I AM delighted to see the Bid for transport improvements includes reopening the Cowley branch rail line to passenger services (Oxford Mail, April 10).

Sadly, the Bid does not refer to the obvious need to extend the rail line out to Witney and Carterton, to reduce traffic pressure on the routes into Oxford, especially those currently using the Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roundabouts. Unfortunately, the Bid also contains road upgrading which will not help to decrease traffic movements into Oxford, which continue to rise. Contrary to the view of Mr Darke (Letters, Oxford Mail, April 5) new roads and expanded road transport infrastructure do encourage more and longer car journeys.

Research has been emphasising this since the 1920s. The Campaign for Better Transport makes these arguments repeatedly in its work. This provides good reasons not to dual the A40 or open a new road to Cambridge.

Both will increase traffic, especially coming into Oxford itself where space will inevitably be severely restricted and the increased traffic will worsen Oxford’s already serious air pollution.

We desperately need a stronger focus on measures which reduce road traffic in Oxfordshire.

Cutting bus subsidies in the countryside was a major error in this regard. The major parties on the County Council should have supported Green suggestions for asking the public in a referendum to accept slightly higher council tax to protect bus services that are a vital link in rural areas, particularly for the elderly.

Dr HAZEL DAWE

Oxfordshire Green Party