THE proposed £15m Cogges Link Road could be delayed indefinitely by an application to stop the development, it was claimed last night.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England and Witney First protest group confirmed it would be submitting a Town Green application in the next week in an attempt to bar development along part of its route.

If successful, a 70-acre plot of land from Farm Mill Lane to the A40 – between the east and west tributaries of the River Windrush – would become protected, striking a massive blow to the scheme.

A similar, and successful, application to turn North Oxford’s Trap Grounds into a Town Green in 2002, took five years to decide.

Witney First spokesman David Condon said: “We are aware this application could have a considerable delaying effect on the Cogges Link Road, even if its unsuccessful.

“But we want to make sure they can’t build on that land.

“The loss of this tranquil recreational area, with its easy access, would be extremely detrimental.”

“We are also worried about the increased flood risk the development would bring.”

The move comes just five weeks before Oxfordshire County Council is due to make a decision on the plans.

While permission for the scheme might still be granted, work would not be able to begin until a Town Green application was decided.

Public consultation into the link road ended last month, with leaked figures suggesting opposition to the scheme by a margin of 10-to-one.

The CPRE is pressing for an alternative scheme, a four-way junction at Shores Green on the A40 Witney by-pass.

However, planners say the Cogges Link Road would provide better relief for the Bridge Street bottleneck.

A county council spokes- man said: “Planning permission can be granted before a decision is made as to whether the piece of land is to be registered as a Town Green, but any such planning permission should not be implemented until the Town Green status is resolved.”

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk