A ‘SKI lift’ for cyclists ws just one of many suggestions made by residents who took part in a consultation in Headington.

The Headington Neighbourhood Forum opened the consultation in September and transport was overwhelmingly highlighted as a key concern.

When the survey closed on November 6, 500 residents had responded The consultation also allowed people to offer their own suggestions on how the problem in Headington could be resolved.

Mike Ratcliffe, chair of the Headington plan steering group committee, said: “Some of the suggestions are a bit barmy, but that is encouraging. We wouldn’t be doing this if people made sensible suggestions that anyone could think of.”

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One suggestion made by residents was installing a ski lift at Headington Hill.

“Headington Hill is an issue when trying to encourage commuters to cycle and walk,” added Mr Ratcliffe.

“It could be possible to develop a ‘cycle train’, where bike wheels are locked into place and pulled up an automated track.”

Regardless of outlandish suggestions, the consultation has shown that transport is a thorny problem for residents.

“The main issue in Headington is we have lots of employers in institutions [such as Oxford Brookes University and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust] but no affordable housing.

“This means that workers are forced to commute from outlying areas and many travel by car, causing congestion, as well as taking up car parking spaces for visitors.

“The Park and Ride just doesn’t seem to be a viable option for most workers because of the irregularity and cost of it.

“Buses only come every half hour, and it ends up costing more at Thornhill than it would parking in a visitors car park.”

Charles Young, chair of the Headington transport group, said: “The fundamental issue in Oxford is you have 100,000 jobs and only 60,000 houses, with some people commuting to London.

“What is needed to reduce congestion is more houses and more density in Oxford generally. We can’t conjure up more housing land because there’s so little in Headington.”

The Headington Neighbourhood Forum will publish results of the consultation in the next couple of weeks. For more information, visit headingtonplan.org.uk

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