Village at the end of its tether as M40 closure at Banbury 'drops a bomb'
Residents of Farthinghoe say they are at the end of their tether as highways bosses diverted motorway traffic to their village – during a five-week closure of the main road.
The subsequent mayhem in Farthinghoe’s narrow streets last Friday afternoon was described as ‘like a bomb’.
Farthinghoe has been fighting for a bypass similar to Middleton Cheney’s for decades. Middleton’s was built during the early 1990s in anticipation of the M40 opening.
The A422 through Farthinghoe is so narrow two large HGVs cannot pass each other – but it was left out of the upgrade. Last year, highways chiefs said a bypass, promised after years of campaigning, ‘would be undeliverable’ and removed it from their transport plan.
The road is the responsibility of West Northants Council but is used by National Highways as a Major Road Network (MRN) route.
Last Friday, apparently without realising the road had been completely closed for five weeks for drainage works, it released all M40 traffic bound for Banbury onto the A43/A422 following a serious accident.
Mick Morris, Farthinghoe Parish Council chairman, said: “It was like a bomb had hit the village. National Highways (NH) had approved the A422 closure so their records would have shown it but they went ahead and rediverted the traffic. We need an explanation.
“There has been a complete lack of dialogue between WNC and NH over Farthinghoe traffic issues and finding a solution to the problems.
“Both parties kick the can down the road in the hope the problem will solve itself. This has to stop.
“It is time for NH and the Department of Transport (DfT) to contribute to a solution which not only solves today’s issues but is future proof.”
A spokesman for National Highways said: “The A422 is a local road and is the responsibility for the local highway authority, in this case West Northamptonshire Council and it would be for the council and local partners to take forward any scheme on this route at Farthinghoe.
"However, DfT will continue to work with West Northamptonshire Council to look at any potential solutions to the issues faced at Farthinghoe.”
With reference to the M40 diversion they said: “In this instance it seems like the team had to react quickly and there were few alternatives.”
Mr Morris said NH should have known.
“If WNC wants to close this road for repairs and maintenance they have to seek the permission of National Highways. National Highways knows this road is closed and yet they chose to use it as a motorway diversion. How can they say that they have no responsibility?”
“In 2023 the law was changed to allow the use of longer trailers. Three years later most lorries have the longer trailers. We requested the risk assessment but that request was brushed aside. When we ask important questions of WNC we are ignored. We have had enough.”
Mr Morris said the drainage problems which have closed the road have taken seven years to be addressed. Footpaths along the A422 do not meet national safety standards and streets used as rat runs have no pavements at all.
“We have asked for senior WNC officers to come to see the effects of their inaction – they ignore us,” he said.