our residents mobile.

“We know these grants will make a big difference to all these organisations and help them to continue the fantastic work they are doing.”

The recipients are West Oxfordshire Community Transport; Uffington, Baulking and Woolstone (UBW) Minibus; The Villager Community Bus; CAWNAC (Oxfordshire) Volunteer Driver Service; Daybreak Oxford; Readibus; Shrivenham/Bourton/Watchfield/Longcot Parish Councils; Wallingford Town Council; Wantage & District Community Transport Community Interest Company (CIC); Chinnor Village Centre; First & Last Mile CIC; Watlington Parish Council.

Daybreak Oxford, pictured above, has been awarded £135,000 to expand the scheme it has been running for 15 months, transporting people with dementia to and from day centres and taking the older population on shopping trips.

Lee Gray, Chief Executive of Daybreak Oxford, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this funding. It means we can increase the number of days we can operate, the number of centres we can visit, and double the number of people we can serve. We take them door-to-door and it is a real lifeline for so many people.

“We recently bought our second minibus, thanks to a donation from the MacFarlane Family Foundation, and the council’s grant will take care of everything else, from permits to safety inspections, as well as drivers and coordinators to make it sustainable.”

West Oxfordshire’s First & Last Mile, pictured right, has been awarded £40,000 to expand its services and provide administrative support to cope with the additional workload.

It has three vehicles and currently carries about 80 passengers a day, mostly schoolchildren, and serves villages between Long Hanborough and Standlake. However, it is in the process of improving its timetable from next month to include a shopper service from South Leigh into Witney for villagers.

Andy Swarbrick, First & Last Mile CIC Director, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded a community transport grant. We feel it is in recognition of the widely applauded service we run in one of the most challenging rural areas of Oxfordshire since our inception in January 2022.

“The award will be used to establish not only a shoppers’ service but also put the whole business on a more professional footing. That said, a critical aspect of our philosophy is to engage locally, both in terms of volunteers and the support of the wider community.”

Community transport is part of the voluntary sector and plays a key role in filling gaps in service where public transport is not available. It helps provide safe, accessible, cost-effective, flexible transport run by the community for the community in rural and urban areas.

Community transport can include car clubs, community minibuses, dial-a-ride, lift shares, taxi shares and voluntary car schemes.

Some groups offer services just for their members, while others are open to the public. It can take disabled people to work, children to school, sick people to healthcare and older people to the shops. It runs local bus routes and provides transport for a wide range of clubs and other groups.

The council supports the development of not for profit community transport groups and services.

Small start-up grants to help groups in their development are available, while the council can also help with the cost of training volunteers as minibus and passenger assistants.

More information is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Councillor Andrew Gant, the council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, told TVPCC Matthew Barber that more action was needed after the number of people killed or seriously injured on Oxfordshire’s roads rose in 2022 – the first increase for many years.

Cllr Gant wrote: “The number of incidents we are currently experiencing is appalling, but we should use them as a prompt to address road crime and danger reduction – to address the causes of 57 deaths and 934 serious injuries in the Thames Valley Police area in 2022.

“Oxfordshire County Council has made a commitment to Vision Zero – the elimination of road deaths and serious injuries by 2050 – and is currently progressing with a strategy and associated action plan setting out how we plan to deliver this ambition.

“Across Oxfordshire we have seen a general trend in the rise of killed and seriously injured incidences, and recently some particular incidences with cyclist deaths and serious injury, along with single and multiple vehicle collisions.

“Thames Valley Police’s action on road safety appears to be behind what we see from other forces and are hearing from other local authorities. I appreciate the size and scale of TVP is greater than most, but we need to ensure this doesn’t prevent working at a local level and focus on road safety within Oxfordshire.

“We appreciate that resources are tight, but no action is much more expensive than action. Please take action against this rising wave of dangerous driving before we find even worse casualty impacts in 2024.”

Cllr Gant called for TVP to become more involved in promoting national road safety initiatives such as:

• Operation Snap, where the public can report and submit digital footage showing potential traffic offences via a secure online form.
• More frequent use of Operation Close Pass, where action is taken against drivers who endanger cyclists and horse riders by passing them too closely.
• Cycle and bus-based patrols to catch mobile phone use and illegal, fake or cloned number plates.

