Members of the A44 Action Group claim the number of heavy goods vehicles travelling on the road through Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, is growing.

They believe a new road would solve the issue with lorries bypassing the area.

West Oxfordshire District Council has urged the county council to come up with measures to alleviate the problem.

Noise pollution

Maureen Shepherd, who has lived in the area since the 70s, owns an antiques shop in West Street in the town centre.

She said: "I can actually foresee gridlock in Chipping Norton because very often the traffic is queuing up in all directions.

"Nobody can move and that problem is getting worse and worse because the lorries, especially the continental ones, are enormous."

The action group represents the communities affected by the A44 on its route from Oxford to Evesham.

It has also highlighted a number of problems affecting the living standards of residents in and around Woodstock, Bladon and Enstone.

Air quality monitoring in Horsehair has shown Nitrogen Dioxide levels to be 50% higher than the recommended ceiling Chipping Norton Councillor Eve Coles

The problems include building damage and noise pollution arising from traffic congestion.

District councillor Verona Hunt, cabinet member for planning, said: "We share the concerns raised by this group.

"A priority must be for the county council to pursue agreed routing strategies with the haulage operators, which could be implemented without further delays."

A county council spokeswoman said: "Oxfordshire County Council recognises the problems caused to local communities by lorries using the A44.

"We are looking at this as a major part of the countywide Transport Networks Review and in the Oxfordshire Freight Quality Partnership.

"The problems caused by congestion on the A40 do limit the suitability of this road to cater for additional traffic to be directed onto it, however."