People will be able to voice their opinions to the county council about a controversial relief road as a further consultation begins today (Thursday, November 21).
If built, the Watlington Relief Road would provide alternative route and direct access to the B4009 on either side of the town.
The proposal aims to reduce congestion, noise and air pollution in Watlington, enable future housing developments outside the town, and encourage more people to walk and cycle.
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The road would include two new roundabouts, a new junction linking Britwell Road/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.
Oxfordshire County Council previously held a public consultation in February and March 2023, and submitted the planning application in December 2023.
The authority submitted a finalised version with additional information to the local planning authority at the end of October 2024.
The consultation, which is hosted on the local planning authority’s planning portal, will close on Friday, December 21.
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The Oxfordshire Roads Action Alliance is opposed to the construction of the relief road on the grounds that it will increase HGV traffic, cause environmental damage to the Chilterns National Landscape.
The group added that a new road crossing would pollute the Chalgrove Brook chalk stream, that the shared path for pedestrians and cyclists on one side of the relief road would be sub-standard, and that the road would separate Watlington’s school site from its new playing fields.
Chris Church, co-chair of Oxfordshire Roads Action Alliance said: “The County Council’s desire to build more and more roads to allow for even more new homes on green field sites is becoming a farce.
Leaders of Oxfordshire County Council have repeatedly said they are committed to building the relief road.
The county council anticipate that a planning decision will be reached at the start of the new year.
While the county council initially bid for £7.1 million in Housing and Growth Deal funding, which is a central government grant, they recently confirmed that the scheme will receive £4.327 million from central government, with the other money being reallocated to other projects.
The county council will use money from the 2025/26 Budget to fund the rest of the development.
If approved, the funding for the relief road will be outlined in the county council’s business planning process and the capital programme in February 2025.
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