LETTING two-way traffic through a tunnel leading to Didcot’s Ladygrove estate would in- crease congestion during the rush hour, transport bosses have warned.

Oxfordshire County Council, which is responsible for roads, has raised concerns over a planned trial by Didcot Town Council for the Cow Lane bridge tunnel, which has been one-way since 2003.

At present, there is no access to the 3,500-home estate from the Station Road/ Hitchcock Way junction.

Instead, drivers access the estate from Mersey Way and Avon Way on the northern perimeter road, or from Abingdon Road into Tamar Way.

County officers warned the two-way trial would cause congestion along Station Road and surrounding roads.

But the council said the £25,000 scheme can go ahead if the town council wants it to.

Town council leader Bill Service said: “Cow Lane tunnel has been one-way since 2003 and there was never any consultation to close it to two-way traffic. County officers seem to think traffic would take too long to clear the junction – but they could pull the plug on the trial at any time.

“Seven thousand people live on the estate and some of them have to drive further than they should have to.”

Margaret Davies, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council’s Labour group, said: “I think the trial would cause too much congestion at peak times and I would rather not see it implemented.”

County council spokesman Owen Morton said: “The council has advised against a trial of two-way traffic at this location following modelling work which showed a likelihood of additional congestion, queue lengths and journey times during peak hours.

“Should the town council and district council wish to pursue such a trial, the county council would facilitate this.

“We would request, however, that they make arrangements to field inquiries from the public.”