An environmental group is calling on the council to withdraw its plans for a contentious £269million road scheme after a date was set for the inquiry. 

Oxford Friends of the Earth want the HIF1 Didcot scheme replaced with specific plans to tackle traffic congestion in the town.

The HIF1 proposals include building a dual carriageway on the A4130 from the A34 Milton Interchange towards Didcot, new bridges, and a Clifton Hampden bypass.

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In July, Oxfordshire County Council’s planning committee voted against approving the HIF1 project.

This was despite recommendations from planning officers that it should be approved, and the decision was called in for review by levelling up secretary, Michael Gove.

Last week, the date for the government inquiry into the decision was confirmed for December 5 this year.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet has since been accused of undermining the decision to reject the HIF1 plans made by the planning committee.

Chris Church from Oxford Friends of the Earth said: “We are calling for the county council to withdraw the plan and to come forward with specific plans to tackle problems such as traffic congestion in Didcot rather than one badly-planned catch-all, and to invest in public transport as set out in their own Local Transport Plan (LTCP).

“The councillors who spent two days examining this plan in detail came to the conclusion that it was very seriously flawed and therefore rejected it.

“We are very concerned that some councillors are now using any available means to try and undermine this decision.”

The committee’s reasons for refusal were less about the principle of the scheme and more about its details.

A particular focus was on the outdated traffic modelling data, which used figures from 2016/17 and did not consider the traffic impact on Abingdon or Nuneham Courtenay.

Other issues raised included the impact on noise pollution, air quality, and climate change.

Councillor Duncan Enright, cabinet member for travel and development strategy at the county council, has maintained his support for the plan.

He said: “As a council, we are committed to the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure scheme.

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“We are taking stock of the planning committee’s comments and reasons before considering our own next steps.

“The scheme is designed to provide more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot, as well as reducing a legacy of congestion in the surrounding villages and improving air quality and noise levels.

“It would provide vital transport infrastructure to enable more reliable journey times, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, and support allocated housing and employment sites.”

All evidence for the inquiry must be submitted by early November, before the eight day inquiry begins on December 5.

Oxfordshire County Council was contacted for comment in relation to the claims made to this newspaper.

A council spokesperson said: “The council’s cabinet has no role in issuing decision notices on planning applications, and was not involved in the resolution of the Planning & Regulation Committee or preparation of the decision notice for the HIF1 planning application.

“The issuing of planning decision notices is an operational matter for the planning service working with the Planning & Regulation Committee.

"In this case, while the decision notice was being prepared and before it would have been issued, the county council received unexpected notification from the Secretary of State that the application was called in for government determination.

"The legal decision maker will now be the Secretary of State.”