Sir - Can the A40 cope with several thousand more houses at Witney?

Oxfordshire's Local Transport Plan 2011-16 says congestion on the A40 between Witney and Oxford is among the worst in the county. Gridlock between Eynsham and Wolvercote causes rat-running through Farmoor, Cassington and Yarnton, increasing accidents and air pollution.

Fourteen per cent of Witney's working population commute to Oxford. The Witney Integrated Transport Strategy talks of encouraging people away from cars, but between Witney and Oxford that means up to an hour's bus ride on route 100, risking A40 gridlock on route 200, or cycling 13 miles.

In 2002, Mott MacDonald gave our county council three public transport options between Oxford, Witney and Carterton: railway, tramway or guided busway.

Councillors chose the busway, even though it was the slowest and least energy efficient option and almost as costly as a tramway. The DfT dismissed the busway as unviable and it was shelved.

Since its last passenger train in 1962, Witney's population has risen from 9,000 to 23,000 and Carterton's has trebled from 4,000 to 12,000. Only a railway or tramway would have the speed, capacity and environmental sustainability to provide first-class transport to Oxford and beyond.

The DfT will never fund either option while Gordon Brown is PM and Alistair Darling is Chancellor. However, West Oxfordshire must safeguard a potential rail route so that this option is not lost for the future. Its local plan should allow space for a Witney rail station and car park, probably between Ducklington and the A40. If new houses are allowed between Ducklington and Curbridge they must not obstruct a railway from reaching Carterton. Otherwise Witney and Carterton's increasing populations will not be travelling anywhere!

Hugh Jaeger, Oxford