I was delighted last week that the Government announced significant investment in roads and bridges for southern Oxfordshire at the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

This is not only great news for South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse but for the whole of Oxfordshire.

Working alongside the county council and district councils I lobbied the Secretary of State both privately and in the chamber of the House of Commons; I am thrilled that through this collaborative approach we have helped to secure the investment we needed to ensure that the Science Vale area continues to thrive and grow, offering high quality career opportunities, homes and improved quality of life for local residents.

It is a great example of how councils working together with MPs, local businesses, community groups and residents can submit a significant bid to the Government resulting in success.

This bid is worth £218million from the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) and relates to four major transport schemes for the southern Oxfordshire area.

These include a Didcot Science Bridge on the A4130 which will cross over the railway line into the Didcot A Power Station site and join the A4130 Northern Perimeter Road. Improvements to the A4130 from the Milton Interchange by making it a dual carriageway are also proposed.

Very significantly there will be a new river crossing at Culham which will increase links between the major science hubs at Milton, Harwell and Culham. This new route will also relieve congestion on other river crossings particularly at Sutton Courtenay.

A much-needed bypass at Clifton Hampden is also in the plans.

These transport schemes are an important part of the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Local Plans, building the necessary infrastructure to support the development of new homes, jobs, schools, health and community centres.

HIF money will help the councils to deliver new homes in Didcot, Culham, Harwell and Berinsfield in a sustainable manner, protecting against increased traffic and disruption to existing residents.

Of course major projects such as these will need to go through the appropriate planning permissions and the district councils will be asking residents what they think about the proposals throughout the process in a series of public consultations.

I hope, like me, you are looking forward to these projects being completed and the improvements they will bring to Didcot and the surrounding area.