VILLAGERS are stunned by a senior councillor's claim that a country lane could cope with lorries if restrictions are put on Wolvercote’s main bridge.

They hit out at Oxfordshire County Council’s Rodney Rose over his comments about plans which could see a three-tonne weight limit put on the ageing Goose Green bridge.

The authority said it cannot afford to strengthen the bridge, over the Oxford to Banbury railway line.

Council engineers have warned a three-tonne weight limit could instead be imposed, forcing delivery trucks, fire engines, buses and bin lorries to get to the village via Wytham on the Godstow Road.

Mr Rose, the council's cabinet member for transport, who holds an HGV driver's licence, said this alternative route could take lorries.

He told fellow cabinet members last week: “I’ve driven that route quite often.

“I’ve never once met a problem driving that route.”

But Liberal Democrat councillor Jean Fooks said: “As a through route, it is not accessible and not possible for most lorries.

“It is narrow, with blind corners and two old bridges and it’s prone to flooding.”

And Angie Goff, of Wolvercote Commoners Committee, said she could not believe Mr Rose’s comments.

She said: “It certainly could not sustain that sort of traffic in the long term.

“It would probably have to have temporary traffic lights and I’m sure the people of Wytham would not welcome it.”

A joint project between Network Rail and the county council to rebuild the Goose Green bridge was dropped because of public spending cuts.

County Hall has said it cannot afford to put £3.6m towards the work to give it a 44-tonne weight limit.

Mr Rose said it could not afford this at a time when school building projects were being scaled back because of cuts.

Discussions are continuing with Network Rail over a cheaper plan to strengthen the bridge to carry 18 tonnes, which would allow buses to cross the railway line, but not bigger HGVs.

In a written response, Mr Rose added: “This alternative route does carry a 7.5-tonne environmental weight limit but this only prevents access to through traffic – any vehicle needing access can lawfully use this way into the area.”

The Liberal Democrat county councillor for Wytham, Janet Godden, added: “People in Wytham would feel about this very strongly if lorries were diverted to use this route.

“There are two tight bends in the middle of the village and there have been plenty of accidents in the past.

“I’m not saying a single lorry could not get through, but as a route for lorries it is not at all feasible.”