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. There are many options being considered to deliver these much needed upgrades and there is greater cause for optimism on this issue than there has been in a generation.
However, 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. The Great Western Railway franchise is due for renewal in the coming years, and so it is vital that Government know the concerns and priorities for West Oxfordshire so that this can opportunity can benefit our area. This is a period of great investment in our railways, with electric trains already transforming journeys into London Paddington and the great benefits of the new Oxford Parkway station already being felt. I am campaigning for punctual, reliable, high-quality train services, which use modern technology and link in with regular public transport, to create a flowing transport system throughout West Oxfordshire.
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 have founded and chair the 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.
