Politics & Council · Oxford
West Oxfordshire transport strategy unveiled with 25-year improvement plan
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Oxfordshire County Council has approved a new long-term strategy to overhaul transport across the West Oxfordshire Lowlands, focusing on sustainable travel and improved connectivity.
A sweeping 25-year transport blueprint for the West Oxfordshire Lowlands has been officially adopted by Oxfordshire County Council, marking a significant shift in how the region plans to tackle its long-standing infrastructure challenges. The Movement and Place (MAP) Plan sets out a wide-ranging agenda of 15 core objectives and 114 specific actions designed to reshape travel across the district.
The policy aims to address concerns that have lingered since the closure of the railway line to Witney in 1970. Councillor Gareth Epps, the council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, acknowledged that residents living along the Windrush valley have faced inadequate transport options for decades, describing the new focus as both essential and long overdue.
Prioritising sustainable connections
The strategy explicitly shifts the focus towards walking, cycling, and public transport, while still acknowledging the continued role of private vehicles for many residents. Key infrastructure goals include the creation of a comprehensive network for active travel and the development of transport hubs to ensure seamless, integrated travel across the area. The council has also confirmed that it is currently progressing a study into mass rapid transit solutions to serve the region.
With approximately 87,000 residents in the area, the plan seeks to improve access to major local employment hubs, including RAF Brize Norton, as well as business and industrial parks in Witney and Carterton. Regional connectivity is a primary driver, particularly as roughly 16 per cent of the local population commutes to Oxford for work. Strengthening these links is considered critical to the area's economic future.
Integration with wider county goals
The West Oxfordshire Lowlands plan is the third of 12 such documents intended to cover the entire county, following the adoption of similar strategies for the Bicester area and Science Vale earlier this year. These documents will function as supporting evidence for the council’s broader Local Transport Connectivity Plan, which was established in 2022.
The strategy is intended to be a living document, subject to regular reviews to reflect the evolving needs of the local population and changing patterns of movement. By securing formal adoption, the council aims to better position the region to secure funding for future transport infrastructure projects, potentially ending the reliance on the existing, limited network that has served the Windrush valley for over half a century.
Source: Oxfordshire County Council · View original