TURNING the A420 into a dual carriageway for its entire 30-mile length between Swindon and Oxford is key to the town's future prosperity.

That is the view of Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard, whose ambitions also include creating a direct rail link to the university city.

And it seems local authority bosses in Oxfordshire feel the same.

Coun Renard told members of the growing the economy overview and scrutiny committee the council was part of a study looking at the Swindon to Oxford corridor alongside the England’s Economic Heartland lobbying group.

He said: “Dualling the A420 all the way to Oxford is a key objective of the council and we are working to seek agreement of Oxfordshire County Council and the relevant district councils.”

In further discussion with Coun Russell Holland, who chairs the committee, Coun Renard said he also wanted to see a direct rail link between Swindon and Oxford instead of being routed through Didcot.

Such a move would not only mean a better line for Swindon to Oxford, but would also put Cheltenham and Gloucester, Bristol and South Wales  in direct connection with Oxford. That would hook up two major economic development areas – England’s Economic Heartland, which is a swathe of southern England north of London running west from Cambridge, and the Western Gateway, which stretches from Wiltshire as far as Swansea. 

Swindon would be at the heart of thejoined-up development area.

Coun Holland agreed a direct rail line to Oxford would be particularly good idea.
While it is not in the local authority's gift to get the A420 widened, it seems the neighbouring Oxfordshire County Council is not against the idea. 

A spokesman said: “A critical area of interest for Oxfordshire County Council is the connectivity needs between Oxford and Swindon, including the future of the A420 corridor and improving rail connectivity. 

“Oxfordshire County Council is committed to working with England’s Economic Heartland and Swindon on review of future connectivity needs between Oxford and Swindon, including the future of the A420 corridor.

“In particular, we believe that this should be shaped by the planned EEH Oxford to Swindon connectivity study, which will look at connectivity matters from a strategic perspective, including consideration of rail, bus, freight movements, and other sustainable transport links.

“It will be important that the outcomes of this study feed into delivery of both the new Swindon Local Transport Plan, as well as that for Oxfordshire.”

While the county council takes the lead on highways in Oxfordshire, the A420 runs through the Vale of the White Horse district and Oxford City Council’s territory.

The city council said only that it was a matter for the higher authority.

A spokesman for Vale of the White Horse District Council said the council was in favour of an improved direct railway connection.

They said: “The council remains committed to a decarbonised sustainable transport system and improving air quality.

“We strongly support improvements to rail services between Swindon and Oxford. If they are given the go-ahead, we believe a station at Grove would play a vital role in helping to ensure the transport connectivity required by the growing number of people living in the Wantage and Grove area.”

New rail links and stations are the responsibility of Network Rail, which will soon become Great British Railways.

The organisation had not responded to a request for comment by the time of going to print.