A contentious relief road has been granted £11.1m in funding after Oxfordshire County Council’s budget for 2025/26 was approved.
Plans to build a relief road for Watlington to provide an alternative route and direct access to the B4009 on either side of Watlington have been ongoing for the past 50 years.
The scheme aims to reduce congestion, noise and air pollution in the town centre, and connect existing and proposed housing developments around the northern and western sides of the town.
Those who oppose building the road say it will only bring more trafficinto the county and that the money could be spent on road improvements elsewhere.
A decision on the planning application is due to be made in March, the county council has stated.
Gill Bindoff, who represented Watlington Parish Council, spoke in support of the relief road at the budget council meeting at County Hall yesterday, (Tuesday, February 11).
She said: “Today is such an important one on the route to finally ensuring that this vital piece of infrastructure is delivered.
“Those councillors who know the town will know that huge HGVs trying to navigate our narrow roads cause congestion, pollute our air, mount the pavements and create a threatening environment, which is intimidating and not at all welcoming to what is nevertheless a thriving small market town.”
Richard Drew from The Beechwood Estates Company, which own Grade II* listed heritage assets and land on either side of Shirburn, said the scheme “would have a significantly detrimental effect” on the village.
Later in the meeting, Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame and county councillor for Chalgrove & Watlington, said: “I particularly welcome the ambition to deliver on the vital infrastructure needed for the housing growth that South Oxfordshire has been requested to deliver on, and that particularly relates to the Watlington Relief Road.”
In a public statement, he said he looked forward to a planning decision being made in March.
The next planning and regulation committee meeting is due to take place on March 31, falling after the pre-election period for local elections, which begins on March 25.
A spokesperson for Oxfordshire Roads Action Alliance, (ORAA), which opposes the road being built, said the group did not agree with the contentious application being considered during the pre-election period.
The spokesperson added: “Council resources and its civil servants, including its press office, will be needed to support a further period of public consultation.
“This can only be conducted fairly after the election of a new administration.”
Councillors voted to approve the 2025/26 budget at the full council meeting, which included more than £50m for road improvements, including nearly £40m for fixing potholes and improving drainage.
The total budgeted cost of the Watlington Relief Road so far is £19.3m.
The Environment Agency, ORAA and Shirburn Parish Council have formally objected to the scheme, while Active Travel England requested for the scheme to be deferred.
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