MEMBERS of a campaign group in Witney battling to get better public transport have joined other local societies to present a united case to Oxfordshire County Council.

Witney Oxford Transport members fear roads will not be able to cope with proposed developments in the area.

They have mapped out potential housing developments along the A40 corridor, to show the extent of the schemes across West Oxfordshire.

While members are aware some of these may not go ahead, they are worried there could be as many as 12,000 extra cars on the roads in the next few years.

Spokesman for the group Maurizio Fantato said: “How can we expect the existing infrastructure to cope with such surge in demand?

“ We have little doubt in our minds that we need a long-term, reliable public transport solution. If we just waited for the houses to be built it would be way too late and would also end up costing us a lot more. Why can’t we start planning long-term now?”

Mayor of Witney Jim King said the lack of public transport in the town was something that seriously concerned both him and the town council.

He said: “It’s bad enough with what is in the Local Plan.

“I know we need housing but with more than 5,000 houses coming to the area it’s really going to exacerbate things. It’s not just roads either. It’s schools, hospitals and utilities.”

The campaign group reached the 12,000 figure by adding up the number of houses currently planned for West Oxfordshire, and then multiplying it by 1.5 cars per household.

Mr Fantato added: “Some people even got in touch to say we were missing a few developments. No one knows how many houses are going to be built.

“Nobody has that final figure. It could be more. In rural areas some people even have two or three cars per house, so it is quite conservative an estimate.”

County council spokesman Paul Smith said: “It is wrong to imply that longer-term strategic thinking is not being undertaken by many different organisations, including the county council.

“The council conducted a wide ranging consultation on long term visions for the A40 during the autumn. The results of that consultation will be considered by our cabinet in the spring.”