Barrier down time at the London Road level crossing has long been a cause of concern in Bicester. This is an issue which I have worked on since I was first elected, chairing meetings with previous administrations at the District and County Council, and meeting multiple Rail Ministers to discuss it in greater detail.
With the situation only expected to get worse once the East West Rail line is fully operational, six possible solutions for the crossing were put forward in a public consultation in 2021. Since then, I have brought local councillors and the senior management of EWR together on a number of occasions to find an acceptable, viable solution for Bicester. We made clear that closing the London Road crossing without any alternative provision for local traffic would be totally unacceptable.
Yesterday’s consultation response confirms that this option has now been discarded, along with the possibility of a road bridge or underpass at the current crossing. It is stated that these options would be particularly unsightly, require too much space and result in the demolition of surrounding buildings. Instead, EWR are now rightly looking at a more ambitious solution.
EWR’s preferred option is to identify an alternative location in Bicester, either to the east or south of the current crossing, for a new road bridge over the railway. EWR are going to investigate whether this would make it possible for the London Road crossing to remain fully open, as a new bridge would ease congestion. At the same time, EWR are committed to exploring options for an additional access to the station for pedestrians and cyclists.
I welcome any proposal which keeps the London Road crossing open for local traffic and does not cut Bicester in half. However, it is important that the possible impacts of a new bridge at another location are properly assessed. I will be speaking to the CEO of EWR, Beth West, next week to discuss the proposals in greater detail and ensure we can find the best possible solution for our town.
EWR’s route update and full consultation response can be accessed here.
