Town blueprint pushes ring road idea (From Bicester Advertiser)

Town blueprint pushes ring road idea

10:30am Thursday 26th January 2012 in Bicester

A MAJOR new perimeter road to ease traffic problems is being promoted in a new blueprint for the future of Bicester.

Cherwell District Council commissioned consultants WYG to look at how the town could expand over the next 20 years.

One idea put forward is an outer ring road that could take traffic from the A41 near junction 9 of the M40, around Graven Hall to re-connect to the A41 towards Aylesbury and Buckingham.

A private road network is already in place around the MoD site in that area.

The move could see only local traffic and Bicester Village shoppers using the A41 to get to the town and could have an impact on congestion.

On Boxing Day the area around Bicester Village was gridlocked by the “unprecedented” levels of traffic heading to Bicester Village.

Some motorists abandoned their cars along to A41 forcing it to close, and scores parked in nearby residential street swamping the area and causing chaos.

WYG director Gordon Lewis presented a string of ideas to shape the future of Bicester at a town council policy meeting on Monday.

He said: “A perimeter road would substantially relieve traffic at Bicester Village.

“Indications from Oxfordshire County Council’s transport team are that it could work.”

The aim of the masterplan is to look at areas such as housing, employment, transport, retail, green space, leisure facilities and education needs.

A first stage of the plan is due to be presented to the councillors today, and it will go out to public consultation in the spring.

For details email planning.policy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or call 01295 227970.