Bicester's county councillors unite against proposal to close London Road level crossing

Conservative councillors Donna Ford for Bicester North and Michael Waine for Bicester Town, Liberal Democrat councillor Calum Miller for Otmoor, and Independent councillor Les Sibley for Bicester West have written a joint letter to EWR calling for London Road to remain open to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

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It comes after a consultation came to an end last week asking local residents for their views on six different proposals for the level crossing, including a bridge, underpass and a complete closure of the crossing to vehicles.

EWR plans to increase train services in Bicester, meaning the frequency of trains passing through the level crossing at London Road would rise and the crossing could be closed for up to 50 minutes in every hour.

Closing London Road and forcing all traffic around the town via the A41 would cut the town in half, making it more difficult to access the town centre from the south.

Bicester’s county councillors say it is ‘critical’ that people can still cross the town and that ‘infrastructure decisions should support connection between its residents, not segregation’.

They said: “We want to record quite clearly that we oppose Option 1, which would see the London Road level crossing closed without a replacement. It is critical for our town that a central north-south corridor for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles is maintained.

“The railway will close the current London Road crossing when it reaches capacity and we believe East West Rail must make provision to replace it with suitable adjacent alternatives for all forms of transport.”

More than 1,300 people have signed a petition opposing the option.

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The councillors also outlined important factors including that Bicester is a ‘rapidly growing town’; the alternative road routes to London Road are not suitable and that many journeys along the London Road connect people to family, work and school.

There is also concern that closing the level crossing might impact the operation and call-out times of emergency services and bus services.

They added: “Our priority is that, to the greatest degree possible and with the lowest possible impact on existing and future residents and business, the access currently provided by the London Road is replaced by a proximate alternative, or alternatives.”

The councillors hope EWR have conducted thorough studies and analysis of traffic use on the road before lockdowns.

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They said: “We want to emphasise the importance that this is ‘real world’ and future-proof: it should not be based on traffic flows during the pandemic and must also, to the extent possible, take account of anticipated increases in journeys over the next two decades as Bicester expands.”

North Oxfordshire MP Victoria Prentis also responded to the consultation expressing her concern about the lack of transparency about how much each solution would cost.

She said: “It has made it more difficult to assess which proposal might be preferable. Without a clear evidence base, cost-benefit analysis and feasibility studies, it is difficult to see how the proposals are anything more than ideas.”