Upgrades to the A40 between Witney and Eynsham have been "scrapped" following a review into the scheme.

Oxfordshire County Council has successfully negotiated with funding partners Homes England and the Department for Transport (DFT) to confirm £126million in funding to deliver the A40 Eynsham Park and Ride to Wolvercote scheme.

This development will be announced shortly.

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But the original Housing Infrastructure Fund proposal included upgrades to Witney to Eynsham in the form of a dual carriageway from where the road currently returns to single carriageway in Witney all the way to the new Eynsham Park and Ride site.

Speaking on Monday, county councillor Liam Walker said: "Very sadly the news today shows that this major part of the scheme has now been scrapped by the Lib Dem-led county council following a review into the scheme.

"The improvements to the A40 between Witney and Eynsham that would have also delivered much needed safety upgrades to the Barnard Gate junction that many will know is something myself and Lysette Nicholls from South Leigh Parish Council continue to campaign to improve."

The scheme still includes constructing a new junction onto the A40 to bring the Eynsham park and ride into use.

It also includes a bus lane eastbound between the new Eynsham Park and Ride and Cassington Junction as well as a bus lane eastbound between Wolvercote Bridge and Oxford North Junction.

A westbound bus lane between Cassington Junction and the Eynsham Park and Ride is also planned, focused on the parts of the route where buses are most delayed.

There would also be a continuous, upgraded walking and cycling path between Eynsham Park and Ride and Cassington Junction on the south side of the A40.

Alongside this, there would be an upgraded walking and cycling path on the north side of the A40 between Eynsham Park and Ride and Lower Road Roundabout.

The scheme also includes localised upgrades of the walking and cycling path on the south side of the A40 between Cassington Junction and Wolvercote, as well as new signal-controlled crossings at points along the A40 corridor.

The current scheme designs come after an extensive review of the A40 improvements programme due to continued high inflation and construction cost increases since 2020.

In a letter to councillors and other stakeholders, seen by the Oxford Mail, Gareth Slocombe, programme lead for A40 Improvements, wrote: "Despite the challenge of global inflationary pressures, the council has worked with the government to secure the funding, adapting the programme's design and phasing its delivery to provide upgrades to travel in this area.

"Future planned phases of work can be provided when further funding has been sourced.

"The funding secured for the scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s retained Local Growth Fund and Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF).   

"With this funding approval in place, the county council must now prepare to apply for planning permission.

"Accompanying this process, the council will be planning a number of engagement opportunities for the public to review the plans in detail from November 2024. 

"Subject to planning permission, construction could start in early 2026 and last for two years."

Oxfordshire County Council said the dualling is not included in this current phase of A40 improvements because it cannot be delivered within the funding available.

A spokesperson said: "The phase we have funding for provides significant journey benefits and has less environmental impact.

"Future planned phases of work can be provided when further funding has been sourced."