| New doubts over Cogges Link |
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The man in charge of transport strategy for Oxfordshire says it is still not absolutely certain the Cogges Link Road will be built in Witney. An assessment of the road's environmental impact has yet to be completed by consultants - and the input from the Environment Agency will be crucial. David Robertson, who lives in the town, was responding to an online poll that shows people are almost evenly divided over whether the planned project should go ahead or a four-way junction built instead at Shores Green on the Witney bypass. The poll was conducted following the July floods and emerging doubts as to whether a new road should be built across the floodplain of the river Windrush. The need for another river crossing in Witney was starkly underlined during the floods when Bridge Street was overwhelmed and the town's transport network virtually cut in half. Many areas of the town had flooding, including the Cogges estate where some homes in Manor Road were affected. Mr Robertson is deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council and has the cabinet portfolio for the county's transport strategy. The Cogges Link Road, he says, is still the preferred option to allevia But, he said, everything depended on the full environmental impact assessment which might not be ready till next year. "We have to make sure that by building the road we are not going to make things worse. We have to follow the new Government guidelines but ensure we allow for floodwaters," said Mr Robertson. "It is an issue because everyone is sensitive about the effects of flooding since July. The risks will form part of the assessment. "The Environment Agency lay down the rules and, if they are against the road because of the risks involved, it would be a major factor." The latest timetable for the Cogges link road, provided there are no serious environmental objections, is for the road to be built by 2011. If the floodplain issue does cast serious doubt on the road, then Shore Green could come back into the equation, added Mr Robertson. Source: Witney Gazette |
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