Community members, councillors and transport bosses have shared their thoughts on updates to the development of a new Oxfordshire railway service.
Some say progress is welcome but believe it "won't be a magic pill" that will fix the city's traffic problems.
Oxford City Council has given the green light to a half a million pound contract that will go towards design work around the two proposed stations of the Cowley Branch Line at Littlemore and Blackbird Leys in south and east Oxford.
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The line is only used by freight going to and from the BMW Mini Plant and has been closed to passengers since 1963.
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But there are hopes that a new railway line offering services to Bicester, London and other destinations, will ease transport problems in Oxford and tie in with other housing developments.
Rose Hill and Iffley ward city councillor candidate, David Henwood, of the Independent Oxford Alliance Party, said: "In principle we welcome the idea but it has to be affordable.
"This won't solve the city's transportation problems.
"It will help but it won't be a magic pill."
Labour city council leader Susan Brown added that the new station would be a "real shift from cars" and help substantially reduce congestion.
But Christopher Benton, managing director of the Pedal and Post cycle logistics service, said in a public statement: "What do these two stations actually solve for Oxford's transport issues?
"If we had safe segregated cycle lanes from Littlemore/Blackbird Leys and good bus service to Oxford I doubt there would be demand for this?"
What do these two stations actually solve for Oxford's transport issues?
— Christopher Benton (@pedalandpostCB) January 3, 2024
If we had safe segregated cycle lanes from Littlemore/blackbird leys and good bus service to Oxford i doubt there would be demand for this? Happy to be corrected though https://t.co/zrUvdMvypn
This comes as Oxford City Council cabinet member for housing Linda Smith described the development as a significant step towards "fixing Oxford's chronic transport problems".
Some believe the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and other traffic filters have exacerbated transport issues with others lamenting the extended closure of Botley Road which will now be out of action as a route to the city centre until October 2024.
Under current proposals, the railway line will run through the Oxford Science Park and Oxford Business Park, connecting to the existing Oxford Parkway and Oxford Station.
The stations would serve areas of Oxford where there are ongoing mass housing projects such as the ‘South Oxfordshire Science Village’ at Grenoble Road in the south of the city.
Cowley ward city councillor Amar Latif said: "I guess the key thing is that we must make sure the residents of Cowley are firmly involved.
"I think it will be a great thing for Cowley, make the whole area a lot more accessible and easier for residents to get about."
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