Current plans to reduce traffic congestion in preparation for Northern Gateway seem focused on installing traffic lights on the Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts.
These “improvements” are based on the county’s premise that this will result in better traffic flow. At the recent local consultations it hadn’t escaped the notice of many that plans to improve traffic flows at Frideswide Square are by doing the opposite ie removing the traffic lights and replacing them with roundabouts.
But on a more serious note doesn’t this demonstrate the need to see if the roundabouts work before using them as a reason to forge ahead with Northern Gateway?
Oxford City Council’s recently published (Area Action Plan) AAP states the strategic link road to the west of the A34 “is beyond the scope of the AAP because it lies within the neighbouring district of Cherwell”.
The AAP also states that this link road is not required to deliver the development at Northern Gateway. I believe this actually means this link road may never happen because it is owned by another council and is therefore outside the control of both Oxford councils.
Recently Mike Gotch stated that Northern Gateway shouldn’t be delayed by suggestions of a western relief road and that it is a longer term objective. I take a different view – the link road may in fact never happen, it is effectively a twinkle in the planners’ eyes. However, the full progress of Northern Gateway should be dependent on it.
The consultation on the proposed AAP gave a clear message from the majority of respondents that Green Belt land south of the A40 should not be developed. Why then does the AAP shows this important area of Green Belt land built on? Did they decide to ignore the responses that didn’t suit their plans?
Suzanne McIvor
Talbot Road
Oxford
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Today’s letters
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