Dormant park and ride scheme could cost extra £14m

Roadworks to connect a new park and ride, which has been left dormant for two years, with Oxford could cost £14m more than anticipated.

An Oxfordshire County Council scheme to improve public transport and connectivity along the A40 between Witney and Oxford is set to begin next year.

As part of the project, the Eynsham park and ride site was completed in 2024, but is not set to be linked to the carriageway until summer 2028 at the earliest.

Ahead of a council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, a report found the anticipated costs for connecting the park and ride with Cassington had risen by £14.2m since May.

This first stage of the scheme had begun with a £132.8m budget, which had increased amid a range of additional costs, the report said.

"The latest combined programme forecast is £14.2m above the May 2026 baseline," it said.

The main causes of these budget pressures were connecting the Eynsham Park and Ride with the A40 and work to repair Duke's Cut bridge, it said.

At Tuesday's meeting, cabinet members approved a further £3.8m funding injection to complete the work to connect the park and ride with the A40.

Work on the 850-space site was completed in 2024 but has remained closed due to a lack of road access.

The BBC previously revealed that security, lighting and fencing at the site was costing £9,531.50 per month, while it remained inaccessible to traffic.

The council announced last year that the site would be accessible by 2027, but earlier this year it amended that target to summer 2028.

Councillor Liam Walker, leader of the Oxfordshire Alliance, said the situation was "deeply concerning".

"Residents deserve answers about the escalating costs, what will actually be delivered and when," he added.

Alongside the additional funding, cabinet members also voted to pause planned works to Duke's Cut bridge as part of the A40 scheme.

Liz Leffman, cabinet member for highways construction and repair, previously described the bridge works as as "time sensitive".

She said this would involve removing concrete that encased the bridge's steel portal frames, while also strengthening exposed steel on the structure.

Planning permission to finish the A40 scheme was granted in June.

Alongside the new park and ride, the scheme also includes bus priority lanes, new and upgraded junctions and crossings and upgraded active travel pathways.