Residents 'gobsmacked' as Botley Road closure start date is scrapped

Network Rail and the county council agreed in October that the road should be closed for a year at the rail bridge from January 9.

But rail authority's timetable for work to divert utilities, demolish the youth hostel, replace the rail bridge and start building a new western entrance for the station has now been delayed.

READ AGAIN: What we know about Botley Road closure

Network Rail is now talking to the county council to draw up a new plan.

Julian Le Vay, of residents' group West Oxford Access, said: "We are obsmacked by Network Rail's announcement Botley Road will not close on January 9 as planned.

"Given the engineering reality, there must be a significant period of closure or a much longer period of single lane working at some point, unless of course the council have given up on their plans for broadening and deepening the road but that  seems highly unlikely."

Mr Le Vay said he had met Network Rail and the county council in the past 10 days and was "appalled by the lack of coordination between the two".

He added: "There was a lack of readiness on virtually every aspect of the closure.

"This included access for the disabled to health centres, whether buses would run at all, and whether a turning circle for buses was possible.

"The delay is a good thing if they are not ready but the question is what next."

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: "Although we were disappointed to learn about the need to delay the start of works for Oxford Station, as the highways authority, Oxfordshire County Council will continue to work with Network Rail and discharge our duty to manage the highways network effectively.

“Once any new arrangements have been confirmed, we will work with Network Rail and other partners to make sure the details are communicated clearly and accurately to everyone who might be affected.”

READ AGAIN: Botley Road closure start date is scrapped

Network Rail said it is working with partners to refine its plans for the delivery of the works to enhance Oxford station, adding that part of this review will look at how to reduce the impact of our work on local community.

The county council will assess the impact the change of timing from 9 January will have on the timing of its own schemes in and around Oxford, including six trail traffic filters.

Further announcements will be made once discussions with Network Rail have developed further in the coming weeks.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF