Green travel plan to link city and communities

A "bold and exciting" plan setting out a long-term vision for walking, wheeling and cycling routes in and out of a city has been launched.

Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and the University of Oxford said The Oxford Greenways would help connect Oxford with nearby towns, villages, employment centres and green spaces.

The 18 proposed routes would be extending around Oxford and connecting communities within about eight miles (13km) of the city, including Woodstock, Kidlington and Abingdon.

Similar active travel schemes, such as the Quiet Lanes programme, have received mixed reactions by residents and local politicians.

The routes include traffic-free sections, segregated paths alongside roads and quieter on-road links.

The authorities said the network would be "a combination of existing, upgraded and new routes" and would "improve access to jobs, education, services, public transport and leisure, while supporting healthier lifestyles and helping to reduce congestion".

They said the masterplan drew on technical analysis, route assessments and feedback from residents, parish councils and stakeholder organisations.

The network is expected to be delivered in stages, funded through a combination of government and council investment, developer contributions and partnerships.

Gareth Epps, the county council's transport chief, called the masterplan "a bold and exciting vision for active travel in and around Oxford".

Oxford City Council deputy leader Anna Railton said: "As Oxford grows this network, it will be crucial to giving people safe, sustainable and accessible options for travelling around the county."