Vale Council Calls For Full A34 Junction For North Abingdon Now (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)

Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats <info@oxwablibdems.org.uk>

Vale Council Calls For Full A34 Junction For North Abingdon Now

July 17, 2008 4:49 PM

Vale Councillors yesterday agreed to call on the Highways Agency and Oxfordshire County Council to work together with the Vale and Abingdon residents to ease Abingdon's transport problems by installing a full road junction with the A34 at Lodge Hill to the north of the town.

The Council unanimously agreed a motion seeking action as soon as possible to build a new four way junction with the A34 to allow cars, lorries and coaches travelling to and from the south along the trunk road to enter and exit north Abingdon without having to drive through the town.

A new junction on the A34 could help to reduce the high levels of pollution which persists on some streets in the centre, adding to the range of measures which are currently underway to ease the problem, such as the Vale's new Air Quality Management Area.

The Council will now write to the Highways Agency and Oxfordshire County Council to set out the case for this improved junction, noting the major benefits it could bring to Abingdon's residents and businesses.

Proposing the motion, Cllr Richard Webber said: "The recent AbITS road changes have sought to address the congestion which Abingdon suffers from during some periods. However, this really is tinkering with the fundamental problem. There is only one long term solution to Abingdon's problems: we must reduce the numbers of vehicles coming into the town.

"At present, to get to North Abingdon from the A34, and to travel south on the A34 from North Abingdon vehicles must come through the town. Opening up the A34 Lodge Hill junction as a four way junction would take these vehicles out of the town with consequent benefits to traffic volumes and air quality.

"The Lodge Hill proposal will not be cheap but it is much the cheapest of the many options available to ease Abingdon's transport problems, such as a new river crossing. There will be endless objections - national, regional and local but with unanimous, concentrated pressure from the District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and the Chamber of Commerce, this can be achieved."

Ock Meadow Councillor, Samantha Bowring, supported the call for the new junction. She said: "Abingdon needs action now to address the pollution which affects the Town. The Vale is currently setting up a new air quality management area for the town centre which will give us better information on the problem but until we have fewer vehicles in the town the problem will remain."