Oxfordshire Roads Action Alliance (ORAA) is objecting to Oxfordshire County Council's planning application to build a new relief road in Watlington.

The Watlington Relief Road will run from the western side of Watlington on the B4009, looping northwards and connecting back to the B4009 on the eastern side of the town.

The county council has said it will "alleviate congestion, noise and air pollution in the town centre and enable future housing developments, by offering more sustainable modes of transport including cycling and walking."

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Design plans list the road featuring: two roundabouts, a T-junction, three shared-use zebra crossings and "walking and cycling infrastructure to support active travel."

The ORAA, a community alliance and campaign group to committed to preventing unsuitable road development in Oxfordshire), however conversely argues this would increase traffic across the county, undermining the county council’s own transport goals by creating an even busier road through the centre of new housing developments.

The council's transport plan strives to cut one in four car trips by 2030 and one in three by 2040.

ORAA believes there is no justification to build the proposed road, particularly in light of the strategic allocation for 3000 houses at Chalgrove Airfield, which was controversially granted on appeal, contrary to warnings from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils.

The Civil Aviation Authority recommended in 2021 that development at Chalgrove Airfield be discontinued due to the proposed homes’ proximity to the airfield and has subsequently confirmed that its position has not changed. The site’s promoter is not consulting on a revised application, as announced in March.

ORAA is also concerned that the proposed road will lead to: Watlington's school site being separated from new playing fields, impact on the Chilterns National Landscape and listed Shirburn Park and Garden, sub-standard walking and cycling facilities and no investment in public transport.

Debbie Davies, a member of ORAA, said: “At a time when we need to be cutting road traffic – this will do the opposite. It will undermine the county council’s own transport policies and increase carbon emissions.

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“It’s a 1960s solution to a 21st century problem. It will cost local taxpayers millions of pounds in lost investment in public transport and other community facilities.

"The county council claims to be committed to its climate change targets. For this application to be submitted during COP28, highlights the disconnect between the need to take urgent action on climate change and actually doing something about it.

“Unless tack changes, things will be made worse. The roads department seems determined to accelerate us towards climate breakdown."