Campaigners were left “disappointed but unsurprised” after Oxfordshire county councillors voted unanimously to approve the building of a controversial bypass.

Witney’s Cogges Link Road scheme (CLR) would see the construction of a £15m single carriageway road between Witan Way and Oxford Hill as part of measures to relieve traffic congestion in the town.

The scheme was first put forward nearly 20 years ago, but campaigners against it want to protect the water meadows and flood plain through which the road would run.

They have said a four-way junction at Shores Green on the A40 Witney bypass would be an alternative.

A bid to gain Town Green status, which would protect the meadows from development, has also been submitted.

To be accepted, it has to be proved the area has been used by the community for more than 25 years.

The Council for the Protection of Rural England/Witney First protest group spokesman David Condon said: “We are disappointed.

“However, the vote was just a small preliminary skirmish compared with the onslaught that will be unleashed on the various authorities who wish to destroy the water meadows of Witney for the sake of their pet project the Cogges Link Road.

“The question is why do they want to do this to Witney when there is such an elegant solution right on our doorstep?”

Resident Wyn Devonald, of Manor Road, Cogges, added: “This is just the start.”

The CPRE is pressing for the alternative scheme at Shores Green to be implemented.

The CLR would run from the roundabout opposite Sainsbury’s, across the flood plain and Witney Country Park.

A report carried out by head of sustainable development at the county council, Chris Cousin, stated that although the scheme does cross the water meadows, detailed flood studies had shown that the actual flood plain for the river would only be marginally affected.

County planners maintain the CLR would provide better relief for the town’s Bridge Street bottleneck.

Mr Cousins’ report concluded: “The traffic situation in Witney is not acceptable and is potentially detrimental to the vitality and viability of the town centre and on the residential amenities of those properties directly affected by the traffic.”

He added: “Shores Green has less of an environmental impact, but does not provide the same level of benefits in terms of reducing traffic congestion in the town centre.”

James Mawle, whose parents own much of the land involved with the CLR, said: “The important thing to emphasise is that the county council’s own traffic study showed the Shores Green option was better at relieving traffic congestion.”

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