A MULTI-MILLION pound plan for a controversial Witney link road has been rejected by Government.

The Department of Transport has told Oxfordshire County Council it will not allow the compulsory purchase order of land needed for the Cogges Link Road to go ahead.

Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening agreed with the inquiry inspector that a four-way junction on the A40 at Shores Green should be explored instead.

The decision comes after a long public inquiry into the proposed £20.5m Cogges Link Road, which the county council argued is needed to cut congestion and traffic pollution in the town centre.

Plans for the Cogges Link Road were first mooted more that two decades ago.