He also called on Mr Barber and TVP to recognise the benefits of 20mph limits around Oxfordshire, and to work with the council to implement average speed cameras, particularly on sections of the A34, A40, A420 and A4074.

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The £82.5 million project will deliver 159 new battery buses on to the roads of Oxford – the first of which have already gone into service. It has also funded two associated electric charging hubs at the city’s bus depots.

The bus fleet has been funded through a collaboration between the county council and Oxford Bus Company, owned by The Go-Ahead Group, and Stagecoach. The council was awarded £32.8m from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme and contributed £6m directly, while bus operators invested £45m.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I'm proud and thrilled that the county council is backing its ambitions with political and financial capital, alongside our partners, to deliver a safer, cleaner, greener, better county for residents and visitors.

“Together with policies such as traffic filters to hugely increase bus efficiency, we are delivering on our vision of a better future. This is an exciting and important moment for us all."

The county council has committed to help reduce bus journey times by at least 10 per cent in the city to ensure the investment is viable for bus operators.

The groundbreaking infrastructure project is a huge boost to Oxford’s vision to creating a more sustainable, decarbonised public transport system and improving air quality.

Oxford Bus Company will deliver 104 electric buses into service and Stagecoach 55. Working with Zenobē, the UK’s leading fleet electrification specialist, Oxford Bus Company has installed 104 charging points at its Cowley House depot, with Stagecoach installing charging points at its Network Oxford site.

The charging hubs are powered by EDF Energy’s Oxford Superhub network, providing enough electricity to charge all 159 buses, enough for each bus to drive up to 200 miles per day.

To celebrate the historic development, partners gathered for a launch event at Divinity School in Oxford city centre on Monday night where some of the new electric buses were showcased and key representatives delivered speeches.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “This is a historic moment in our journey towards transforming our city services to electric. Our first tranche of electric buses is now in service and is already starting to improve air quality and make bus travel an even more attractive option for people to travel around Oxford.

“Decarbonising buses is an exciting project – and we have demonstrated that with the right strategic partnership working between the public and private sector, we can unlock investment to make it happen. We look forward to working with Oxfordshire County Council on important initiatives going forward to encourage people to travel by bus.”

Matt Carney, CEO of The Go-Ahead Group’s bus division, said: “Go-Ahead is proud to be the largest operator of zero emission buses in Britain. Electric buses make an enormous difference to air quality in cities and by decarbonising our fleet in towns and cities across the country, we aim to make a positive contribution to the fight against climate change.

“These new buses in Oxford will form Go-Ahead’s biggest fleet of zero emission buses outside London. The project is an example of bus operators working closely with local authorities to deliver for communities.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “Today is a momentous day for Stagecoach West and for the city of Oxford, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in sustainable bus travel. As a business we are fully committed to operating a zero emission bus fleet by 2035 so the introduction of these electric vehicles onto the roads today is a big step towards this vital goal.

“We must all play our part in improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions in all areas of business and industry across the UK.  I hope the introduction of these new electric vehicles will entice new passengers to bus travel and those already travelling with us can rest assured they’re already making a great choice.”

Roads Minister Guy Opperman said: “Zero emission buses are vital for cleaner local travel, with 159 new UK-built electric buses coming to Oxford thanks to government funding – supporting skilled UK manufacturing jobs.

“This project is supported by over £32m in government support, as part of £330m already provided since 2020 for zero emission buses in England, outside of London, to make strides towards an all zero emission bus fleet."

Councillor Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice, Oxford City Council, said: "I am delighted that the first tranche of ZEBRA electric buses has now arrived in Oxford and are serving Oxford's communities. Electric buses not only help to clean up Oxford's air but they are a crucial mode of transport in our city – especially for those who do not have access to cars. I am looking forward to seeing these buses on our roads." 

Oxfordshire was one of only 12 local authorities to successfully apply for ZEBRA funding. The Oxford Bus Company vehicles have been manufactured by Wright Bus in Northern Ireland, with the Stagecoach vehicles manufactured by Alexander Dennis in Scotland.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Oxford Bus Company in the drive to transform transport in the city and help build a more sustainable future.

“We’re proud to say our StreetDeck Electroliner BEV is the world’s most efficient double deck battery-electric bus and we have taken that technology into the development of our single deck, which has also been classed as the most efficient on the UK’s roads.

