A £51million park and ride facility in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, remains unused due to a lack of funding for an access road, despite the 19-acre site laying empty.
Located on the A40 eastbound, the car park was completed in January and can accommodate 850 vehicles, although the facility cannot be accessed as it lacks the necessary infrastructure to connect it to the A40.
This delay stems from the part-cancellation of the A40 improvements programme due to cost pressures, with Oxfordshire County Council now maintaining the empty site, carrying out weekly tasks such as grass cutting, topsoiling, and seeding.
The council estimates that the park and ride could reduce peak traffic by up to a third in both directions once operational, although the site may not open until 2027.
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The £51million site
OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
The park and ride boasts an array of modern features, including 24-hour security, dedicated cycle storage, public toilets, and electric vehicle parking bays. It is designed for round-the-clock accessibility with dedicated access and exit routes.
Bus shelters and cycle storage facilities are already in place, awaiting future use, with the council website stating that the park and ride will begin operation in 2027.
The site's location on the A40 eastbound was chosen to intercept private vehicle trips before the most congested sections of the road.
Once operational, the facility aims to provide regular and reliable public transport services into Oxford, benefiting residents from a wide catchment area, including those from Eynsham and Cassington.
The delay in opening the park and ride stems from the cancellation of the A40 improvements programme.
This project initially included an extension of the dual carriageway from Witney to the park and ride, as well as a four-mile bus lane in both directions.
Cost pressures, including inflation, forced a redesign of the project. The changes were submitted in September 2023 and now await approval from Homes England and the Department for Transport.
Oxfordshire County Council is unable to provide a delivery timeline until discussions with funders conclude, according to The Mirror. This uncertainty has left the £51 million facility in limbo.
The future of the park and ride facility remains uncertain, with Oxfordshire County Council's website indicating an expected opening by 2027. This timeline, however, depends on the approval of the redesigned A40 improvements programme.
Discussions are ongoing with Homes England and the Department for Transport regarding the proposed changes submitted in September 2023.
Once operational, the park and ride aims to significantly improve public transport services into Oxford from the west. It's expected to reduce congestion levels, improve air quality, and provide better journeys for both work and leisure travellers.
The facility is also set to benefit residents of the 1,000 homes planned for West Eynsham and 2,200 new homes at the proposed Salt Cross Garden Village.
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Additional council funding will go to bus lanes in the area
OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Despite these potential benefits, local concerns persist. Both Eynsham parish council and Witney Town Council have suggested the site would have been more useful if located at the Shores Green junction at Witney.
