Quiet Lanes Coming Soon? NO THANKS!

West Oxfordshire is one of the most beautiful, rural areas in the UK, defined by historic market towns and stunning ancient villages. We sit on the edge of the Cotswolds, and because we live in a genuinely rural community rather than a city, driving isn’t a luxury, it’s a daily necessity for most of us.

This is where the 'Quiet Lane' would be. The Witney Road between Curbridge and Brize Norton.

Despite this, Oxfordshire County Council has announced plans for "Quiet Lanes," an initiative aimed at closing country roads to through-traffic to prioritise cycling, walking, and horse riding. 

The most concerning part of this pilot proposal is the planned closure of the Witney Road between Curbridge and Brize Norton. Instead of reducing traffic, this will simply displace it, forcing more cars through Curbridge and onto bottlenecks like Well Lane. These plans were completely absent from the Lib Dem election manifesto, raising the question: why make our daily commutes harder? This route remains a vital link between Witney and Carterton. Furthermore, it threatens thriving local businesses like Caswell House, which welcomes tens of thousands of guests a year.  Expecting every wedding party and guest to log their registration into an ANPR portal just to avoid a fine is completely unrealistic.

County Councillor Thomas Ashby (right) and District Councillor Liam Mackenzie (left) oppose the 'Quite Lane' initiative.

Carterton to Witney does need safer cycling infrastructure

No one disputes that we need a safer cycling connection between Carterton and Witney, but closing the road isn't the answer. A better approach is already planned along the B4477. In my view, the most sensible and safest alternative is to substantially upgrade the bridleway between Minster Lovell and Witney; specifically the stretch from Bushey Ground through Peashell Farm to Windrush Place. This effectively removes cyclists from traffic entirely.

Cllr Thomas Ashby's proposed active travel route between Witney and Carterton

I will not be supporting the ‘Quiet Lane’ proposal

I cannot back this Quiet Lane proposal. OCC has completely skipped open discussion, offering a detached email invite rather than sitting down with me or the Parish Council. No meeting, no real dialogue.

Closing routes is exactly the wrong move when Witney and Carterton are about to absorb tens of thousands of new homes. Residents don't want ideological anti-car experiments; they want practical infrastructure that keeps traffic moving. If the council insists on massive development, they need to invest in upgrading our roads, not shutting them down.

What are your thoughts on this proposal?

Please let me know what you think about these proposals by emailing me at: thomas.ashby@oxfordshire.gov.uk