“We’ve created the most efficient vehicles by combining optimum power with a class-leading rapid charge, meaning our electric buses spend more time on the road than any other. We’re confident passengers in Oxford will enjoy the experience.”

Marianne Costigan, Head of Private Wire at EDF Renewables, said: “As we see the inauguration of one of the largest electric bus fleets in the UK, EDF Renewables is proud to be a key enabler of this ground-breaking initiative.

“Our Energy Superhub Oxford network already serves EV drivers in the local area at Redbridge Park and Ride charging locations. We are delighted to now be delivering the necessary energy infrastructure to support Go-Ahead, Stagecoach and their passengers as they supercharge Oxford towards its decarbonisation goals and improve air quality.”

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Oxfordshire County Council carried out the work using ‘cold recycling’ with its contractor Milestone Infrastructure and its supply chain partners Aggregate Industries, Drayton Construction, Hazell & Jeffries and OCL Regeneration in September and October.

During this programme, over 4,000 tonnes of cold recycled material was laid, saving an estimated 75 tonnes of carbon – equivalent to 92 flights from London to New York. It also avoids the environmental impact of disposing of thousands of tonnes of waste planings – the top layer of road surfaces removed due to damage – and the need to extract virgin aggregates.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is just the latest in a series of schemes we are carrying out with our contractor to improve the quality of Oxfordshire’s roads. By embracing innovation, we are making our residents’ money go further, helping ease the burden on highways budget and cutting carbon emissions in our own projects.”

Five schemes were completed across the county using cold recycling:

• Park Road, Didcot
• Kingham Hill Lane, near Cornwell
• Merton Road, Ambrosden
• B4450 Station Road, Kingham
• Aston Road, near Ducklington.

This technique involves recycling stockpiled road planings and processing them ready to be reused in resurfacing projects.

This material, known as Foambase® or cold recycled bound material, uses 94 per cent of recycled aggregates bound with foamed bitumen and other hydraulic binders. It uses just five per cent of the energy compared to that used in the manufacture of traditional asphalt. This offers a 50 per cent savings in embodied carbon compared with using standard materials.

Richard Lovewell, Business Director for Milestone on the Oxfordshire Contract, said: “Carbon reduction is a key strategic target for both Milestone and Oxfordshire County Council. It is therefore imperative that we look for new ways of working to maximise the use of recycled materials within our highway maintenance contract.

“Our innovative solution of recycling waste materials arising from other maintenance schemes not only reduces carbon emissions but also creates cost savings, especially through not having to pay high specialist disposal costs. This delivers the dual benefit of additional reinvestment into the county council road network whilst taking another step to achieve Milestone’s target of net zero by 2040.

“This project is another great example of Milestone and Oxfordshire County Council working together to deliver sustainable solutions to maintain the county’s roads.”

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They were among 18 applications for 20mph limits to be approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, Councillor Andrew Gant, on 14 December.

The others were Alvescot, Ardington & Lockinge, Backthorn, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Buckland, Toot Baldon & Marsh Baldon, Dorchester, Elsfield, Charney Bassett, Kingham, Longworth, Sandford St Martin, Upton, Stanton Harcourt, Yarnton, and the Green Lane area of Ewelme.

Cllr Gant said: “This is another landmark moment for our 20mph policy. We believe these changes will make these towns and villages safer, quieter and less polluted places and will encourage more people to cycle and walk – reducing the county’s carbon footprint.

“There is a clear link between the speed of traffic and the likelihood of accidents happening in which people are killed or injured. You are seven times more likely to survive if you are hit by a car driving at 20mph than if you are hit at 30mph.”

Plans have been approved or are being worked on to implement 20mph limits in about 234 of the 310 parishes in Oxfordshire over the £8 million project’s three year period. Other towns to have adopted 20mph limits already include Witney and Abingdon.

The scheme is free to town and parish councils, with the county council funding sign-only changes for areas wishing to be part of the changes as long as locations meet the agreed criteria for 20mph restrictions.

Town and parish councils will be expected to fund any traffic calming measures or speed activated signs that may be required to support the new limit in their areas.

While the council has been working alongside Thames Valley Police, the emphasis is on drivers adhering to the new limits through a change of mindset, rather than enforcement. It is hoped that as 20mph areas become more common, breaking the limit will become socially unacceptable for drivers.

