SEVERAL of your correspondents recently have complained about the serious delays to traffic in Oxford.

Although improvements to the transport infrastructure are to be welcomed, many residents and commuters ask why they have to take place all at the same time.

Currently there are major road works under way at the Hinksey and Kennington roundabouts, London Road in Headington, Worcester Street/George Street and Frideswide Square.

The reason for these schemes all taking place at once is simple: there is a general election coming. Suddenly the Government has bestowed shedloads of money on the cash-strapped county council, provided that the council promises to spend it on road works in the current financial year.

The Government has stifled growth over the past four years and now wants to force road improvements here in Oxford, presumably so that in May it can boast about its achievements and hope that people will have forgotten the misery, delays and general chaos we have all been living through.

I would have preferred to see more money spent by government on funding filling potholes and resurfacing roads over the past four years but any improvements are to be welcomed – at least by those who have found short cuts. Roll on summer 2015.

John Sanders
County Councillor for Cowley
Labour opposition spokesperson on Transport and Environment

Today’s letters



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