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Robert Courts MP

MP for Witney & West Oxfordshire
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Better Roads, Trains & Buses

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A40
Robert Courts and Our Bus Bartons
Robert Courts in West Oxfordshire
Robert Courts' 'Ask the GWR' event in Charlbury
Robert Courts at the Tackley Crossing

Our community needs a better transport system, from trains and buses to roads and cycling.  Living in Bladon, I know first-hand that that congestion on the A40 is a daily issue for many of us, and we need reliable public transport to provide a realistic alternative.

Since becoming your MP, I have been campaigning for upgrades to the A40, which has included delivering a petition to Parliament signed by thousands of local residents.  I have brought the Secretary of State for Transport to the A40 to see for himself the standstill traffic, and have had many meetings with Ministers and the County and District Council Leaders.

In 2019, I was delighted to deliver £102m of central government funding for A40 upgrades - the largest investment in the A40 in a generation. This funding comes on top of the £38 million already being invested by Oxfordshire County Council.

This success is cause for massive celebration throughout West Oxfordshire, and I will continue to work closely with our local authorities as work progresses on delivering these important upgrades.

Of course, roads are only part of the picture.  West Oxfordshire's railways are a real asset that need to be improved to ensure that West Oxfordshire keeps moving in the years ahead. With eight stations in West Oxfordshire, we have the potential for trains to become a key part of an integrated local transport network - linking with our roads, buses and active travel infrastructure. 

I am leading the campaign for improvements to the Cotswold Line, and have led a debate in Parliament on the matter, during which I outlined the case for various upgrades to our railways in West Oxfordshire - you can watch this in full here. I also held a public meeting in Charlbury to discuss your priorities for the future of West Oxfordshire's railways.

I am pleased to say that we have achieved many of these upgrades in recent months, with top-of-the-range new trains, platform extensions, station parking improvements, and a new station building at Hanborough, making it a staffed station for the first time in over 50 years. 

These significant upgrades now achieved, I am intensifying my campaign to deliver further re-doubling of the Cotswold Line, which is crucial in enabling more frequent and reliable trains on the line. 

Linking train and bus services are essential.  For many of our rural communities, buses are a lifeline for many to get to work, school, to appointments and to see friends. That is why I have been campaigning for more community transport services, and founded the first-ever All-Party Parliamentary Group for Community Transport.  Working with OurBus Bartons in my previous role as District Councillor, I am pleased that this service has gone from strength to strength, and other groups such as West Oxfordshire Community Transport as also growing.  I have campaigned in Parliament to promote West Oxfordshire as an example of best practice, even bringing the Minister for Transport, Jesse Norman, to see OurBus Bartons for himself.

News

roads

Noise Camera Trial - Vote for Final Nomination

Monday, 16 May, 2022

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to nominate the area of West Oxfordshire which they think would benefit most from noise camera technology to combat noise pollution from illegally modified vehicles.

roads

Noise Camera Trial - Nominate Your Area

Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

The Government has announced plans for roadside trials of new noise camera technology to combat noise pollution.

Kingham

Petition: Make Kingham Station Accessible For All

Tuesday, 26 April, 2022

In my role as Member of Parliament for Witney and West Oxfordshire, I am supporting GWR's bid for funding to make Kingham Station accessible for all passengers.

high street

Robert Calls on Oxfordshire County Council to Start Listening to Locals Regarding Witney High Street Closure

Tuesday, 22 March, 2022

Robert, together with two local Conservative District Councillors, has written to Liberal-run Oxfordshire County Council regarding the recent closure of Witney High Street. 

A40

Final Approval Secured on Multi-Million Pound Government Investment in A40 Upgrades

Tuesday, 7 December, 2021

The Government has announced that it has given final approval to a multi-million pound investment in A40 upgrades.

The scheme will provide improved bus journey times, better public transport connectivity, and improved active travel infrastructure.

It comprises of:

WOCT

Robert Opens West Oxfordshire Community Transport's New Witney Depot

Tuesday, 12 October, 2021

Robert said: "It was a privilege to open West Oxfordshire Community Transport's brand new depot on Windrush Valley Road in Witney.

BBC South: Robert Discusses Road Safety & A40 Upgrades

Friday, 1 October, 2021

Robert said: "I appeared on BBC South recently to discuss road safety and explain how the A40 upgrades we secured in 2019 will help to improve safety on this important West Oxfordshire A-road."

The full clip can be watched above.

cycling

Robert Welcomes £338 Million Funding Package to Further Support Active Travel

Friday, 30 July, 2021

Robert has warmly welcomed the news that the active travel boom seen throughout the pandemic will continue to thrive thanks to a £338 million package to boost cycling and walking across the country, announced by the Government today.

flexi

New Flexible Season Tickets Now on Sale

Monday, 21 June, 2021

New flexible season tickets go on sale today for use from Monday 28 June, in a move hailed by Robert as "excellent news for commuters in West Oxfordshire."

rail

Government Invests £68m in Rail Upgrades to Improve Journeys to Oxford

Wednesday, 26 May, 2021

The Government has today announced that £68.8m from the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline fund will be invested in rail upgrades in and around Oxford Station to improve capacity and reliability. 

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GWR

Upgrading the Cotswold Line

Since being elected to Parliament, I have led the campaign to deliver upgrades to the Cotswold Line. We have achieved many of these upgrades, with top-of-the-range new trains, platform extensions, station parking improvements, and a new station building at Hanborough, making it a staffed station for the first time in over 50 years. These significant upgrades now achieved, I am intensifying my campaign to deliver further re-doubling of the Cotswold Line, which is crucial in enabling more frequent and reliable trains on the line. 

A40

Upgrades to the A40

For decades, congestion on the A40 has been one of the biggest issues in West Oxfordshire. Since being elected, I have been campaigning to address the matter, and was delighted to deliver £102 million of central government funding for upgrades - the largest investment in the A40 in a generation. This success is cause for massive celebration throughout West Oxfordshire, and I will continue to work closely with our local authorities as work progresses on delivering these important upgrades.

Our Bus

Promoting Community Transport

Community transport is essential for many of us based in our rural villages, to get to appointments, work and see friends.  I founded the first-ever All-Party Parliamentary Group on Community Transport to ensure that these important services receive the attention they deserve. I continue to be a champion of these vital services in West Oxfordshire and beyond.

Robert Courts MP Member of Parliament for Witney & West Oxfordshire

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ConservativesPromoted by Ian Galletley, on behalf of Robert Courts MP, both at West Oxfordshire Conservative Association, 58-60 High Street, Witney, OX28 6HJ.
Copyright 2022 Robert Courts MP Member of Parliament for Witney & West Oxfordshire. All rights reserved.
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