Masterminds behind a multi-billion-pound railway project have been accused of not listening to Oxfordshire people as a “damning report” compares it to the contentious High Speed 2 (HS2) project.
East West Rail (EWR) wants its new line to connect the cities of Oxford and Cambridge via Bicester, Milton Keynes and Bedford.
Government and project bosses scrutinised the proposals at a parliamentary transport committee meeting on Wednesday morning where the plans were compared to the “failed” HS2 project due to a perceived lack of consultation.
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A parliamentary official said: “This seems to be a common theme because we’ve seen with other major infrastructure projects there has been very poor communication with communities, such as with HS2.”
The controversial HS2 'high speed rail' project from the West Midlands to Manchester was scrapped in October due to spiralling costs, prompting concern residents had been ignored.
Rail minister Huw Merriman emphasised the new EWR line would not just be providing a service to Oxford and Cambridge.
He said it would extend to multiple destinations and suggested the two cities could benefit from increased transport options.
He added: “Anyone who drives around Oxford and Cambridge will see how constrained it is from a car perspective.”
It comes as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said works would be sped up to allow services from Oxford to Bedford to run by 2030.
Mr Hunt said in his budget that works on the Bletchley to Bedford section would be brought forward, bolstered by £240m from existing budgets.
But the new railway line have prompted fears of a housing sprawl in Oxfordshire.
The Stop the Arc Group believes the project could result in thousands of new homes being built.
Campaigners believe councils across the county will come under significant pressure to build more housing as a consequence.
Wednesday’s meeting included additional criticism of a “concerning” rhetoric around housing as well as a lack of clarity around the cost of the project.
The developers’ reference to an “ambition for a million homes” was singled out by critics of the scheme.
Paul Troop, group secretary of the Bicester Bike Users’ Group (BBUG), is among those criticising the plans.
He said: “EWR's shortcomings with consultation are epitomised by what's happening in Bicester.
“The railway runs right through the middle of town and will effectively cut the north off from the south."
Developers were also slammed over a lack of consultation during Wednesday's meeting.
A National Audit Office (NAO) report states issues had been raised “several times” about “a need to improve communications” regarding the progress of the plans.
It said: “Residents and respondents to consultations are not being listened to and are not receiving timely or accurate feedback to their questions.”
One anonymous speaker told the committee: “How much have people been listened to?
“Where is this evidence for a groundswell of support?”
Beth West, EWR chief executive, responded: “I take our obligation to the taxpayer very seriously.”
Options put forward by EWR for maintaining connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians in Bicester included an accessible overbridge, either at or near the current crossing, or an underpass near the crossing.
Mr Troop said: “In Bicester, the only feasible solution for walking and cycling access is an underpass.
"Yet an underpass was not even one of the options initially proposed by EWR."
But Ms West said: “Quick reliable public transport linking Oxford to Cambridge continues to have widespread local support and our updated proposals, including those for the London Road level crossing in Bicester, have been shaped by hundreds of conversations we’ve had with local people, businesses and other stakeholders and the thousands of responses we received to our most recent public consultation.”
EWR has been criticised for delaying plans for the future of the London Road crossing in the town.
And Bicester town councillor Dr Rachel Mallows previously said residents have needed a solution for the crossing for more than 10 years.
But there are hopes the new railway line, which would “connect people with jobs and education”, could open in the early 2030s.
Permanent secretary for the department for transport, Dame Bernadette Kelly, said: “I think it is always the case that when major infrastructure projects are in the process of being built it is disruptive for local communities.
“The challenge is to be excellent at engaging with those communities to mitigate and manage the disruption and understand the concerns they have.”
Estimates suggest the project would cost £6-7 billion.
Ms West confirmed the proposed rail line would be “freight friendly” and alternative options had been considered towards lowering the cost.
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