Plans for the controversial Watlington Relief Road have been delayed once again, and the leader of Oxfordshire County Council is pushsing for an extraordinary planning meeting to secure a decision on the project later in July, according to coverage by Local Democracy Reporter Esme Kenney.
The proposed road, intended to divert traffic away from Watlington’s town centre, improve air quality, and promote walking and cycling, would also support access to new housing developments in Watlington and Pyrton.
The council earmarked £11.1 million for the scheme in its February budget, with a planning committee decision originally expected in March 2025.
However, the application was pulled from the March agenda after the county planning authority (CPA) requested further details, including updated ecological data for Chalgrove Brook. The council had then anticipated the proposal would be heard in June.
In a letter to the chair of Watlington Parish Council, Council Leader Liz Leffman confirmed that the proposal would miss both the June and July planning meetings due to outstanding data requirements.
She wrote that “an extraordinary planning committee meeting on an alternative date later on in July 2025 is to be sought in order to minimise the impact of any delay.”
She added, “The delivery of the road is of great importance and a priority to Council, but there is rightly due process to go through, and it is in everyone’s interest to do this robustly.”
Critics have questioned whether committing over £11 million to the road is a fair use of public funds. A spokesperson for the Oxfordshire Roads Action Alliance (ORAA) said: “The public’s focus is on transport policies in Oxford, with a decision next week on a public consultation for a congestion charge for driving a private car in Oxford.
“At the same time, the leader of the council has given priority of the ‘utmost importance’ to commit £11.1 million (and more) of Oxfordshire taxpayers’ money to a project to enable more private car journeys.”
The spokesperson added: “This raises questions of fairness and value for taxpayers’ money. ORAA believes ensuring the application receives proper scrutiny ultimately benefits the council and Oxfordshire taxpayers. This is not served by the leader of the council, as applicant to build the road, dictating the timetable. That should be for the council’s independent planning authority.”
The group argues the funds would be better used for road maintenance and that the relief road is unnecessary for local housing plans. Oxfordshire County Council confirmed that only the CPA has the authority to set planning committee dates.
A council spokesperson explained: “The Regulation 25 documents that were submitted to the CPA at the end of May 2025 are currently in the process of being validated. Once validated, the CPA will publish them on the planning portal, and the application will be subject to a further full consultation period.”
They also clarified that there are no time-related conditions attached to the funding. If approved, the road would link both sides of Watlington directly to the B4009, aiming to ease pressure on the town’s central routes.
