Cogges Link decision to be revealed within weeks (From Oxford Mail)

Cogges Link decision to be revealed within weeks

10:10am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News

A FINAL decision on the controversial Cogges Link Road in Witney will be revealed within the next eight weeks.

A public inquiry into whether Oxfordshire County Council can compulsory purchase land needed for the link road took place between October and December.

Inspector Stephen Roscoe has finished writing his report and has submitted it to be checked by the Planning Inspectorate, the inquiry’s programme officer Graham Groom said.

Once it is given the all-clear by the inspectorate it will be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, who will consider the report and make the final decision.

Mr Roscoe’s report will be made public once the decision is made.

Mr Groom said there was no timetable for the procedure but said he expected a decision in between four and eight weeks’ time.

The Cogges Link Road aims to cut congestion and pollution in Witney town centre and will run from Oxford Hill to Station Lane. It will cost about £20.5m to build.

Opponents say building a four-way junction on the A40 at Shores Green will have the same effect but at a fraction of the cost.