DISRUPTION is continuing after the second city centre 'sinkhole' to have opened up this year appeared in Broad Street. 

Oxford Mail:

With major roads already closed for St Giles' Fair, buses are having to 'split' their journeys to get around the problem. 

The managing director of Oxford Bus Company, whose detailed diversions for the fair has been scuppered by the latest problems, said the significant disruption 'demonstrates how fragile bus routes in the city are'.

Phil Southall said customers had been 'inconvenienced massively' and added that incidents like this show 'how vital' it is for Queen Street to remain open to buses. 

Oxford Mail:

More than 18 hours on since the hole first appeared, the cause is still not known with both Thames Water and the city council still investigating. 

Spokesman for Oxford City Council Tony Ecclestone said: "Oxford Direct Services, on behalf of the County Council, and Thames Water, are urgently investigating a sinkhole that appeared in Broad Street last night.

"This is the main bus diversion route around St Giles' Fair, so Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach services are impacted.

"Please check the bus company websites for service updates.

"We will issue a further update once we know more about the cause."

Where is the hole and what caused it?

The hole appeared outside Boswell's Department Store yesterday.

It is not currently known what has caused the problem but Oxford City Council said its highways team is 'urgently' working on fixing it.

Where can I get my bus from?

Several bus services that serve the city centre are affected by the closure with some unable to run and others terminating in Broad Street. 

Oxford Bus Company's 500 Park & Ride service, that runs from the station to Woodstock via Oxford Parkway is currently terminating in Broad Street. 

The 300 Park & Ride, which serves both Pear Tree and Redbridge, is being split. One service is running from Broad Street to Pear Tree while another is running from New Road to Redbridge. 

Stagecoach's S1 and S2 to Eynsham, Witney and Carterton are on diversion, with passengers being told to head to Gloucester Green bus station to board. 

But some have complained they have had to wait up to two hours for a bus.

Passengers for Stagecoach's 7 service to Woodstock are being told to use the number 2 service from a temporary stop which has been set up in Broad St.

The S1, S3 and 7 buses are currently unable to serve George Street. 

The S4, S5 and 2 services are still running on the diverted route in place for St Giles' Fair.

When will it be fixed?

The Oxford Bus Company said it believes the closure will be in place for 'at least all day today'.

Didn't this happen before? 

In January Thames Water and Oxfordshire County Council took nearly a week to fix another hole near the Sheldonian Theatre. 

Oxford Mail:

Workers fixing the sinkhole in January. Picture: John Welsby

On this occasion the area's historical significance and the 'complex nature' of the works slowed down the repair job.

READ AGAIN: 'Complex works' to fix leaky pipe in Broad Street