‘Bicester has fought too hard to be ignored’, says MP on EWR

Consultation on more than 80 changes along the East West Rail (EWR) line has been ongoing since April, and one change has those living in Bicester up in arms.

The existing London Road crossing in Bicester is to permanently close on safety grounds when the EWR line becomes fully operational.

CGI images of single-lane motorised underpass, which is the preferred option for Bicester’s London Road level crossing (Image: East West Rail Company)

Instead, an underpass is among the improvements proposed in the railway project.

Following a public consultation last November that received more than 6,200 responses, the underpass and an alternative footbridge have been proposed for the London Road crossing in Bicester as part of more than 80 design changes made to the East West Rail Project.

East West Railway Company said the revised underpass design would be subject to securing third-party funding contributions.

This was met with anger from the community, including from local campaigner of more than a decade and chairman of the Langford Village Community Association, Carole Hetherington, who described the announcement as “incredibly frustrating”.

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Carole Hetherington (Image: Charlotte Coles, Newsquest)

The new designs show a single-lane road for vehicles, alongside a protected active travel corridor for pedestrians and cyclists, but the underpass could not be used by tall vehicles such as lorries.

East West Rail’s preferred solution would be to divert traffic via existing and upgraded roads and to install a bridge or underpass for pedestrian, cyclists and other users.

The design now includes a single-lane road that could be used by vehicles, alongside a protected active travel corridor for pedestrians and cyclists.

Traffic signals would be installed at each entrance to allow vehicles to travel through the underpass safely in both directions.

Officials, businesses and residents fear that Bicester will be “cut in two” as a result, sparking an ongoing campaign to keep the crossing open to vehicles.

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L-R: Carole Hetherington, chairman of Langford Village Community Association; Johnny Morgan, The Fat Zebra; Robert Packman, Imagex; Andrew O’Gorman, O’Gormans (Image: Carole Hetherington)

Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, said in a statement: “This is the final week to respond to East West Rail’s consultation on London Road.

“I know I have asked before (many times) that Bicester has already shown, loud and clear, that we are united behind keeping London Road open.

“But this final push matters.

“East West Rail has now put forward revised proposals for an underpass at London Road. We now need the Government to have no excuse not to back it, fund it and deliver it.

“So, if you have five minutes this week, please respond to the consultation and make your voice heard.

“Bicester has fought too hard to be ignored now.”

EWR described the new line as connecting “communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, supporting sustainable economic growth in the area”.

The company confirmed the changes “would make it easier to reach jobs, education, public services and days out with family and friends”.