Oxfordshire MP calls for better transport ahead of new AI ‘growth zone’
The Liberal Democrat MP says he will “be pressing the Government”
Last updated 15th Jan 2025
An Oxfordshire MP is calling for more investment into local transport infrastructure in order to cope with the more jobs that are set to be created in Culham, Oxfordshire.
It comes after the government announced Culham Centre for Fusion Energy will be the UK’s first 'growth zone', using Artificial Intelligence to boost growth and living standards.
'Culham railway station has just 1 train per hour in each direction'
Olly Glover, Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage shares his concerns, he says, “the government forging new AI Growth Zones to speed up planning proposals and build more AI infrastructure raises questions about the ability of local infrastructure to cope with a large new employment site in the area."
The Government revealed in Monday’s announcement, tech companies had committed a total of £14 billion of investment in AI infrastructure in the UK, expecting to create 13,250 jobs.
Mr Glover added: “In particular, Culham railway station has just 1 train per hour in each direction and no Sunday service; bus services are largely limited to daytimes; and the increasingly busy A415 Abingdon Road has a poor quality cycle path, and needs more safe road crossings, particularly serving the needs of Europa School.
"Existing plans to improve transport in the area will not tackle these east-west connectivity issues, nor do much to improve road access to and from Oxford.
"I will be pressing the Government to ensure they invest in the infrastructure we need to support this key employment site, and the significant plans for new housing nearby."
The Didcot and Wantage MP also acknowledged the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, with its first AI Growth Zone planned for Culham.
Mr Glover said: “This is a welcome announcement that will bring more jobs and growth to the Culham Campus site in my constituency, which is already a brilliant UK leader in science and innovation."