Lucy Taster has written a letter explaining how the Botley Road closure has had a devastating effect on her life.

In the Oxford Mail article of April 21 it appears MP Layla Moran has finally woken up to the chaos the Botley Road closure has caused all residents of Oxford and outlying areas, able-bodied and disabled alike. Too little, too late.

Oxford Bus Company managing director Luke Marion was pleased about the audio book offered to people with mobility issues by the Oxford City Inclusive Transport Movement Group. Thanks for that. I’ll attach it to my legs and see what happens.

Network Rail spokeswoman Emily Maiden said that she “takes the needs and concerns of residents with mobility issues seriously” and reminds Bryony Newport from North Hinksey that the Botley Flyer is apparently available to disabled people.

READ AGAIN: Botley Road closure going really well says councillor 

It’s difficult to be reminded of something that one had no awareness of.

Perhaps Network Rail and Emily Maiden could have tried publicising the Botley Flyer to people who live in the area?

Perhaps even making a special effort to contact residents with blue badges and disabled bus passes? I also didn’t realise that Bryony Newport’s emergency appointment at her GP surgery meant she was disabled?

Is it only disabled people who need emergency GP appointments? The Botley Flyer runs three times a week from 10am to 2pm.

I wonder if us people with ‘mobility issues’ could use that to get to work, school, meetings? It’s quite astonishing but people with ‘mobility issues’ actually have lives just like people without mobility issues.

Oxford Mail:

They go to work and have children and social lives and caring responsibilities, and sometimes it’s every day and sometimes it’s not between 10am and 2pm and not just on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

READ AGAIN: Rush hour traffic will cost lives 

Network Rail also told Layla Moran that its community relations team will be “writing to residents asap” in response to the MP’s concerns.

I haven’t heard a thing from Network Rail despite my life being decimated by the road closure.

As a person among many persons with ‘mobility issues’ I can no longer get to work, socialise with friends, see my family and elderly parents, attend medical appointments, travel to study without driving for 1.5 hours in traffic around the ring road, four times the distance, at four times the fuel expense at a time of financial crisis, particularly for those on low incomes (like disabled people), and at physical cost.

Thank you to Network Rail, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, my local MP and Oxford City MP for working closely with the community and ‘tackling the issues as they arise’.

In the words of Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire councillor and cabinet member for highway management, it’s ‘working really well’.

Lucy Taster

Oxford