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Councillors pushing for Warwick Road to be resurfaced
06/03/2023
“Residents … are getting fed up raising this issue and would like to see the road resurfaced”
Three local councillors are urging Oxfordshire County Council to lobby central government for more funding to cover the costs of resurfacing places like the pot-hole ridden Warwick Road in Banbury.
Labour County Councillor Mark Cherry, together with District Councillors Matt Hodgson and Dr Chukwudi Okeke say residents keep raising their concerns about the worsening condition of the carriageway.
Councillor Dr Okeke said: “The poor condition of Warwick Road is an issue that comes up every time we go out door knocking. Residents across Banbury are getting fed up raising this issue and would like to see the road resurfaced.”
But action to address the problem doesn’t look set to be any time soon.
Councillor Cherry said: “After numerous requests to highways officers in writing, including on FixMyStreet, it’s still looking like resurfacing of Warwick Road could [take] until 2024/25 to get on highway maintenance resurfacing program.”
Amongst the reported problems on FixMyStreet one person noted: “[The] road surface is so bad that cyclists are swerving to miss potholes. [Its] an accident waiting to happen.”
A consultation on Banbury’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan recently closed. This includes designated stretches of the Warwick Road. Councillor Cherry said: “It needs to be safe for commuters and cyclists alike and with another cold weather spell coming the sooner that Warwick Road is scheduled for full resurfacing the better.”
The three councillors have now put a written cabinet question to Councillor Andrew Gant – the County Council Cabinet member for Highways Management. It asks for resurfacing of the Warwick Road to be moved forwards, pointing out concerns that the carriageway continues to deteriorate with potholes a danger to both commuters and those cycling.
They have also urged Oxfordshire County Council to lobby central government for funding to resurface carriageways like the Warwick Road.
Councillor Hodgson said: “We appreciate that costs for materials – Tarmac for example – are rising like everything else, but the elephant in the room is the glaring funding gap from central government – over 67% cuts in local government funding since 2010.”
A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council told Banbury FM: “The county council is aware of the concerns being raised about Warwick Road and officers will be working with Cllr Gant to respond to the three councillors who have posed a written question.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam
Mary Williams On 06/03/2023 at 5:59 pm
as a resident of the southam road, this is also an area that needs dealing with.