Too much cash spent on transport schemes instead of repairing roads

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First published Friday 29 November 2013 
Last updated 07:38 Saturday 30 November 2013

ONCE upon a time Oxfordshire County Council was given a five-star rating by the Audit Commission under the capable hands of Keith Mitchell. Sadly its finances are now going rapidly downhill and not purely because of the austerity cuts either. Precedence has been given to sexy transport strategies in lieu of mundane pothole repairs.
Millions of pounds have been spent on fatuous transport schemes, most of which have actually made our roads more dangerous.
On my own doorstep I have seen millions spent on Cowley Road and Iffley Road, both of which are now slightly more hazardous. Iffley Road now has two car lanes and two cycle lanes but not enough space for all four, so vehicles are swerving suddenly in to the cycle lanes; an accident waiting to happen. Another scheme is in the wings to spend £800,000 on The Plain roundabout. Meanwhile, school transport and potholes are given the elbow. They are not on the sexy transport scheme list. Indeed one such exciting scheme, the Green Road roundabout, earned its inventor, Ian Hudspeth, an award.
Never mind the numerous near-collisions on this roundabout. County councillors are approving numerous schemes that will earn them kudos at the expense of bus services and pothole maintenance. Mr Hudspeth has wasted at least £60 million on transport schemes, enough to pay for school buses.

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