Decision on market town relief road delayed

A decision on whether to build a controversial road has been pushed back until after local elections have taken place.

The Watlington Relief Road would provide access to the B4009 from either side of the Oxfordshire market town.

While protestors argue it is "not needed", others say it would reduce congestion following the construction of new homes in Watlington and Pyrton.

Oxfordshire County Council said a decision on the bypass, which was first proposed more than 50 years ago, would now come in June.

Currently, many motorists in south Oxfordshire have to drive directly through the town centre to reach the M40 or A34.

The road was granted more than £11m in funding and was supposed to be presented to the county council's planning committee in March.

But it was delayed after planners asked for further information about the scheme.

Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame and county and district councillor representing Watlington, said this would not affect the timescale for building the road.

He said he still expected "spades in the ground" in September or October.

"The design process has taken longer than expected to complete, primarily due to late submissions from statutory consultees that required additional work."

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire Roads Action Alliance (ORAA), which is against the project, said: "The scheme is not needed for housing planned in the area.

"Developers have agreed to implement, at their cost, off-site highway improvements and traffic management that will improve journeys for many people, without the need to build the road."

The road would include two new roundabouts, a new junction linking Britwell Road and Harmans Way, and a new pick-up and drop-off area for cars going to Icknield Community College, and a new bridge over Chalgrove Brook.

You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.