Government agency calls for relief road to be deferred

A GOVERNMENT agency has recommended that a relief road around Watlington should be deferred.

Active Travel England said that current versions of the relief road scheme do not enhance protected walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure.

The bypass is meant to encourage drivers to avoid the centre of the historic town and reduce congestion, providing access to the B4009 from both sides of Watlington.

The plans include two new roundabouts, a new junction linking Britwell Road and Harmans Way, a new pick-up and drop-off area for Icknield College, and new bridge over Chalgrove Brook. The agency said in its response that the road would be surrounded by residential areas and therefore it is essential to ensure high quality infrastructure for all modes of transport, in a way that prioritises the movements of pedestrians and cyclists.

It raised a number of concerns about three junctions that have been proposed and suggested that the foot and cycleway on the south side of the first junction between Harmans way and Britwell Road would benefit from being fully segregated.

Currently a three-metre shared used foot and cycleway would be provided but this is only on the south side of the junction which means people cycling into the town from the south have no officially permitted route other than Harmans Way.

The agency said: “Cyclists cannot sensibly transition from Harmans Way shared-use cycleway to Britwell Road, north. Active Travel England suggests extending the shared foot and cycleway to provide a continuous route.”

At junction two in Cuxham Road the agency said that it was a missed opportunity not to continue the shared foot and cycleway along the road to the Cuxham roundabout and around the corner on to Willow Close.

The current proposal requires cyclists to return to the carriageway to navigate the roundabout. The agency said providing the route up to the roundabout would also future-proof the route and allow forthcoming connections.

At junction three in Pyrton Lane, it is expected to become a popular route for cyclists. However, the agency said the current design may make it difficult for cyclists to navigate between the proposed crossing and the lane, especially when pedestrians and street furniture like Belisha poles are in the way.

The agency suggested widening the shared-use path on the north side to make it safer.

Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, is expected to make a final decison later this month.