COUNCILLORS should not approve a planning application for 200 homes unless a new Witney river crossing is built, a leading councillor has said.

Warwick Robinson, chairman of West Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee, said the application by Taylor Wimpey should only be considered if the firm agreed to build a new crossing known as the West End Link Road.

The bridge, an issue that has been discussed for 30 years, would link Woodford Way and West End and ease congestion in Bridge Street, which is currently the only crossing over the River Windrush.

Taylor Wimpey wants to build the homes between Witney and Hailey.

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Mr Robinson said: “We’re looking at a strategy of 1,000 houses for that area and the fundamental requirement would be providing the river crossing.

“The only way this road infrastructure is going to be funded is from developer contributions.

“The county council has made it perfectly clear that it doesn’t have the budget to fund the West End scheme.”

The Local Plan, which earmarks 1,000 homes for the area and lists the river crossing as a vital condition of planning permission, is due to be approved by WODC next month.

Just before Christmas, Witney Town Council lodged its opposition to the Taylor Wimpey scheme because it said the plans showed no definite commitment to infrastructure.

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