TWO prominent Conservative councillors have not given their backing to protect what is claimed to be the 'only viable route' for a railway between Witney and Oxford.

The Witney Oxford Transport Group (WOTG) is campaigning for a new railway line to be built between the city and West Oxfordshire, and has petitioned candidates in the May 6 local elections to 'support defining and protecting a rail route as an integral part of the planned A40 Works project'.

The group's spokesman, Charlie Maynard, has previously warned that building the road without leaving space alongside it for the railway could destroy hopes to restore the line.

In a petition to the council, he also suggested space at the proposed Eynsham Park and Ride could be saved for a new train station.

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The WOTG asked all candidates standing for the county council in West Oxfordshire to add their names in support of making sure there was space for the railway alongside the road, plans for which are currently going to public consultation.

While 83 councillors said they would support this, two did not: Ian Hudspeth, the current Conservative leader of the council, and Liam Walker, the Conservative councillor for Hanborough and Minster Lovell.

The other 83 candidates include their fellow Tories in seats across West Oxfordshire, as well as Labour, the Greens, Lib Dems and independent candidates.

But despite not supporting the call from WOTG, both Mr Walker and Mr Hudspeth said they supported the plans for the railway in principle.

Mr Walker said there was no firm evidence yet, such as a feasibility study, to support the case for the railway.

He added: "We did not want to delay the Park and Ride scheme, the biggest upgrade to the A40 certainly in my lifetime for a rail upgrade that may never happen."

Last week Mr Hudspeth told this paper his party promised to 'take climate change seriously' as part of its election platform.

He said that not signing the WOTG's pledge did not contradict this.

He added: "We're investing £155m into a public transport bus system, we will improve bus connectivity and will have a first class cycle path alongside it; which is addressing the climate change agenda."

The council leader added that a feasibility study would help to strengthen the case for setting aside the land, but the WOTG is currently waiting on the outcome of a bid to the Government's restoring your railways fund before it can launch this study.

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Councillors from other political parties were not convinced by Mr Hudspeth's arguments.

Dan Levy of the Lib Dems said: "For these Conservatives to say they are in favour in principle but then go out of their way to prevent the railway in practice goes to show they are against the railway."

Duncan Enright of the Labour Party said: "We are not asking them to build a new rail link, we are just asking them to separate that out of what is happening already, which is the very welcome bus lanes and transport interchange. It would not cause any delay I think."

The WOTG's own survey has shown 97 per cent of residents support a feasibility study into reviving the Oxford to Witney rail line.