A NEW park-and-ride to serve Oxford as part of the £180m improvements on the A40 has moved a step closer to reality.

Oxfordshire County Council put plans out for consultation last year which could see millions pumped into the A40 from Oxford to Witney.

The road, one of the county's busiest, is notorious for congestion and the scheme aims to upgrade the stretch including an eastbound bus lane and a new park and ride.

Read again: £180 plans for A40 from Witney to Oxford

County council planning director Susan Halliwell said these plans would relieve some of the problems.

She previously told the Oxford Mail that the latest proposed improvements cover ‘many of the things that people consistently call for – better public transport, better cycling infrastructure and congestion pinch-points’.

The council has this month put forwarded a ‘request for scoping opinion’ in which council officers will consider the environmental impacts of the scheme before planning is submitted.

Oxfordshire County Council said it is ‘the first element of the A40 corridor strategy’ seeking to ‘support jobs and housing growth’, ‘reduce transport emissions’, ‘improve public health, air quality and safety’ and enhance Oxfordshire’s environment.

A park-and-ride and an eastbound bus lane in the area have long been mooted, with previous consultations held as far back as December 2016.

Initial responses from Eynsham Parish Council put forward its approval for A40 improvements but felt it could not back the plans for a new park and ride.

It said: “ The proposed park and ride received little support, especially a site at Eynsham.

“Those who did favour a park and ride considered it should be further to the west, such as Witney, as a better location.

Oxford Mail:

“This is the preferred option of the parish council.

"If a park & ride is intended to serve commuters to Oxford from Witney and Carterton it makes little sense to site it half-way along their journey.

“A site closer to where the commute starts would reduce traffic along the Witney to Eynsham A40 route as well.”

The park and ride is expected to be built north of the dual carriageway near Eynsham, and west of Cuckoo Lane.

One group who have responded in favour of the project are the Windrush Bike Project – a cycling organisation who are based in West Oxfordshire.

In response to the consultation the group said: “We welcome the proposed improvements to this strategic section of Oxfordshire’s cycle network.

“Namely the 3m-wide links, satisfying the desirable minimum width for a two-way cycle track recommended by Highways England.

“Maintaining a 1.5m verge between carriageway and cycle track, meeting the absolute minimum horizontal separation at 50mph.”

Read again: Park and ride expansion work stopped – and it's unclear when it will restart

As part of its response it added concerns about safe cycle routes for schools being included as part of the project.

Construction on the new Eynsham Park and Ride is scheduled to start this year if funds and planning are approved.

The Oxford Mail previously reported that the park and ride would be subject to a planning application in spring 2019.

If so, the build is expected to run from 2019 to 2021.

The latest ‘scoping opinion’ request is the next step following the council’s the public consultation which was held in November.

Planning details 19/00210/OCC