The 20mph programme also fits in with the council’s Vision Zero policy, which aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from Oxfordshire’s roads by 2050.

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Oxfordshire County Council has approved the Didcot Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which will set out how to improve the town’s active travel network, reduce the reliance on private motor vehicles and cut congestion.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We want walking and cycling to become the everyday choice for short journeys or as part of longer journeys combined with using public transport in Didcot and beyond.

“The Didcot LCWIP will help achieve a culture of walking and cycling. This can create  thriving, healthy, inclusive and climate sensitive communities, where improvements enhance the environment that makes Didcot a great place to live, work and visit.”

Approval was given on 14 December by Cllr Gant at a delegated decisions meeting for the cabinet member for transport management.

The LCWIP will provide a ten year plan for the delivery of cycling and walking interventions to maximise the uptake of active travel to help meet the travel needs of the growing populations of Didcot and surrounding areas. It will be reviewed and updated regularly.

There are a number of barriers to more people walking and cycling in Didcot. Key to this is a lack of a joined-up network of walking and cycling routes that improve road safety and make walking and cycling for local journeys more attractive as an alternative to private motor vehicles.

The LCWIP intends to tackle these, with potential improvements including:

• New and improved crossings, including over the River Thames, and junction redesigns for walking and cycling.
• Removal or modification of barriers on walking and cycling routes to improve accessibility.
• On-carriageway cycling improvements.
• Provision of segregated cycle tracks and additional high quality cycle parking.
• Permissions for cycling on some routes where it is not currently permitted.
• Footway widening and public realm improvements.
• New and improved walking and cycling routes between Didcot and other key local destinations outside the town.

Didcot lies at the heart of Science Vale, the UK’s leading area for science, technology, innovation and research, and there is some overlap between the Didcot LCWIP network, the Science Vale Active Travel Network (SVATN) – previously known as the Science Vale Cycle Network (SVCN) – and the Strategic Active Travel Network (SATN). The three projects are complementary, and care has been taken to incorporate the relevant sections of the SVATN and the SATN into the LCWIP proposals.

The Didcot plan is the seventh LCWIP to be approved in Oxfordshire, following on from Oxford, Bicester, Abingdon, Witney, Banbury, and Kidlington.

Formally approving the plan is expected to make it easier for the council to negotiate funding from developers and the government to deliver the improvements it proposes.

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Oxford is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the country’s first permanent park and ride site.

On Monday, 10 December 1973, Redbridge began operating with a car park and dedicated bus service. Although experimental park and rides had been set up earlier – including one in Oxford at the Forte Motor Lodge on the A34 in the 1960s – Redbridge was the first permanent example of the pioneering transport management system.

Previous proposals for easing Oxford’s traffic congestion had included an inner relief road through Christ Church Meadow, which was rejected after a campaign opposing it. There were also calls for a giant commuter car park on Port Meadow, connecting to a water ferry on the Oxford Canal, but this didn’t materialise into a plan.

The success of Redbridge inspired Oxfordshire to create the largest park and ride system in the country, with 5,900 parking spaces at five sites on the outskirts of the city.

Oxford Parkway and Thornhill park and rides are run by Oxfordshire County Council, while Pear Tree, Seacourt and Redbridge are all operated by Oxford City Council.

The golden anniversary comes at an exciting time for the county’s bus industry, as the first of 159 electric buses start arriving as part of an £83.8 million deal – many of which will serve Oxford using the park and rides.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It’s almost unthinkable now to imagine Oxford without its park and rides. They have become part of everyday life for so many people, providing a convenient and economical way to travel into the city centre and Oxford’s hospitals.”

Park and ride in numbers

• Oxford Bus Company uses 28 buses each weekday on the three park and ride services it operates
• These services (300, 400, 700) collectively travel 1,057,000 miles each year
• They carry around four million passengers annually
• Stagecoach runs up to 240 trips a day to and from Oxford Parkway Park and Ride and Oxford city centre, on routes 2 and 2A
• In addition, it runs up to an extra 236 trips a day stopping just outside on Banbury Road on routes S4, S5 and S7, connecting Oxford Parkway with Oxford city centre

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities, Oxford City Council said: “Oxford has a proud history of leading transport innovations, and I am delighted that we are able to celebrate 50 years of park and ride services in our city. Our park and ride services have evolved over the years to cater to the changing needs of users. Imagine the number of car journeys into the city that have been saved over 50 years! 

