Sir – We need a mass transit scheme from West Oxfordshire to have any chance of managing the large number of passenger movements resulting from the 15 per cent growth in jobs across Oxford that the city council may well create through the Northern Gateway and other schemes.

That is why, along with Liberal Democrat colleagues on the county council, I have requested a feasibility study into the reopening of the Witney to Oxford railway line.

I would also look at restoring the historic rail link from the Cotswold Line to the Bicester route, enabling the new parkway station under construction at Water Eaton to take some of the pressure off Oxford station.

Such a scheme might also allow for the relocation of the Oxford North junction north of the ring road and thus take the Bicester line away from Wolvercote.

If the Government can stump up money for an Oxford flood channel to be used possibly once or twice a year it can surely find the money to improve our county’s rail facilities, and in doing so also help the environment.

Councillor John Howson, County Hall, Oxford