Oxfordshire Watlington and Didcot road plans 'need rethink'

The Oxfordshire Roads Action Alliance (ORAA) says it is welcoming the government's review of spending on infrastructure projects, but thinks the county council should be doing the same for its controversial Watlington Relief Road and Didcot HIF1 schemes.

The HIF1 proposal includes building a dual carriageway on the A4130 from the A34 Milton Interchange towards Didcot, new bridges, and a Clifton Hampden bypass.

Artist's impression of the A4130 with improved footways and cycle ways. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

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Meanwhile, the council says the Watlington Relief Road would "provide an alternative route and direct access to the B4009, known as Shirburn Road and Britwell Road, either side of Watlington" to reduce "congestion" in the town centre.

Both projects have been justified by the council as "part of a wider strategy to facilitate housing, employment and population growth across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse" and as enabling "a significant number of new and improved walking and cycling routes in the area".

But the ORAA says it is opposing them as it believes they would "join up to a major new expressway between the A34 and M40 Junction 6 and a transformation of the rural south of Oxfordshire".

Watlington Relief Road plan. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)

A spokesman for the group said: "The LibDem/Green run highways authority at Oxfordshire County Council inherited its own extensive new road building programme from the previous council administration.

"ORAA is concerned by the continued emphasis on the county’s biggest ever road building programme.

"ORAA believes the county should pause any further new road building.

"It also needs to review how transport and planning policies interact so that new housing does not swamp South Oxfordshire with traffic or destroy the countryside.

Artist's impression of the bridge crossing over the Thames near Culham. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

"Money for new roads currently far exceeds spending on active travel."

Co-chairman Chris Church went on to reference the HIF1 project as "very poor value for money".

Group member Debbie Davies added of the Watlington Relief Road: "In June, the County Council was told it had to include the effects of extra traffic if it builds an alternative road at Watlington.

"This change to the scope means the budget that was last approved in 2021, needs to be reconsidered by the council and low cost alternatives must be included in the review."

County hall. (Image: Ed Nix.)

But county council cabinet member for Infrastructure Judy Roberts has defended the projects.

She said: “All major schemes are regularly reviewed for deliverability as a matter of course.

"This is to ensure that the capital programme as a whole remains aligned to the latest priorities, reflects the latest cost projections and profile for delivery, and incorporates current funding positions.

"HIF1 will provide approximately 20km of new segregated off-carriageway cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

"The scheme will also improve bus journey reliability and allow for new bus services to run.

"Watlington Relief Road will provide 3.3km of shared off-carriageway cycling and walking infrastructure."

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About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi