To: BotleyWestSolar@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Dear Sir/Madam

Please accept these representations from Bike Safe on the Botley West Solar Farm Compulsory Purchase Acquisition (CPA)

Bike Safe is a registered charity working collaboratively with Oxfordshire County Council in relation to the provision of a new cycle path from the A40 at Eynsham to Botley along the B4449 and B4044  (the B4044 path) which has been identified as needed to improve the safety and accessibility of cyclists and pedestrians along this route.   The design of the B4044 path is currently being developed using funding from the Government Active Travel Funds.

The CPA provisions request new rights over much of the B4044 path route from the A40 along the B4449 and along the B4044 to Farmoor as shown in the Land Plans drawing [AS-006].   This land has been identified by the County Council for the provision of the B4044 path which is currently at the preliminary design stage.  The path is predominantly largely accommodated on the western verge of the B4449 and northern verge of the B4044 except at Farmoor where provision is on both sides of the B4044.

Bike Safe support the representations being made by Oxfordshire County Council as highway authority and question the need to CPA rights over highway land but in any event require that due consideration is given to the impact of any new rights granted to the Botley West developer on the delivery of the B4044 path.   Specifically any such rights granted should not jeopardise  the ability to provide the B4044 path or the ability of the County Council as highway authority to exercise their powers to maintain and improve the highway to facilitate provision of the B4044 path.      

The provision of the B4044 path requires land within the highway and land adjacent the highway within third party ownership (including land under the control of the University of Oxford) which is proposed to be dedicated as highway to facilitate provision of the B4044.  Bike Safe is concerned that new rights granted on highway land or third party land adjacent the highway do not jeopardise the ability for that land to be dedicated as highway to facilitate the deliverability of the B4044 path.

Should the Botley West Solar Farm proceed, Bike Safe would request coordination with the developer to ensure that any disruption to the B4044 path is avoided and measures to continue to facilitate the delivery of the B4044 path through construction are explored.   The B4044 path is proposing changes to the junctions along the route including roundabouts in Farmoor and at Eynsham further detail is needed to ensure compatibility with the B4044 path. 

 Yours sincerely,

Edgars Limited (on behalf of BikeSafe)