“By using the park and ride service instead of driving, commuters and visitors are helping to reduce congestion on our roads, improve our air quality and support a faster, more reliable bus network.”

To continue to make the park and rides the first choice for visitors, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach introduced a joint ticketing and parking offer in 2022. Parking for up to 16 hours and return bus travel for one person costs just £4, while for two people it is £5.

With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free. The deal proved so popular that it was recently extended until April 2024.

Unlike many other park and rides around the country, Oxford’s are thriving again following the impact COVID-19 had on the bus industry and user numbers are close to pre-pandemic levels.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: "Myself and the team at Oxford Bus Company are very proud to have been involved in operating Oxford's world-leading park and ride system continuously for the past half a century. There have been major changes in the vehicles and technology we use on the service since it started 50 years ago, and the introduction of the new fleet of electric buses to the service is the latest step in this continuing evolution.

“With today's levels of traffic congestion, the park and ride is more important now than it has ever been. We look forward to developing the service further over the years to come, to support the continued development of our city.”

Redbridge itself has evolved and last year became home to Energy Superhub Oxford, Europe’s most powerful electric vehicle charging hub. The charging hub at the Abingdon Road site offers fast and ultra-rapid charging for 42 vehicles and is powered entirely by renewable energy.

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “We’re delighted that Stagecoach have played our part in the longevity and success of the world’s first permanent park and ride scheme and to be able to toast its success over 50 years. It’s great to be part of a collaborative group of partners who have worked together to present the customer proposition for existing and new customers.

“We’re excited to take this as an opportunity to look forward to the introduction of the new electric vehicles on to the park and ride routes in 2024, along with the continuation of the combined parking and bus tickets, taking the scheme to another level and providing affordable and sustainable travel options to our residents and visitors."

Ian Green, Oxford Civic Society (OCS) Chairman, said: “Fifty years ago, persistent pressure and well-argued advice from OCS was instrumental in the council's decision to introduce the park and ride scheme. Oxford was only the second city in the country to do so and Redbridge was the first such site to be made permanent.

“The job of better managing traffic in our city is far from finished and we are proud of the vital role the park and ride sites continue to play.”

The preliminary strategic outline case for the Carterton-Witney-Oxford Rail Corridor (CWORC) was commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council, following proposals from the Witney Oxford Transport Group.

The aim was to establish if there is a case for building the proposed railway line, what the benefits could be and to give an indication of the likely investment required.

Details were released earlier this year, along with the summary reports. The full reports, which have now been updated are available to read (see Downloads right).

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “We committed to undertake a study to explore the potential for a new rail link to serve West Oxfordshire, which we have done. The work so far shows that this transformational project would be possible and could provide potentially significant transport and other benefits in the longer-term, in line with our policies to improve public transport.

“However, it would also come at a very significant cost, as well as having wider planning considerations, which we would need to discuss with West Oxfordshire District Council and other partners.”

The study has shown that building a rail link would be feasible and could be justified in transport strategy terms but identifies planning and environmental issues.

It also warns about the high financial cost and difficulty involved in undertaking such a project. However, if it went ahead, it is predicted to be profitable.

Other key findings include:

• Predicted journey times of 23 minutes from Carterton to Oxford, 16 minutes from Witney and 11 minutes from Eynsham. This represents journey time savings of more than 70 per cent.
• Considerations of other alternate transport modes, with the conclusion that rail is best placed to deliver the necessary journey time savings and additional capacity.
• The first phase of the railway could be delivered by 2033 at the earliest.

However, construction costs of building the rail line alone are estimated by the report at between £700 - £900 million, with the scheme potentially being delivered in phases – although no route has been decided at this stage.

It would, therefore, be a long-term project and would also depend on other rail improvements being funded and completed, including the planned upgrade to the North Cotswold Line, which the county council remains committed to.

Funding for a rail project of this significance would mainly need to come from central government.

Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We welcome the feasibility study and partnership opportunities to bring an ambitious project to fruition with the county council and other stakeholders.

“There is much work to be done and we will need to create the framework to ensure it is fully costed as an investment that will make a difference to the lives of our residents and address current and future employment. It is not what we do for ourselves today but what we leave for future generations.”

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The Benson relief road will be an alternative route from the A4074 and B4009, north of Benson.

