The leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey has raised concerns over proposals to close a town's busy level crossing to vehicles.

This comes as residents in Bicester had the chance to give feedback on proposals for the East West Rail (EWR) design plans yesterday (November 21).

The plans, revealed last week, include proposals to close London Road Crossing to vehicles and to either build a bridge or create an underpass for cyclists and pedestrians.

Will Gallagher, chief strategy and development officer for EWR, said more than 300 people attended the consultation event.

He told us: "A lot of the people were very supportive of EWR, but also understandably had concerns about London Road Level Crossing."

Sir Ed is among those with concerns.

READ MORE: London Road Crossing: Cycling group raises concerns

Speaking on the proposals for the crossing, he told BBC Radio Oxford: "We need a solution, and so far the EWR project doesn’t have one."

Sir Ed DaveySir Ed Davey (Image: PA)In response to this, Mr Gallagher said: "I think it is good that politicians at all levels are engaged in this consultation, because it's important both for the people of Bicester and for the country.

"I actually welcome national politicians getting involved."

The consultation event in BicesterThe consultation event in Bicester (Image: Newsquest) Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock attended the event and said it was "great" to see so many Bicester residents attend. 

He said after the consultation: "The EWR representatives will have heard loud and clear the concerns we have about their plans.

"So many residents told me how frustrated they are to have been ignored by successive rail companies and governments for nearly two decades.

Calum Miller MP Calum Miller MP (Image: Newsquest) "The conversations today have made me more determined than ever to work with local residents on our campaign to keep London Road open.

"I'll be meeting soon with local residents to make sure that we mobilise as many people as possible to respond to EWR.

"The majority of people I saw today want to see an underpass for cars and a pedestrian and cycling underpass on a more direct route than the current proposal.

"I think this is a very reasonable request of a national project.

"Our town should not be cut in two."

London Road CrossingLondon Road Crossing (Image: Jon Lew) Bernard Wakefield-heath, 66, lives in the Langford area which he says will be "greatly affected" by the proposals. 

READ MORE: Anger over approval of cycling on Sheep Street, Bicester

While he told us that he is "fully in favour" of the new rail route, he added that he has concerns about the proposals to close the crossing to vehicles.

He said: "Much of the community isn't happy.

Bernard Wakefield-HeathBernard Wakefield-Heath (Image: Newsquest) "We still need a road access, and that’s what the community wanted originally."

He said that the ring road gets "badly congested" now and sometimes takes him half an hour to drive into town. 

Mr Gallagher added: "There isn't an easy answer here.

"The key thing is that people bring forward proposals that can work, and if they do, then we will take them into account."