Objections have arisen to a new lane being added at a busy Oxford junction.

Safety improvements will be made to the junction at Church Cowley Road and Rose Hill residential access road by Oxfordshire County Council.

This work will begin on Wednesday, April 10, and aims to improve visibility as well as reducing collision risks.

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The council is planning to make what it describes as “minor changes” near the junction to create a separate lane for vehicles travelling to the city centre.

In addition to this, there will also be more road markings and a two-lane northbound approach to the Church Cowley Road junction will be reinstated.

Oxford Mail: Changes will be made to the area in April.Changes will be made to the area in April. (Image: Anna Railton)

That will include the removal of a small number of the cycle lane wands which the council insists follows feedback from locals.

A review of recent accidents has also been made by council officials with several of the incidents involving a motor vehicle and a person cycling.

There are objections to the alterations though from local cycling campaign group Cyclox who view the new format actually to be more dangerous.

Oxford Mail: Dr Alison Hill Dr Alison Hill (Image: Alison Hill)“We object to the council’s changes,” said the group’s chair, Dr Alison Hill.

“They ignored our comments and these ‘improvements’ go against their own policies on safety.

“The changes will be more dangerous for people walking, wheeling and cycling and they don’t remove the root cause of the casualties which is drivers turning left onto the slip road to avoid the lights.”

Despite objections, it is maintained by the council that the work is a necessity to improve safety in the area.

Bill Cotton, Oxfordshire County Council’s director for environment and place, said: “We are very concerned that there have been several serious road traffic collisions in this area.

Oxford Mail: Further down the road in Rose Hill.Further down the road in Rose Hill. (Image: Newsquest)

“The works are an important safety action to protect road users and local residents in Rose Hill.

“The works are intended to improve the visibility of vulnerable road users, reduce incidents in this location, and address concerns that vehicles are using the adjacent Rose Hill slip road to bypass the junction.”

Work will be carried out in the evening to minimise disruption as it is expected that there will be a single lane closure on the road in order for the alterations to be finished.

These works form a part of wider highways review and safety improvements being carried out through the city and county by the council.

Officials say that the location will continue to be closely monitored and there are no other changes proposed near the junction as part of these works.