The relief road will reduce congestion through Benson village and give the new housing developments to the north direct access to the A4074, at the Elms Bridge roundabout, and the B4009, west of Braze Lane. The project will also provide capacity improvements at the A4074 Church Road junction.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “Benson is a commuter village, with many working people travelling to their jobs. Benson’s village centre has a complex arrangement of junctions, which must be navigated by both local and through traffic – including children walking to school and to other village facilities.

“Pedestrians, particularly those less mobile and parents with young children and pushchairs, are at risk while crossing the roads. The Benson relief road is a central piece to new infrastructure for the village and a vital tool to reducing through traffic. It incorporates measures to encourage cycling and walking locally, which helps reduce car usage in the village, lessening congestion, local emissions and adverse air quality.”

The county council has appointed Milestone Infrastructure to complete its 250 metre section of the road as well as prepare a flood compensation area. The new road is within a flood zone and the flood compensation area is a large area of ground, lowered and offset from the road, which will provide a storage facility for any flood water.

Work on the flood compensation area will take approximately 12 weeks, subject to weather conditions. Also included as part of the work will be an archaeology ‘trace, dig and mapping’ exercise to identify and record any archaeological finds in the construction area.

Once the flood protection measures are complete, full construction of the highway, including laying tarmac and sidewalks, landscaping and lighting as well as the cycle and pedestrian paths, will begin in early 2024, lasting six to eight months.

Planning consent for the scheme was granted in January 2022 and it is being funded through a combination of Growth Deal funding and Section 106 contributions from developers.

The northern section of the road is already complete while parts of the middle section are also currently under construction. These are being delivered by the various housing developers on site. The entire route is anticipated to be open to all traffic in 2026.

More information about the Benson relief road scheme can be found on the county council’s website

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Known as the Wantage Eastern Link Road (WELR), the new road will extend between the A417 (east of Wantage) and the A338 (north of Wantage). It will also provide direct access onto both the A338 and A417 for the Kingsgrove housing development.

The route will not only provide direct access for the residents of the development but will also deliver wider benefits, including:

• improved air quality in central Wantage by reducing traffic; 
• improvements to walking and cycling facilities; and 
• reduced congestion and easier journeys in Wantage town centre and surrounding road junctions by creating an alternative ‘bypass’ route.

The WELR scheme is being delivered in three sections. Sections one and two, the eastern and western arms of the road, have been delivered and funded by St Modwen, developer of the Kingsgrove housing development. The final section (section three) is the middle section linking the eastern and western arms. This is being constructed by Galliford Try on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “We’ve reached a vital point in the delivery of this scheme, and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to progress the main civils works ahead of schedule.

“Wantage is a historic market town that is rapidly growing. The Wantage Eastern Link Road scheme will bring key benefits to the town. The developer has also worked hard to progress their parts of the infrastructure and by working together, we are investing in an improved transport network, including walking and cycling infrastructure, which will connect Wantage and its adjacent villages with the key employment centres in the Science Vale.”

Section one is now complete and section two is nearing full completion. The construction works for section three will last until summer 2024, which is when the entire route is expected to fully open for all traffic.

The section three construction works will be carried out between the hours of 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. As section three is being built away from the existing highway network, there is expected to be minimal traffic disruption during construction.

You can find out more about the Wantage Eastern Link Road by visiting the project webpage.

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Following Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet’s decision to allocate £1.2 million to improve rural public and community transport, further new services will be launched this month to connect more villages back to the bus network, market towns and Oxford.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is more good news for bus users on top of improved services announced last month – a £1 single fare cap for Sundays in December; the imminent arrival of a new fleet of electric buses for Oxford; and the extension of our park and ride joint parking and ticketing deal.

“Many people rely on buses to get around the county, and beyond, and we’re committed to working with providers to make it as easy and reliable for them to do so.”

From Monday 6 November, the following services will begin:

• 122/123: Watlington to Reading via Nettlebed, Stoke Row, Checkendon, Rotherfield Peppard and Kidmore End. This will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, through Red Rose Travel
• 126/127: Watlington to Thame via Lewknor, Postcombe, Tetsworth, The Miltons, Chalgrove, The Haseleys and Moreton. This will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Red Rose Travel.

