Oxford to Cambridge Expressway slated at Civic Society debate

Slamming the proposed road in a debate with Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth, professor Danny Dorling suggested a general election campaign would result in the plans being dropped.

He added: "(Nationwide), geography students are writing their projects on this as an example of what not to do."

Supported by a large, mainly partisan audience at an Oxford Civic Society event at the Town Hall on Monday night, Professor Dorling said he had spoken to experts in various fields at the University about the proposal and they had all heavily criticised the plan.

Conservative Mr Hudspeth, who has previously voiced support for the Expressway, was markedly more measured in tone and said 'listening to evidence' before moving forward is vital.

The debate – which was the last in a three-part series on Oxford's future, to mark the Civic Society's 50th anniversary – heard contributions from nearly 30 audience members, the vast majority of whom strongly opposed the plan.

Many laid out environmental concerns, suggested the road would not solve congestion problems and called for other infrastructure projects to be prioritised.

However Rosanne Bostock, founder of the annual city litter pick OxClean, made an impassioned speech in favour.