More than £245 million is being given to Oxfordshire to fix the county’s roads, but its .highways chief has said the money is still not enough.
Oxfordshire County Council has approved the submission of its local transport delivery plan to the Department for Transport, detailing how it plans to spend £245.5 million of government funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30, reports the Oxford Mail.
The investment will cover road maintenance, bus improvements, active travel schemes, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Gareth Epps, cabinet member for transport at Oxfordshire County Council, said:
“This sets out the latest stage of our investment in transport in Oxfordshire. Across all modes and all the county, we are maintaining and improving our networks.
“This includes an increase in funding for active travel, though not to the level we would expect, as government recognises our increased capability.
“While some government funding has been unfortunately cut, we remain determined to continue to deliver better transport. This county council administration is working hard to deliver better facilities for bus and rail users, walkers, cyclists and drivers, and hope to announce details of additional investment in the future.”
The plan includes support for Oxfordshire’s electric vehicle infrastructure strategy and schemes under the Vision Zero programme, which aims to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2050.
Funding will also support a heavy goods vehicles pilot interventions scheme to support sustainable freight movement across the county, and setting up a mobility hub in Benson.
Liz Leffman, cabinet member for highways construction and repairs, said:
“While it’s pleasing to see we are getting the money from the government we expected for highway maintenance, there is still a shortfall. That is why this council also puts a considerable amount of money from our council taxpayers into repairing and maintaining our roads.”
Last year, the council said it treated over 1.4 million square metres of carriageway, whether in full-scale resurfacing programmes or preventative treatments, like surface dressing which prolongs the life of the roads treated by up to 10 years.
(Picture: Oxfordshire County Council)
