Oxfordshire cabinet member for transport Councillor Gareth Epps tackles the eternal debate that has affected the medieval city of Oxford

Tackling congestion in the medieval city of Oxford is an eternal debate dating back centuries.

Opinions have abounded over history, from a proposal in the 1960s to build a relief road right across Christ Church Meadow to the introduction of the UK’s first park and ride in 1973.

The city’s medieval streets were simply not designed to cope with the levels of traffic we now have.

And Oxfordshire’s population is getting bigger, with a predicted rise of 15 per cent this decade.

Continuing growth in car traffic affects us all – from road safety to the economy, the air that we breathe to the vibrancy and attractiveness of our public spaces.

So doing nothing about the city’s traffic issues has never been an option.

People in Oxford’s shops, pubs, and other businesses work hard and contribute hugely to our world-famous city.

As the new cabinet member for transport, I bring a fresh pair of eyes and the voices of rural residents, but also a long track record of working with businesses.

I know how important it is to keep dialogue open and honest with those........

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