NORTH Oxford residents demanding measures to combat noise and vibration from increased rail services have received a major boost.

After a meeting with Network Rail, residents said they are now hopeful mitigation measures could be extended to provide more protection for hundreds more homes.

And Oxford City Council has requested a meeting to discuss the work undertaken.

Spokesman Chofamba Sithole said: “We are writing to ask them to fill in the gaps in the information that they have provided. We seek clarification on Network Rail’s proposals and the submission of the correct information, to enable them to apply for the necessary consents.”

Lyn Bibbings, of the Waterways Residents’ Committee, said: “It is good news that the city council has written to Network Rail. It has only come about because residents have taken action. It is important that planning conditions are properly applied.”

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Network Rail had been criticised for removing mature trees including silver birches and hawthorn to provide space to reinstate double track on the line to Bicester.

Spokesman Victoria Bradley said while no planning permission was required for the felling, the company would look at the option of replacing trees in the area.

People living in Waterways, the estate on the former Unipart radiator factory, feared a key planning condition was not being applied to work on track near their homes.

They were also upset trees beside the lines from Oxford to Banbury and Bicester had been cut down by Network Rail, arguing views had been spoilt and their homes exposed to noise and vibration.

Following the meeting on Wednesday with residents, Network Rail said that it was considering replanting trees.

It added buildings in on the Waterways estate may now be included in its investigations into vibration impact of work between Oxford Station and Wolvercote.

The extra investigations would not delay work on major schemes, said Network Rail.

But the admission was seen as a success for residents.

More passenger and freight services are expected on the line once Chiltern Railways’ new service to London via Bicester starts running in September.

That will be followed by the reopening of the East-West Rail link to Milton Keynes and Bedford.

After the meeting with residents, Network Rail also revealed changes in the scale of the project meant the company may agree to extending noise and vibration studies to cover more homes between Oxford Station and Wolvercote.

Residents hope the studies will result in noise barriers and other mitigation measures.

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