THE county council has warned it might need to use compulsory purchase powers in order to carry out multi-million pound work on eight major transport projects.

Key work, including the building of a 'Science Bridge' for Didcot and Culham river crossing, might all require the use of the special powers, according to a senior council officer.

The authority said it would try to work with landowners to agree a purchase price, but if no agreement can be reached it could force them to sell.

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All eight of the projects will help ‘support and enable housing and economic growth in Oxfordshire’, according to the council’s 'director of planning and place', Sue Halliwell.

They also include widening the A4130 to produce a dual carriageway between Milton Interchange and the A4130/B4493 roundabout in Didcot.

Other work includes the Clifton Hampden Bypass, which will connect Oxford Road to Abingdon Road in Clifton Hampden, east of Abingdon.

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Another project is building slip roads at the A40/Shores Green junction in Witney. That work should ‘relieve traffic pressure and improve air quality on Bridge Street,’ according to the council.

It said it hoped that might mean drivers use the Ducklington Lane and Downs Road junctions off the A40.

According to official documents, which will be discussed next week: “The council’s land agent will work with landowners and continue negotiations to purchase the required land through agreement in the first instance.

“However, in some cases there may be issues reaching agreement to enable the schemes to progress to the construction phase and achieve programme delivery.”

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Other work will seek to reduce the impact of building at Upper Heyford on Middleton Stoney. The last will seek to improve use of the Bicester ring road and its town centre on the A4095.

The council’s cabinet is likely to give permission to use the CPO powers at a meeting next Tuesday.

Last week, Homes England said it had approached 12 landowners in South Oxfordshire for a new bypass to help residents of a new, 3,000-home estate at Chalgrove Airfield. It could use CPO powers if agreement is not reached.