'Victory' as £10m secured for underpass at crossing

A council has agreed to contribute £10m towards replacing a level crossing with a road underpass.

Oxfordshire County Council passed a motion on Tuesday to commit to providing the funding for the project at Bicester's London Road. It was described by the local MP as a "victory" for the town.

East West Rail's (EWR) earlier plans would have restricted the crossing to pedestrians and cyclists. But after lengthy opposition from residents, it said its preferred option was now a single-lane underpass for motor vehicles.

The crossing is set to permanently close on safety grounds when the EWR line becomes fully operational.

In 2025, more than 4,500 people signed a petition calling for any replacement of the level crossing at London Road to include access for cars, as well as for cyclists and pedestrians.

Some residents said they feared the crossing closing to vehicles would see the town "cut in two".

The underpass will maintain a route for vehicles beneath the railway, alongside protected access for pedestrians and cyclists.

Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, said the council had "listened to residents and worked to secure a solution that meets Bicester's needs".

Calum Miller, Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, said: "This is a victory for Bicester and for everyone who refused to give up on London Road.

"Residents and businesses have faced years of uncertainty about a route they depend on every day.

"They deserved a lasting solution."

Long-time campaigner and chair of Langford Village Community Association, Carole Hetherington, said the funding was "fantastic news".

"This road is so essential for Bicester, not only for us living in south Bicester, but all of Bicester, as without it the other roads would be chaotic," she said.

David Hughes, chief executive of EWR, said the funding to deliver the underpass followed "several years of work with the local community, helping East West Rail to develop a solution that maintains connectivity, reduces congestion and improves safety".