Bicester MP Calum Miller says he is seeking an "urgent meeting" with the rail minister over questions on London Road Crossing funding. 

This comes as the Budget was announced on Wednesday (October 30) by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, who said she would prioritise capital funding to complete the East West Rail project.

The East West Rail service, which will connect Oxford to Cambridge, will result in longer closures of London Road Crossing when the route begins running at full capacity. 

On Wednesday, Ms Reeves also announced a consultation about London Road Crossing next month, which Mr Miller said will provide Bicester residents with the chance to tell ministers how much the crossing matters to them.

Speaking after the Budget, Mr Miller said: "The chancellor told us today she has prioritised capital funding to complete East West Rail but did not ring-fence the money to keep London Road open. 

"I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Rail Minister to clarify the position and urge him to commit the funding that will stop Bicester being cut in two by the new line."

The Lib Dem MP called on the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to fund the London Road Crossing in Bicester ahead of the Budget on Wednesday. 

Frustrations have been rising in Bicester as residents await answers amid fears that the new rail route, resulting in longer closures of the level crossing, would "cut the town in two".

Long-standing Bicester resident, Plunket Forbes, has demanded answers from East West Rail over how they intend to deal with the crossing. 

The 75-year-old said East West Rail are ignoring the "elephant in the room".

"We have been waiting longer than two world wars for a decision about how they intend to deal with this crossing," Mr Forbes told the Oxford Mail Bicester Advertiser. 

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"The people of Bicester demand that vehicular access must be maintained on this road that divides the town."

He said the present situation is "not sustainable".

"The people of Bicester will not accept this. 

"They’ve got a responsibility for the people of the town. They should’ve told people five years ago what their actual plans were."

This week before the budget Mr Miller said: “Everyone in Bicester knows that we need a new crossing at London Road and that East West Rail and successive national governments have dragged their heels over funding it.

Calum Miller MP (Image: Contributed) "I have been campaigning for years with local residents for this.

"That is why I wrote to the chancellor ahead of her budget to press the case for government funding to keep London Road open.

“I welcome the proposed new railway and the jobs and investment it will bring to Bicester. But it can't come at the cost of cutting our town in two.

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"The increase in services will greatly increase delays on the London Road and make the level crossing unsafe. 

"So we need a commitment now to invest to provide alternative crossings so that pedestrians, cyclists and drivers can continue to get across town."

The first test train journey on the multibillion-pound route from Oxford to Milton Keynes was successfully completed earlier this month.

A spokesperson for East West Railway said: “Following the news in May about the General Election, plans to deliver our Statutory Consultation at the end of June were paused.

"Now that a new government is in place, we are working closely with them to confirm the next steps for the project.

"We are committed to keeping communities and landowners informed every step of the way."

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