Council DID complete detailed assessment before power cable route was agreed
30/04/2026
Active monitoring and inspections are being undertaken to minimise the impact on drivers
Oxfordshire County Council have defended their part in deciding the route a power cable will take for the planned 860 new homes at Longford Park.
Earlier this week we told you that Councillor Keiron Mallon believes traffic chaos on the southern side of Banbury could have been avoided if an alternative route had been found. The contractor Power On is bringing the supply from the Ells Lane substation in Bloxham along the A361, down Wykham Lane, then through Bodicote and along the Oxford Road.
Councillor Mallon suggested using Bloxham Grove and coming across the fields.
Oxfordshire County Council says the decision to go ahead with the selected route was done after all options had been considered.
A spokesperson told Banbury FM: “Officers carefully explored alternative routing options. This included a detailed site visit and an assessment of potential deployment methods. Following this review, it was concluded that the currently approved route remains the most appropriate and deliverable option.
“While elements of the alternative route initially appear feasible, there are a number of practical constraints that limit its suitability. These include narrowing carriageway widths, regular pedestrian use, farm access, the transition on to a restricted byway, and the absence of vehicular access beyond the bridleway.”
Councillor Mallon also noted that had he not got involved the County Council had planned to completely resurface Wykham Lane just weeks before Power On would have dug it back up. He told us: “This is clearly in the ‘you couldn’t make it up’ category of council incompetence.”
The County Council responded to this point with the spokesperson telling us: “After Councillor Mallon brought the resurfacing issue to our attention we acted quickly to ensure the work was rescheduled. This was an oversight and our processes have been changed accordingly, along with some extended training.”
Power for the new homes at Longford Park has to be brought from Bloxham as National Grid say this is the only spare capacity they have available. The project to instal the power cable is expected to be completed by next January. In the meantime drivers will face traffic lights and road closures at various times.
The County Council spokesperson said: “All roadworks are managed through permit or noticing arrangements that allow the relevant conditions to be applied covering duration, hours of working, traffic management, and reinstatement standards. Active monitoring and inspections are undertaken to ensure compliance, with enforcement action used where necessary to prevent prolonged or unnecessary occupation of the highway.
“Power On is being monitored regularly to encourage them to complete work efficiently and vacate the highway as soon as practicable. This includes discussions around increased working hours, prompt reinstatement, and removal of traffic management as soon as it is no longer required.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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