RESIDENTS will be asked for their views on up to six specific routes for the Oxford-Cambridge expressway when a consultation finally opens next year, the Oxford Times understands.

A final route for the multi-billion-pound expressway will only be settled in 2020, but transport minister Jesse Norman visited Oxford to discuss the project with Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran and councillors.

Ms Moran said she was continuing to ‘press’ ministers to rule out any possibility the route would plough through Botley if any widening of the A34 was chosen.

Last month, Highways England announced two broad paths the road might take – with one being routed to the west of Oxford, known as corridor B1, and the other south and east of the city. That is known as corridor B3.

But it has emerged a Highways England report released details for three sub-options for Oxford.

Two of these include routes cutting south and east of Oxford and the other branching off the A420 and using the A34 to the west of the city.

All of those would avoid any need to widen the A34 through Botley.

It is understood these will not necessarily be picked as one of the possible six routes being put to the public next year, in what will be the first public consultation on the expressway.

Emily Smith, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Vale of White Horse District Council, said she remained ‘unconvinced’ over the need for a £4bn expressway.

She said: “We should be spending any available funds on accelerating East West Rail and on local branch lines, cycle infrastructure and reinstating the bus subsidies that the county council has cut.

“There are no good routes through corridor B. All will cause damage to the environment and our communities.”

She said all Oxfordshire’s county and district councillors have been invited to a special meeting by Highways England on November 16, where they will be told about the need for six potential expressway routes.

Mrs Smith added: “I wish the minister would rule out widening the A34 through Botley now to end the uncertainty and stress people living in the homes along the A34 are under as a result of this scheme.”

Last Thursday, Dr Norman and Ms Moran were joined by senior Highways England managers on a walk around Botley to see parts of Botley that would be impacted by any widening of the A34.

Earlier in the visit, Dr Norman came face-to-face with members of the No Expressway Alliance. The group is opposed to any expressway being built, regardless of the route.

He said the Government is in ‘listening mode’ over the expressway ahead of the public consultation.

Another campaigner, who did not want to be named, said that the three potential plans would initially seem to be ‘good news’ for Botley.

None of them would require expansion of the A34 where Ms Moran and other campaigners are worried it might go.

Of the routes contained in Highways England’s Strategic Outline Business Case, the first would run along the A34 until the road would be taken onto the A420 near Cumnor.

It would then join back up to the A34 after Botley and then continue north until junction 9 of the M40.

The second might run north of Abingdon, like the first, but cross south of Oxford shortly after the A4074. It would then cross the A40 and along a new road until it reaches the M40.

The third would also need to cut south of Oxford but would run east to meet junction 8A of the M40.

The campaigner added: “We are all NIMBYs in a way. No one wants a new expressway to be ploughed through the middle of their town, through their village or precious open countryside because it would be noisy and would be disruptive.

“But in this case, there might be no need for it if it could go on the existing route of the A34 and the Botley route so I have to support that.”

Highways England was asked to explain the significance of the three routes in the business case.

But a spokesman said: “Highways England are working on route options through the whole B1 corridor. As outlined in the Corridor Assessment Report (CAR) published following the Corridor Announcement in September, Highways England have assessed the whole study area and understand the various constraints and challenges within the Botley area.

“Appraising these will enable route consideration and optioneering work to be progressed through Stage 1B. Highways England are in contact with key stakeholders and will keep them updated as the work progresses.”