A long-awaited road to connect an unused park and ride to the A40 could cause "slowing traffic", warns an opposition councillor.
Despite being held up for years, in part due to inflation and financial constraints, questions have been raised about whether a £126m scheme to "improve" the A-road and connect it to Eynsham Park and Ride is the right one.
The 850-space facility was completed in 2024, but has been left dormant without road access - costing thousands of pounds a month in maintenance and security.
County and West Oxfordshire councillor Liam Walker (Conservative) has expressed concern about the impact of the project on road users.
He said: "I welcome this long-awaited investment in the A40, which is an important step forward for West Oxfordshire. However, I'm disappointed the original plans for a roundabout have been replaced with yet another set of traffic lights. Adding more signal-controlled junctions and crossings to the A40 risks slowing traffic rather than improving the flow of vehicles.
"This also strengthens the case for the Lib Dem administration at Oxfordshire County Council to reverse its decision to scrap the dual carriageway upgrade between Witney and Eynsham. With thousands of new homes planned, we need infrastructure that keeps traffic moving and supports future growth."
The plans include new bus lanes, upgraded junctions, improved walking and cycling routes, and five new signal-controlled crossings on 7.3km of the A40.
County finance boss and ward councillor Dan Levy (Lib Dem) said the scheme is a "slimmed down" version of the original scheme devised by a previous Tory administration more than five years ago.
He described their plans as having been "grossly underfunded" and not " indexed to inflation". Mr Levy said: "We have made the most of what is possible, and will have a much improved bus service from Eynsham.
"We don't need to take lessons on the scheme from the incompetents who got it so wrong when they devised it."
He previously admitted the delays had been "embarrassing" for the council. The local authority has reported that 'enabling works' are set to begin in summer 2026 and construction in 'late 2026' - it said the park and ride is expected to open in 2027. Planning documents suggest the A40 project should be "complete by summer 2028".
Along with other completed and ongoing transport schemes, it aims to improve connections for Eynsham and Witney with the city through Wolvercote.
Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways construction and repair, said: “The proposed signal-controlled junction for access to the park and ride is considered the most appropriate, affordable and future-proof solution for this location.” The affordability has not been the only holdup for the highway plans.
In recent months, the road scheme was delayed due to a planning request for environmental information, which the report says "had a knock-on effect on the governance approval process and timings".
A council report has warned that more delays could result in the project's multi-million-pound budget being blown.
This article was published by the Oxford Mail on Wednesday 8th July 2026.
