We had a good turnout at our second members’ meeting and welcomed some new faces. County Councillor Alison Rooke gave us an informative update on transport and traffic issues from the Expressway, via A34 and Lodge Hill to potholes and footpaths. A full report can be found here, but key points were:

• Oxford-Cambridge Expressway: before the general election the transport secretary indicated that the project scope might be reviewed and a further announcement is awaited from the government.
• Lodge Hill slip roads: a “public engagement event” is planned for April. The current schedule is for a planning application in June this year, construction to start in July 2021 and to be completed in May 2022.  
• A34: Highways England have recently carried out a safety review of the A34. Oxfordshire County Council understand that it made a number of recommendations and are expecting feedback from Highways England “imminently”.
• X13 and X3 bus services: Oxford Bus Company have confirmed that they intend to reinstate the connections to the JR and the railway station upon completion of long term roadworks in Oxford, but no date has yet been announced. 

We also updated members on our continuing efforts to get some action on Old Abbey House.