Bridge plan given go-ahead for housing development

Three parish councils objected to the bridge at a planning committee meeting

Proposals for a pedestrian and cycling bridge have been given the go-ahead as part of a planned housing development for about 1,400 homes on the outskirts of Oxford.

The development is at Bayswater Brook in Barton, which South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) previously approved in October.

It will be built despite concerns over flooding, sewage and traffic in the area.

Site owner Christchurch Oxford and plan manager Dorchester Residential Management will erect the bridge over the A40 eastern bypass.

The bridge was voted through with five in favour and two against

The new homes will span a site close to the A40 junction opposite Marsh Lane to Oxford Crematorium, which runs north of the new Barton Park development.

The bridge application proposes a package that includes:

• Vehicle access onto Elsfield Lane, the Marston Interchange, and Bayswater Road

• Two new public transport crossing bridges and five pedestrian and cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook with bus route connection works

• Flood alleviation measures along sections of the Bayswater Brook

It says the infrastructure was necessary to "provide access to the main site, and also provide high quality pedestrian, cycle and public transport connections into Oxford".

Christchurch Oxford and plan manager Dorchester Residential Management will erect the bridge over the A40 eastern bypass

But three parish councils objected to the bridge at a planning committee meeting on Monday.

Ginette Camps-Walsh from Beckley and Stowood Parish Council called it a "very ugly bridge" that was "not in the right place".

She was also concerned that narrowing the road would mean HGVs would "barely be able to pass and they’ll probably go up on pavements".

Andrew Clark, chairman of Stanton St John Parish Council, said it was "unlikely" residents would use the bridge, calling it a "waste of money".

He also said the junction was "dangerous" for cyclists.

'Exciting plan'

Elsfield Parish Council said "floodwater could overwhelm ditches and culverts on the lane" making the new cycle path "unsafe".

Their spokeswoman said "additional conditions needed to be attached in order to achieve the purposes that were set out by the Local Plan in delivering an environmentally safe low car development in a secure setting".

But Gavin Angell, speaking on behalf of Dorchester Residential Management, said the "exciting" plan had been supported by Active Travel England, Cyclox, the Environment Agency and transport group SYSTRA.

It was voted through with five in favour and two against.

They recommended to delegate it to their head of planning subject to several conditions, including plans around biodiversity, landscape management, tree protection and a flood risk assessment.