ANYONE who uses the A40 at rush hour will tell you this major artery through Oxfordshire is already overloaded.

It can take an hour to drive from Witney to Oxford during the morning peak.

Add thousands of new homes and jobs along this corridor and you do not need to be a traffic expert to predict the result.

The Government and our councils must act now to combat the looming gridlock.

New housing is needed, but it must be supported by infrastructure. Moreover, policy on housebuilding must be drawn up in conjunction with policy on improving the transport network. Clearly that is not happening.

If we are to expand towns around the county, then it is inevitable travel into Oxford will increase.

If, for financial or other reasons, we cannot achieve the improvements to transport that are needed, then we must rethink the housing policy.

Perhaps an urban extension to Oxford is more viable. Developing 4,000 homes south of Grenoble Road has its drawbacks, but it would cut commuting and benefit from the city’s existing public transport network.

But for now it is clear there is no money, no plan and no hope of improving the lot of those who have no option but to drive along the A40.