A34 new bypass

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 24th Aug 2005

In a letter to the Oxford Mail and Oxford Times, Cllr Bob Johnston, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Transport, said that as far he knew, the County Council does not favour this option of a new A34 bypass (as quoted in the papers).

He said, "You quote Keith Mitchell as supporting some more road building, but unless he is bypassing Council altogether now, his view does not make Council policy. There would be severe environmental consequences of building a new road, and I cannot support this option.

"To both east and west there are areas of outstanding natural beauty. In any event, car and lorry usage will simply continue to rise unless attractive transport alternatives are offered.

"It is high time that serious investment was put into rail and other public transport both for passengers and freight across the country. Tinkering about with road pricing to force local traffic onto minor roads, as the Government appears to be suggesting, or expensive and damaging lengths of new road, as Keith Mitchell suggests, will not solve the underlying problem. Evidence shows that new roads simply attract more traffic. Will our children and grandchildren thank us when we have built new roads over the green space around Oxford and yet the A34 remains as congested as ever?"