Plans to improve Cherwell’s transport links in accordance with the submitted Local Plan have been welcomed as a good starting point but in need of more detail.

At a meeting of Cherwell District Council’s executive, members reviewed Oxfordshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan which outlined proposals to improve travel links across the district until 2031.

Councillors praised the report as being aligned with Cherwell’s own plans for development as outlined in the submitted Local Plan, but felt more needed to be done to address all of the issues facing the district.

The basis of the report focused on three themes; supporting growth and economic vitality, cutting carbon and improving the quality of life.

A key objective throughout the report was to reduce the use of private cars by creating more sustainable transport systems including better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and improved public transport links. In Bicester this will include a park and ride system while for both towns there would be a review of bus services and routes to encourage more use among residents and commuters.

Adrian Colwell, Cherwell’s head of strategic planning and the economy, said:

“It is good to see that this report aligns with our own Local Plan to ensure that as the district grows with housing and new employment, the county council has made provisions for people to be able to travel to work and home. This documentary is effectively the final piece of the jigsaw in what is a collective approach to accommodating the growth of Cherwell until 2031.

We welcome this united approach but think it needs to go a bit further to look more at the impact on rural areas and the other issues which we will be dealing with, aside from the growth. As it stands this is a good starting point and a strong report, but one that needs a bit more detail before we would consider it to be complete.”