Speech by Cllr. David Turner on Oxfordshire's Rail Strategy (Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats)

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats <info@oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk>

Speech by Cllr. David Turner on Oxfordshire's Rail Strategy

January 19, 2012 7:05 PM

Chairman this is a very comprehensive document designed so that we will have a chance of achieving our rail priorities in Oxfordshire.

In the executive summary in the first paragraph may I suggest after the words "and for leisure days out" we add "holidays, etc." Merely saying days out does not cover the private use of the rail network.

In the third paragraph second line the comment "We have worked with the Department of Transport, Network rail and the Train Companies in recent years" is a bit inaccurate. Recent to me means three or four years. Chairman those of us who attended the Malvern and Cotswold line development meetings from the start will know that the process took some 16 years before we got the duelling of the Cotswold line with five Local Authorities working together and putting in financial and staffing resources and working together with the Rail Authority and the train operators and government Ministers. To say recent is therefore inaccurate.

Chairman I welcome the aim of gaining the long overdue Grove/Wantage rail head. This is particularly welcome given the expansion of housing planned for the area and the transport needs of the Harwell Science Area. In addition I welcome the recognition of the importance of the Culham station to the Culham Science Park. It is Chairman a great pity that despite many requests by me the SCOTS report study ignored the needs of the Culham Science Park which is also as important to the local economy as the Harwell Science Area.

On a parochial point, living in South Oxfordshire, I am disappointed that no consideration seems to have been given to extending the Henley branch line into Oxford which would reduce road traffic and bring accessibility to many parts of South Oxfordshire to the rail network. That is Chairman without having to travel miles by road sometimes in the wrong direction to access the Oxford to London Paddington route. I do of course realise the cost would be high and the route controversial.

At first sight it seems a great deal of resources in terms of work and time has had to be put in to produce such a long term report. However, Chairman I welcome the report which will put on record the aspirations and priorities of Oxfordshire to help develop our local economy whilst helping to protect our environment.

David Turner

OCC Shadow Cabinet Member, Transport Issues