DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg has agreed to look at plans to cut congestion on the A34.

During a visit to Oxfordshire on Friday, the Lib Dem leader backed the county’s emerging “city deal” plan to generate investment and growth.

Community and business leaders have named traffic problems on the major road as one of the main things blocking growth in Oxfordshire.

And while Mr Clegg would make no commitment with regards to the road itself, he said he would look into any plans which arrived on his desk.

He said: “We are as a Government investing in transport to try to unblock some of the pinchpoints in Oxford and in places like Winchester.

“The A34 is not presently on the Government’s list of road transformations but if, as part of the city deal, that’s going to be one of the proposals put forward, then of course we will look at it.

“I think the vision for the city deal in this part of the world, particularly building on the hubs of scientific expertise in Oxfordshire, is a very exciting vision.”