The Editor writes - Launton Lines Issue 290 January & February 2025

Sorry about the delay - a mix of health and software problems meant that this is a two-month issue for January and February combined.

The front cover shows the level crossing on London Road, by Bicester Village station, that East West Rail propose closing to vehicles - providing only a footbridge or an underpass for pedestrians.

There is also a report on pages 20-21 from the meeting held on 6 January in Langford Village Hall to explore sensible alternatives. The traffic statistics are terrifying: in November 2023 there were just under 63,000 vehicles using the crossing in one week - that’s just under 9,000 a day. Where will they go? According to East West Rail “work has demonstrated that motorised traffic could feasibly be diverted onto existing roads without users incurring significant delays or disruption”. How many of these 9,000 vehicles will feasibly come through Launton, do you think?

It’s too late to take part in the EWR consultation, but we can lobby our MP (Calum Miller), the Minister for Rail (Lord Hendy) or the Minister for Transport (Heidi Alexander). Contact emails are on page 21.

An extended Parish Council report covering four meetings is on pages 5-7, a short piece from our District Council team (page 8), a piece with photo from the Community Carol Concert on page 40, an article from our new medical reporter on hip replacements (pages 27-29), an update from FoLPH (pages 30 and 16), news of the 7th Tythe Barn Quiz on 7 March (page 38), two pages (34-35) from Launton Ladies FC, and sad news of the death of two Historical Society members on page 22.

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Robert Cornford