From Monday 27 November, these services will be in operation:

• 68: Longcot, Fernham, Uffington, Kingston Lisle, Westcot, Sparsholt, Childrey and the Letcombes to Wantage and Faringdon. This will run from Monday to Saturday through Pulhams Coaches.
• 108: Forest Hill, Stanton St John, Beckley, Horton-cum-Studley, Blackthorn and Piddington to Oxford and Bicester. This will run from Monday to Saturday and is being operated by Oxford Bus Company.

Timetables will be available shortly from Traveline and individual operator websites.

Revisions to the Villager Community Bus V26 service to link Ramsden with Witney, and providing new journeys on Thursdays, began in early October. Further new services linking several villages north of Bicester and north of Banbury are anticipated to begin in February 2024.

These new services are in addition to those funded by the government through the council’s successful Bus Service Improvement Plan, including restoration of a service between Carterton and Swindon, new express peak buses from Carterton and Banbury to Oxford and improvements to other strategic inter-urban routes throughout the county.

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The 08:35 service from Banbury to Oxford (and on to Didcot and Reading) and the 17:34 service from Didcot to Banbury had been discussed as potentially being removed from the timetable as part of the changes that happen in December each year.

However, Great Western Railways has decided against removing them from the timetable, meaning that commuters from Banbury, Didcot and Oxford and places like Tackley and the Heyfords will still be able to use the services.

Cllr Judy Roberts Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy said: “GWR have listened very carefully to what local rail users have said and responded really well. Both of these services are very well patronised and link villages as well as towns. They’re exceptionally valued by the communities they serve and ideally timed for commuters.”

“We know that GWR are always happy to listen to feedback from their customers and the communities they serve and that this will remain the case looking in to the future as we look to improve our rail links for the benefit of everyone. We want to provide people with great transport options so that they are not wholly reliant on their cars and the railways are a key component of that.”

GWR Business Development Portfolio Director Tom Pierpoint said: “We’re grateful to local residents, businesses and Oxfordshire County Council for highlighting the importance of these services, and I’m pleased we’ve been able to find a solution that will retain them both in our December timetable. 

"We do sometimes have to make changes but it is clear that these services play a vital role for our communities in Tackley, Heyford, King’s Sutton and Banbury, and I’m really glad that we have been able to keep them in the timetable.”

Oxfordshire County Council officers have been working closely with counterparts from Homes England for the past year to develop a business case for the A34 Lodge Hill Interchange scheme. Following necessary due diligence, Homes England recently confirmed the project has been awarded £17.33 million of infrastructure grant funding through the ‘Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land’ (BIL) Fund, subject to the agreement of pre-contract conditions and the county council entering into a grant funding agreement with Homes England.

The A34 Lodge Hill Interchange scheme will improve junction capacity at Lodge Hill, as well as make cycling and walking easier and safer in the area. It will allow for shorter journey times by adding new south-facing slip roads to the A34, cycle and pedestrian safety improvements and layby upgrades on the A34. The junction currently has north-facing slips only, and is located between Abingdon and Oxford.

The council had already secured funding for the scheme from several sources, including contributions from developers, the Housing Growth Deal and funding directly from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). However, following a review of the scheme in summer 2022, a funding gap was identified.  

The A34 Lodge Hill Interchange scheme will be one of the first to be awarded infrastructure grant funding through the BIL Fund, and both parties are looking to enter into a grant funding agreement by the end of the calendar year.

 Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “The A34 Lodge Hill scheme will improve connectivity to and from the north of Abingdon to the town centre and make it easier for people to choose walking, cycling or taking public transport as part of their daily routine.”

“Securing this additional funding is fantastic news. It will help accelerate the detailed design process and enable construction to begin. This is vital and much needed investment to support growth in Abingdon. We have all campaigned for this for so long and it is wonderful news that the needs of our residents and the people who will use this route have been recognised.”

Pauline Schaffer, Director of Infrastructure Funding at Homes England said: “We are committed to working with ambitious local authority partners seeking to meet their local housing needs through delivery of key infrastructure. Our multimillion-pound funding will provide strategic transport infrastructure for housing growth in the area, unlocking 820 high quality homes and supporting existing and future local plan housing allocations.”

Construction is anticipated to start in summer 2024, and last approximately two years.

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A countywide day bus ticket valid for all operators could also be created after Oxfordshire was promised an additional £1.9 million to improve bus services over the next two years.

