This took place on Tuesday 11th October. David Holgate QC, lawyer for the county, continued his cross-examination of Christ Whitlow, flooding expert for the Mawle Trust. Key points arising from the cross-examination:

• Witan Park Industrial Estate should be included in any flood model. There is a wall to protect it, but this wall is not a flood defence.
• There is debate between the two sides about what values should be assumed for the water flow when flood modelling. Dr Whitlow does not accept the county council’s values.

» Read more: Cogges Link Road inquiry: day 11

This took place on Friday 30th September.

Town councillor Duncan Enright, non-statutory objector, spoke against the road but we missed it because of confusion over the starting time. The cross-examination of Alastair Elder, flood expert for the county, then resumed. There was much discussion about weirs, though no formal plans for a weir have yet been drawn up.

» Read more: Cogges Link Road inquiry: day 6

This took place on Thursday 29th September.

Stephen Roscoe, planning inspector, opened by clarifying what additional evidence he had received from non-statutory objectors.

» Read more: Cogges Link Road inquiry: day 5

This took place on Wednesday 28th September.

Mike Jennings submitted evidence on the ecological impact of the proposed Cogges Link Road. The site of the proposed road was described as grassland with little biodiversity interest. He could see no reason why the relevant DEFRA licences would not be granted on movement of protected species such as dormice and water-vole, since appropriate compensation and mitigation measures had been planned.   There was some debate on the increased risk of mortality to mammals.

» Read more: Cogges Link Road inquiry: day 4

This took place on Tuesday 27th September and began with the questioning of Paul Taylor, an air quality scientist contracted by the county council.

Mr Taylor’s evidence was very hard for the non-specialist to follow, particularly because he didn’t speak very clearly and had to be asked more than once by the planning inspector to speak up. To add to the confusion, he kept referring to both the Cogges Link Road and the Shores Green alternative as “the scheme”.

» Read more: Cogges Link Road inquiry: day 3

Day 2 of the inquiry was Friday 23rd September. The cross-examination continued of Tracey Dow from the county council’s transport policy department by Mark Lowe QC, lawyer for the anti-road side.

» Read more: Cogges Link Road inquiry: day 2

The inquiry into the compulsory purchase of land needed to build the Cogges Link Road is ongoing. The outcome of the inquiry will affect all Witney residents, so we’re trying to report as much of it as possible. Here’s our account of the first day proper at the Methodist Church in Witney on Thursday 22nd September.

» Read more: Cogges Link Road inquiry: day 1