I am writing about the absolutely chaotic planning decisions to provide a new hamburger roundabout at Kennington, commence the London Road, Headington, repairs and the Frideswide Square redevelopment.

Oxford Mail:

Resurfacing and widening of the A420 London Road, Headington, started resulting in another major route into the city being blocked

All of these are now being carried out together. Due to the way Government hands out money for the upkeep of roads it has to all be used by March 31, 2015. If not spent Oxfordshire will get less money allocated next year.

I think I understand that but is not at all a satisfactory method as far as the public are concerned. OCC say that there is no money (but has often suddenly been found in the past). No, it is not being spent correctly or in the right places. Whenever I drive around Oxford during evenings and weekends it is noticeable that there is no actual work taking place at these times.

Expensive heavy machinery is standing idle – no workers are to be seen – all the work is at a standstill. How can this be logical? There are 168 hours in a week and I calculate that of these only 50 are actually worked. That leaves 118 hours of nothing being done. Does this make good sense?

Today’s letters

We are given many excuses and told that if there was 24 hour round the clock working it would cost more and be a noise nuisance. I, and many others feel that if it was non-stop then it would greatly shorten the time it takes to complete – possibly not in half but a whole lot quicker than it has up to now. Instead the cost is paid by for the public and commuters trying to go to work and school having to bear the brunt of costs. It is now in the millions, plus they are being taxed as well. No consideration is given to them or to businesses.

We have all been treated abominably and we will not be free of the chaos until May of next year.

To drive anywhere in Oxford I have now been forced to purchase a Live Traffic Service for my Satnav – which has saved me valuable time in getting out of Old Marston and anywhere I need to go. It takes me miles out of my way but works very well avoiding the congestion. Trouble is this then takes me through country routes with appalling pothole problems and therein lies another story...

Tony Greenfield

Raymund Road

Old Marston

Oxford

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