Motion to build link road to go before full council meeting

A motion to build a link road through a busy part of Banbury is to be put in front of county councillors next week.
Banbury councillor Mark Cherry has tabled a motion to the next full council meeting at OCC for a new link road in Banbury. NNL-170314-143108001Banbury councillor Mark Cherry has tabled a motion to the next full council meeting at OCC for a new link road in Banbury. NNL-170314-143108001
Banbury councillor Mark Cherry has tabled a motion to the next full council meeting at OCC for a new link road in Banbury. NNL-170314-143108001

Mark Cherry, Oxfordshire county councillor for Banbury Calthorpe is calling for the council to move ahead with the link road between Bankside and Overthorpe Road to relieve the town’s traffic congestion.

The motion is due to be discussed at Oxfordshire County Council’s next full council meeting on March 21. Councillor Cherry said: “This link road is needed urgently if the town is to avoid total gridlock on its roads.

“Oxfordshire is a net contributor to the national economy and the north of the county continues to grow with the construction of HS2, new businesses moving into the area and the construction of at least 8,000 new homes.

“This issue has been talked about for over 30 years and it is now time for action.

“Even if the plan gets the green light it will need a feasibility study and public consultation which could take years, and at the moment we have a window of opportunity before available land gets developed – Banbury can’t wait much longer.”

The need for a link road has been identified in the Banbury Vision and Masterplan and in OCC’s transport infrastructure plan. Another option considered was a bridge across the railway near Banbury station connecting Tramway Road and Higham Way, but this has been discounted.