NEW Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood is calling for a new drive to cut traffic congestion in Abingdon.

Miss Blackwood made history on Thursday by becoming Oxfordshire’s first female MP.

She beat Liberal Democrat Dr Evan Harris by 176 votes to take the Oxford West and Abingdon seat he had held for 13 years.

Last night, she put Abingdon’s congestion problems at the top of her agenda.

Miss Blackwood said: “There is still too much traffic going through Abingdon and a solution needs to be found.

“The county council needs to decide whether there should be a second bridge crossing over the River Thames, or a second exit off the A34 at Abingdon North.

“The council needs to decide which solution should be a priority and this should be put in the context of a South East-wide plan.”

Abingdon’s £3.1m Integrated Traffic Strategy, which turned Stratton Way into a two-way route in 2006, has been criticised by traders and residents.

Miss Blackwood also said she wanted to see the Vale of White Horse District Council introduce free parking of up to two hours a time to bring in more shoppers.

She added: “The new Abingdon Partnership is aiming to put together a long-term programme to attract investment to the town and to market Abingdon.”

Two years ago, a county council report suggested minor adjustments to the transport strategy, but a traders’ group commissioned a report calling for a more radical overhaul including re- setting some of the traffic lights in the town centre.

Rodney Rose, cabinet member for transport for the county council, was unavailable for comment.

Earlier this year, the county council completed a £450,000 scheme to put new paving and kerbstones in the High Street as part of the ongoing strategy.

Following the declaration on Thursday at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, Miss Blackwood celebrated her victory by performing a rendition of Cole Porter’s Every Time We Say Goodbye on local radio.

She said she had been asked to sing if she won and, not expecting victory, said she would.

Miss Blackwood added: “I suspect it is going to haunt me to the end of my political career.”

The 30-year-old had to wait until 4am for the results of a recount before she was told she had unseated Dr Harris.