Sir – Councillor Alan Armitage (Report, February 12) is right to warn of possible consequences for the transport network of the suggested ‘northern gateway’ development. The Wolvercote and Pear Tree roundabouts are the cross-over point where long distance traffic travelling between the A40 and M40 via the A34 intersects with Oxford commuter traffic.
Congestion backing up from this intersection means that West Oxfordshire side roads bear increasing flows of rat-running traffic.
For example, according to a survey done by Oxfordshire County Council in 2006, the majority of heavy goods vehicles travelling daily along the main street of Bladon are on long distance journeys.
The network of local roads north and west of the city is close to maximum capacity, as shown by the catastrophic traffic jam caused last July by the Game Fair at Blenheim.
Separation of long-distance traffic from Oxford local transport, discussed ever since the north Oxfordshire ‘tin hat’ trunk road scheme of the 1980s, is long overdue. New buildings in the area adjacent to these two crucial roundabouts must not delay the construction of a proper A34-A40 junction.
Sarah Watkinson, Chris Corser, Hugh Thomas, David Roulston, Bladon A4095 Action Group
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