North Leigh has submitted the following comments on the North Witney Consortium consultation:

North Leigh Parish Council has reviewed this proposal.  We note that the plans submitted at this stage are not very clear or legible and so it is difficult to do a detailed comparison of the new proposal submitted by the Blenheim-led consortium with the original proposal led by the original consortium.  So at this stage we are making some general comments but will be giving a more detailed comment as more information becomes available.

We note that in this latest submission the West End Link Road, which was always an integral part of the original scheme, is being dropped for “private motorised modes”.  This is a huge change to the previous plan, removing a key element such as this from an holistic plan undermines the integrity of the remainder of the plan.  It is very unlikely that existing road junctions and layouts would cope with the diversion of existing traffic, caused by the imposition of this huge residential site, let alone with the additional pressure of 1 or 2 cars from each of the proposed new 1,250 homes (ie could be 2,500 additional cars) generated by the development.  Whilst this development is designed with pedestrians and cyclists in mind, the occupants would still own and use vehicles to reach destinations outside of the development, such as people working in Oxford itself.  Realistically there is a substantial proportion of the population (elderly, disabled, young families) where walking and cycling are not an option.  At a WODC consultation for WOLP

2041 on 18th October 2023, a “straw poll” of councillors from various lowland parishes showed that only about 15% ever cycled in their local area at all.  It is also not clear from proposals how this development would be serviced by public transport and notably is a considerable distance from any railway stations.

It appears that the New Yatt Road will be completely shut to traffic in both directions due to buildings being planned over a section of the road in the vicinity of the Kings School.  The New Yatt Road is currently a key route between North Leigh/surrounding villages and Witney and will force additional traffic from North Leigh, New Yatt, surrounding villages, the New Yatt Road and environs to use the A4095 to get to Witney which will add to traffic flow on the A4095.  Conversely there is also the risk that the residents of the new 1,250 houses would somehow have access onto the New Yatt Road into North Leigh and therefore use it as a “rat run” to other destinations including a quick route onto the A4095 into Oxford in the morning and evening rush hour.

Given the potential impact of traffic flows on North Leigh, this proposal seems unworkable to us and we are opposed to it based on the current configuration.  We also wonder why an exhibition/consultation was not held in North Leigh or New Yatt for residents to clarify and ask questions of the developers too ?