IT IS welcome news to hear that yet again Cherwell District Council has again successfully secured government funding for infrastructure in Bicester.

Too often residents and councillors are raising concerns for the town over whether it will be able to keep pace with the souring developments popping up all over the place.

Bicester is rapidly growing, changing and developing but in order to do so effectively we need to make sure roads, schools, doctors surgeries and amenities keep pace.

So, for the council to secure £6.7m in funding to help improve one of the worst hit roads by Bicester population and development boom is music to many residents' ears.

The next hurdle is when? When will this wonderful influx of funding take effect and start making a difference to Bicester’s road network?

The date mooted for work to start on building a new tunnel under the railway suggests it will be no earlier than Christmas 2019 until this funding to take effect.

In that case, residents are still almost two years away from any action being taken to improve what they say is a fast deteriorating road under current pressures (and it will only get worse).

Of course, these things can't be done in a week and take time to organise, plan and develop - but two years?

After what has been a long campaign from nearby residents already for action, surely something can be done sooner to help sort such a major issue for the town.

Campaigners have suggested a 30mph speed limit as well as a 7.5tonne limit on the road to both slow traffic and reduce the number of lorries that thunder up and down the lane.

This seems like a fair suggestion to the council and one that could provide a plaster over the worsening wound that is currently Howes Lane.

If the vital improvements can’t be delivered in the near future, then further action needs to be taken to improve the lives of residents in the meantime.