IT APPEARS business is booming in our county.

Companies House figures show more businesses than ever registered last year.

It is great news for the area as the ever-expanding tech sector along with more confidence among entrepreneurs reaps dividends.

The county council will also be licking its lips at the prospect of a boost in business rates as more companies are set up.

But the key is to make sure these businesses stay profitable and others continue to be attracted to Oxfordshire.

And this is where the problems begin to emerge with a shortage of housing and congested roads top of the list.

Oxford has already been revealed as the least affordable place to buy a home in the UK.

A boost in the number of businesses means more employees needing somewhere to live, which is only going to make matters worse.

And with property prices so high, most new workers will look to outside the city - meaning many will have to commute using the already-troublesome A34.

Those who are fortunate enough to be near a train station face overcrowded trains and regular signalling problems.

The General Election should be the platform for these problems to be addressed, and ensuring the county’s economy continues to grow.

Failure to do so could mean more companies folding than forming.

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