It comes on top of £12.7m from the government in August 2022 following the council’s successful Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) application.

The additional £1.9m of funding – known as BSIP+ – is for measures that will increase long-term patronage, help maintain service levels, ensure essential social and economic connectivity for local communities and promote innovation in the industry.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This funding shows the importance that is placed on public transport in this county and our commitment to getting people back on to the buses. The package of proposals represents a step change in service provision across Oxfordshire, with all the districts benefitting from some level of improvement as a result.

“It will be used to fund innovative schemes such as cut-price fares in the run-up to Christmas – both this year and next year – as well as securing services that require financial support to ensure their survival, such as those affected by the closure of Oxford’s Botley Road.”

The council, in its role as local transport authority, established the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership with the county’s private bus operators earlier this year.

The partnership brings together key stakeholders to deliver better services, ticketing and infrastructure. While bus operators retain their ability to make commercial decisions, they work closely with the council to promote improvements for passengers – bringing expertise, innovation, and the potential for external investment.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Group, said: “This is excellent news for passengers, the bus industry and the local economy.

“We have experienced a positive impact on patronage thanks to recent government fare cap schemes and this additional support for ticketing initiatives will help to further encourage passengers to try travelling with us.

"We're also delighted to see the county council investing in improving services and are looking forward to bringing some strategically important new links to life for Oxfordshire residents over the coming weeks.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: "This additional funding is good news and has enabled Stagecoach to continue to make improvements to our services between Banbury and Oxford. We're working closely with Oxfordshire County Council to look at opportunities to improve bus services across Oxfordshire."

One proposal is to create a day ticket that is valid on all operators’ services in Oxfordshire.

Both the county’s main bus providers, Go Ahead (Oxford Bus Group) and Stagecoach, offer day tickets for unlimited travel on their own services across Oxfordshire. There are also day tickets available within the SmartZone, which covers the area in and around Oxford city, that are valid on both operators’ services.

However, there is no countywide day ticket that can be used on all operators’ services. Money from BSIP+ is intended to be used to help create such a ticket and to support reductions in other day ticket prices to make them more attractive to passengers.

BSIP+ funding will also:

• offer financial support for the current Oxford bus network, including services affected by the Botley Road closure
• provide a new bus service between Witney, Carterton, and Swindon
• provide faster peak hour buses between Banbury and Oxford
• help retain and improve Oxford orbital services serving the hospitals, including the 700, which additionally will run on weekends for the first time.

Cllr Gant said: “We are stepping in to support services and communities financially where other organisations have been unable or unwilling to.”

Routes that are intended to be enhanced or improved later this financial year include:

• X40 route between Oxford, Wallingford, and Reading
• 25 service between Sonning Common and Reading
• new direct faster buses between Carterton and Oxford.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Oxfordshire with over £13m to help boost bus services.             

“Supporting the council with capping Sunday fares at £1 in December in the run-up to Christmas and potentially introducing a countywide bus ticket valid for all operators is fantastic for local residents, who will now be able to get to work, attend medical appointments and visit loved ones for less.”

Cllr Gant added: “This BSIP+ investment comes on top of the recent extension of the cheaper park and ride joint parking and ticketing offer until April 2024, and ahead of the arrival of the first of the 159 electric buses coming to Oxfordshire as part of an £85.5m deal. And with the £2 bus fare cap now extended until the end of 2024, it really is a great time to think about using the bus.”

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The camera will be used to fine motor vehicles using Cowley Road that make a prohibited left turn on to Iffley Road. Despite the existing restriction, many motor vehicles are still turning left.

Cyclists will continue to be permitted to make this left turn.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, approved the measure on Thursday, and said: “This will be an extra measure to help improve safety at The Plain for all road users, especially the most vulnerable such as pedestrians and cyclists.

“This is a very busy roundabout and the banned left turn is a road safety hazard, which increases the risks for all users. There is a good deal of support for the installation of a camera to deter this.”

The camera is being funded by the council’s Vision Zero programme, set up to try to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.

Changes to The Plain were prompted by the death of a cyclist in March 2022, which led to  safety improvements in November 2022 as well as loading restrictions brought in earlier this year.

Motor vehicles will continue to be required to drive around The Plain and then take the Iffley Road exit.

Motorists who contravene the restriction will receive a £70 penalty charge notice, discounted to £35 if paid within 21 days.

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