THE improvements to the A40 announced today are long overdue. As David Cameron memorably put it, the road is like a “foot on the windpipe” of West Oxfordshire’s economy.

It has long been considered a barrier to the region’s economic growth, because of the daily congestion problems experienced by businesses and residents.

And it must discourage people thinking of moving to the area when they learn that they will have to use one of the county’s most notorious roads.

A new park and ride at Eynsham, together with a bus lane into Oxford, will be welcomed by residents and companies alike – but many will hope Oxfordshire County Council goes even further.

Beyond the £38m of transport improvements already on the cards, there will definitely be increasing calls for the road to become a dual carriageway.

Other solutions are a railway or guided busway and lanes, but there is no doubt something major needs to change.

The council is to launch a consultation to get people’s views on what the long-term future of the road should be. No one knows the problems of the A40 better than those who use it every day.