TRAFFIC in Witney will only get worse without the controversial £15m Cogges Link Road, the leader of West Oxfordshire District Council said as the authority backed the scheme.

The lowlands planning sub-committee voted unanimously on Monday to give its support to Oxfordshire County Council, which has gone out to consultation on the scheme, and is expected to decide in February next year.

Latest figures from members of the public are more than 1,200 objections and 170 in support.

District councillors are, however, telling the county to ensure there are flood alleviation measures in place on the River Windrush floodplain, plus noise reduction surfacing and tree planting to protect Cogges estate residents from noise nuisance.

Since the road scheme was first on the drawing board almost 20 years ago, it has been part of the district council’s Local Plan policy.

It should have been built earlier, after receiving planning permission in 1997, but was delayed through lack of funding.

Warwick Robinson, cabinet member for strategic planning, said: “I came here 28 years ago, and in all that time, Bridge Street remains the only route to get through the town.

“Providing relief is fundamental.

“The alternative, of depending on junctions off the A40, will just stack back traffic.”

Council leader, Barry Norton, added: “We do not know what lies in the future, but if there is further development in the north and east of Witney, the town’s traffic problems would only get worse without the Cogges Link Road.”

A protest campaign against the road is being spearheaded by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, which favours an alternative and less-costly scheme of a four-way junction on the A40 at Shores Green. Witney spokesman, David Condon, said after the meeting he was not surprised by district councillors giving their backing.