FEARS of widespread Government cutbacks have left a huge question mark hanging over £500m of improvements to Oxfordshire’s schools, roads and community facilities.

Oxfordshire County Council chiefs have ordered a review of every single capital project it has planned for the next five years as it prepares for drastic cuts in Government funding.

Council bosses fear that if Whitehall rumours come to fruition, the worst case scenario could see half the county’s schemes axed or delayed.

The review was announced yesterday as Prime Minister David Cameron warned Britain that cuts “will affect our whole way of life”.

New classrooms, schools extensions, libraries, road schemes, waste management projects and improvements to fire stations will all be closely scrutinised and prioritised by the county council.

Major projects up for review include the £2m redesign of Frideswide Square, in Oxford, the £3m extension of Thornhill Park-and-Ride and extensions to several county primary schools.

Supporters of the projects say any cuts or delays could jeopardise the economic future of the city.

County council leader Keith Mitchell admitted prioritising work “would not be easy” but said the review was early preparation for the difficult decisions ahead.

He said each project in the council’s capital programme would be re-evaluated and a list of priorities would then be drawn up.

“We will not get to a definitive list until next February,” he said.

“But by looking at the priorities early and getting a sense of what the top ones are, we can then consult and take views into account.”

He added: “When we know how much cash there is we will draw a line on that list and go to the public again.”

Mr Mitchell said the cuts were likely to be the biggest the county had ever faced, but exact details might not be known until the autumn, when the Government completes its Comprehensive Spending Review.

He said current rumours circulating in Whitehall suggested funding could be cut by between 20 and 50 per cent, but he stressed the county was not working on a specific figure at present.

Mr Mitchell added any council cuts to its capital spending, which totals £100m each year and is made up of council cash, central government funding and developer contributions, would also impact on local building and contracting firms which carry out improvements.

The council’s revenue budget has already been set for this year.

Tony Joyce, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said projects such as the redevelopment of Frideswide Square and the expansion of park-and-rides were vital to the economic health of the city.

He said: “These are not just frills, they are really essential.”

The county council will review hundreds of projects planned to improve the county’s roads, schools and community facilities.

The council’s £500m capital programme will be prioritised and a decision on which schemes will be cut or significantly delayed will be made in February 2011, once the full details of the Government’s public spending cuts are revealed.

Major schemes under review include:

Schools Capital Programme

* Bayards Hill School, Oxford – replacement of buildings

* The Grange, Banbury – new classroom block

* Great Milton Church of England School – replacement of temporary classrooms, improvements to provision of children’s centre

* Faringdon Community College – replacement of temporary classrooms

* Bartholomew School, Eynsham – modernisation programme

* Northern House Special School, Oxford – modernisation programme

* Wantage/Grove – secondary school provision

* Madley Brook Community Primary School, Witney – classroom extensions

* Cooper School, Bicester – new sixth form accommodation

* SS Philip and James School, Oxford – provision of extra school places

Improvements to young people’s centres

* Witney Young People’s Centre – refurbishment

* Replacement of Wallingford Young People’s and Children’s Centre

* The Net Young People’s Centre, Abingdon – improvements

* Chipping Norton Young People & Adult Learning Centre - improvements

* Kidlington Young People’s Centre – improvements Libraries

* Bicester Library – new library and offices

* Headington Library – extension

Highways and transport

* Chipping Norton – measures to improve air quality

* Wallingford – measures to improve air quality

* Thornhill Park-and-Ride Extension

* Access to Oxford – including tackling congestion around Wolvercote, Pear Tree, Cutteslowe, Kidlington and Loop Farm roundabouts and around Littlemore, Heyford Hill, Kennington and Hinksey Hill roundabouts

* Transform Oxford – including Frideswide Square redesign

* Abingdon Town Centre – footway/pavement work and road resurfacing work at High Street

* Witney Cogges Link Road

* Wood Green/West End Cycle Route, Witney

* Didcot Station Forecourt – improvements

* Premium Bus Routes Programme – the real-time passenger information system (electronic displays) due to be rolled out across the county

* Better Ways to School Programme – promotion of travel to and from lessons on foot, by bike or public transport.

* A415 Newbridge River Thames crossing

* A4158 Oxford Iffley Road resurfacing and road repairs Waste services

* Refurbishment of Redbridge waste recycling centre l New Kidlington waste recycling centre

* Dean Pit replacement recycling centre

Fire stations

* Bicester Fire Station – refurbishment and extension

* Thame Fire Station – relocation to new site