A NEW bridge near Long Hanborough railway station could improve safety and help link up county cycle routes, campaigners have said.

Council candidate Liam Walker and cyclists have said the existing bridge on the A4095 near the station is unsafe for pedestrians and riders.

The bridge has bollards separating road traffic from pedestrians but they have been repeatedly knocked down.

Conservative Party candidate for Oxfordshire County Council for the Hanborough and Minster Lovell division Liam Walker has called for changes to be made.

He wants better bollards, a new separate cycle bridge or – his preferred option – a separate bridge for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Mr Walker said: "It’s a narrow bridge and the bollards are there as some sort of safety measure. "But the bollards are repeatedly knocked down, so instead of just putting them back up I think this is something we need to take a look at.

"We need to look at a way to make the bridge safer and from talking to people there’s clearly an appetite for sorting this out.

“There haven't been any reported accidents but we can’t wait until there is one to do something.”

Mr Walker said he has discussed the issue with district councillors and has suggested using section 106 money – paid by developers as part of planning permission for major schemes.

He said he has also received support from Witney MP Robert Courts.

Robin Tucker from Oxfordshire Cycling Network said: "Cycling has the potential to be a really big and important part of the transport mix in the county.

"But most people are too afraid to rise on the main roads.

"We have proposed a county-wide network of cycle routes and this bridge would be a vital part of that network.

"In particular it links two parts of the national cycling network in a better way.

"We would really like to link on from Long Hanborough station to the A44 and Woodstock because then people from there could cycle to the station."

The Oxfordshire cycling network proposed by the group, as reported in the Oxford Mail last month, would cost £120m and would cover 366 miles.

The existing bridge is crossed by residents of Long Hanborough, Freeland and North Leigh to get to the station.

Anybody who wants to support the campaign or offer suggestions can email Liam Walker at liamwalker.oxon@outlook.com