WEST Oxfordshire residents have written off £35m plans to alleviate gridlock into Oxford as a 'sticking plaster'.

More than 70 people examined the plans for a new park and ride car park in Eynsham at Witney Methodist Church today.

Oxfordshire County Council also showed its plan to build a new accompanying bus lane on the A40 from the park and ride into the city.

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The council hopes to battle the gridlock which infuriates thousands of commuters every day and get more people out of their cars.

However, using a bus is not an option for some.

Zdravica Dragnevski, who lives in Carterton, has to drive her two children to school in Burford every morning and then spend more than an hour stuck on the A40 trying to get to work in Oxford.

Speaking at today's exhibition she said: "If they're going to widen the road, why not just make the A40 a dual-carriageway into Oxford?

"Even if I was going to use the bus, I would still have to drive 20 minutes to Eynsham.

"I'm not supporting any of it and I don't know who decided they could spend all of that money on a bus lane."

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Witney architect and planner Ray Hall is helping Witney Town Council to prepare its Neighbourhood Plan for development, and said the park and ride and new bus lane were 'essential' to alleviate traffic problems but were still only a 'sticking plaster' compared to the real solution that was needed.

He wants to see villages throughout West Oxfordshire connected by a reliable, modern railway to serve commuters, shoppers and businesses.

Speaking at the exhibition he said: "This is necessary but it is a temporary solution which is trying to catch up with the problem.

"It does not address the issues which will be there when 16,000 homes are built in West Oxfordshire by 2031."

Liam Walker, Conservative candidate for Oxfordshire County Council in Hanborough and Minster Lovell, said he originally laughed at the idea but had been won over by its merits.Oxford Mail:

The Bladon resident said: "Any improvements to the A40 would be brilliant.

"The congestion has been an issue for years and we now have an opportunity to improve it and I think we should.

"The key thing is to get people out of their cars - that is the main problem with that road."

Andrew Sharp, 80, from Freeland, previously joined the campaign for a monorail or light railway between Witney and Oxford, but said he had now switched his support to the current proposal.

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After examining the full plans today he commented: "They've obviously gone into it in huge detail, it's very professional."

Today's exhibition was the second of three: the plans will go on display again at St Leonard’s Church Hall, Eynsham, this Thursday from 12.30pm to 7pm.

People can also see the full plans online and give their feedback at http://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/a40-plans-up-for-consultation

The council has said the scheme would be largely funded through the Government's Local Growth Fund and it has provisionally secured £35m toward the cost.

Construction would take place from 2018-2020. It is expected that Eynsham park and ride will be subject to a planning application in 2017.