THE blocking of the costly Cogges Link bypass in Witney (Oxford Mail, June 16) is excellent news for Witney campaigners. It should free up millions of pounds for urgent traffic schemes across Oxfordshire.

But it is a disaster for Cllr Ian Hudspeth, the new leader of the Tory–run county council.

If Labour wins a majority in next year’s county council elections, we will implement the much cheaper Shores Green alternative, using the A40 dual carriageway.

We will also introduce sensible bus, cycle and pedestrian priority in Witney. That is what the Conservatives on Oxfordshire County Council should have done all along.

The Tories bang on about value for money but when it came to Cogges link they were very happy to waste more than £20m on an environmentally damaging white elephant, which would not solve Witney’s traffic congestion.

The support of local MP, David Cameron, for this ludicrous scheme is simply embarrassing.

Cllr Hudspeth should apologise to the council taxpayers of Oxfordshire for wasting more than £4m of our money on engineering plans and legal costs.

The Tories should now tackle Witney congestion without delay.

But of course we know incompetence and dithering are much more likely.

JOHN TANNER (Labour Cllr) Labour County spokesperson for Growth & Infrastructure City Councillor for Littlemore & County Councillor for Isis