Memories of an ex-Launton boy, from Launton Lines Issue 291 March 2025

This month the ex-Launton boy picks up on the story last month about the closing of the level crossing in Bicester, and the ways of handling any diverted traffic. He remembers a time in the 1950s when Launton was also a rat run, and recalls the introduction of the speed limit through the village (it was 30mph then).

For those who have been in and around Launton long enough, the item in Issue 290, pages 20-21 will bring back some distant memories I am sure.

Unless there is a change of heart, it would appear that the suggested closing off of the London Road level crossing will create an even more severe situation compared to that in the days when the London end of Sheep Street had straddled across it the big Hedges shop building with a narrow pedestrian passageway to one side and a road bottleneck to the other.

We have to remember also that back then, there was nothing like the volume of today’s traffic, but nonetheless, the bottlenecks created were such that when vehicles being driven to the channel ports for export to the continent were zooming down from the Midlands, they would avoid the Bicester bottleneck like the plague.

Even when Bicester Aerodrome was still in full swing, these ‘export’ vehicles would peel off the A41 just before the sharp right-hander and go off up through Caversfield to the left, through the public highway running through the middle of the RAF housing accommodation area and onto the Bicester/Buckingham road, turning right towards Bicester and then immediately left down what we always used to call, the Aerodrome Road, past the well established allotments (the Marlins), left onto the Launton/Bicester road towards Launton, over the little hump-backed bridge we called The Sluice, over the railway bridge and through Launton at breakneck speed, up the Blackthorn Road and rejoin the A41 at the Blackthorn crossroads.

It was that which led to the introduction of the 30 limit (not observed by many of the drivers), and the installation of the barrier immediately outside the main entrance to Launton School for fear that children might run excitedly into the road at lunch time or at the end of the school day. I don’t recall seeing any car transporters coming through the village, as the many cars coming through were driven individually with their temporary red licence plates. Once delivered to the ports, despite having the money provided to cover the cost of their fare home, many of the ‘export’ drivers used to hold their temporary vehicle licence plates under their arms in full view and thumb lifts along the various stages of their route home, pocketing the travel money.

Then of course there were the long-wheel-based trucks with just an open cab and a body yet to be fitted to the chassis. The drivers were fully exposed to the elements in all weathers looking like Michelin men all wrapped up warm, wearing goggles and gauntlets were quite a sight. But then Hedges was knocked down in Sheep Street and opened up the London Road so there was no further need of the Launton ‘rat-run’.

Since then, Launton has grown enormously and I would assume the traffic flow through the village has increased very considerably already. To think that it could revert to the way it used to be when I was a lad, i.e. a rat-run, would make it a much less attractive village in which to live, having already lost the quaintness it once possessed.

If the main reason for closing the London Road level crossing is because of the danger of motorists and others playing ‘chicken’ with the level crossing barrier, then I cannot understand why a more substantial barrier can not be installed that is far more imposing and intimidating than a flimsy barrier.

I can’t quite recall where the signal box/barrier control building is in Bicester, but here at one of the many crossings in the Medway Towns, the signal box is situated right next to the crossing barrier. Suitably placed cameras and heavy fines for foolish transgressions ought to be sufficient to stop idiots from taking unnecessary risks in trying to beat the barrier.

As it was the British who invented the railways in the first place and developed the network, motive power and rolling stock, one would think they could be somewhat more innovative as far as problems such as the London Road level crossing is concerned. What about rumble bars or sleeping policemen on the approaches both sides of the crossing? And what about installing overhead digital gantries to either side of the level crossing vividly lighting up with stern warnings in sufficient time before a train is due to approach? Simple measures not beyond the wit of man!

I have the book entitled, Bicester Wuz a Little Town; perhaps we should have one entitled, Launton Wuz a Rat-Run, just to remind people of what it once was like and insist that never shall it be like that again. Keep healthy and stay SAFE.

TonyJeacock, MInstRE | The ex-Launton Boy| February 2025