The county council plans to install more lighting on footpaths and cycle ways, to make active travel safer.

The plans come as a motion on safer active travel was unanimously passed at Oxfordshire County Council’s full council meeting on Tuesday.

The motion, put forward by councillor Donna Ford, asserts the council is ‘committed to ensuring that active travel is fully inclusive all year round’.

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When moving the motion, the Conservative councillor said: “This motion began last year in the winter months and it was brought about by an experience not just of residents but of my personal experiences.

“Last year as the nights grew darker I decided to change my own habits and routes which I took to collect my son from school. The usual route, straight from the school, involves going through an overgrown section of path through a badly lit tunnel. For my own safety, I chose to avoid this route.

“I have been approached over the winter period by many residents who felt the same. They did not want to use badly lit paths due to safety, they did not want to use overgrown paths which push pedestrians and cyclists together.”

The councillor, who represents Bicester North, pointed out the county council’s own residents survey found roads and pavements were a “top priority” for people.

She said the administration’s “own ambitions to get more people out of cars and increase active travel” will only be achieved if the council can ensure “safer, more secure, well-lit paths”.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, cabinet member for climate change delivery and environment, assured councillor Ford this issue was in his portfolio and has already asked officers to “prioritise the cutting of footpaths” because it is “important we keep footpaths open”.

He added there is a review taking place concerning verges, green spaces and footpaths.

Dr Sudbury said: “Keeping the footpaths open is the top priority.”

Lib Dem councillor Dan Levy agreed with the motion but with a “bit of a barb”.

Mr Levy said: “The previous administration had 15 years to fix the problems on our cycleways and it failed completely to do so.”

He added: “Its slightly galling to say we should be doing more, we know we should be doing more. One of the reasons we should be doing more is because there was so little maintenance in the past.”

As part of the plans, the county council will also engage with stakeholders, including Network Rail, residents, landowners and businesses to ensure that they comply with their obligations to clear vegetation on private land and keep public rights of way open.

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