New temporary bus stop at Oxford Botley Road closure site

Back in April, Oxford MP Layla Moran demanded an emergency summit with Network Rail after she visited the Botley Road closure.

The closure, which started on April 11, will last for six months and motorists are unable to use the stretch of road beneath the railway bridge between Frideswide Square and Mill Street.

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Ms Moran raised her “serious” safety concerns with Network Rail and described the westbound bus stop by the bridge as a “disaster” and “completely inadequate” for the number of people commuting in and out of Oxford.

However, after meeting with Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council, it has been confirmed the county council will be trialling an additional temporary bus stop from Tuesday, May 16.

The council confirmed that the westbound bus stop is moving from outside the St Frideswide Church to Bridge Street.

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Ms Moran said: “I’m really happy Liberal Democrat councillors have succeeded in pushing for an additional bus stop on Botley Road.”

Ms Moran said that when she visited the closure site a few weeks ago she was “deeply concerned by the limited space available for people waiting at the bus stops”.

She explained: “A number of local people have contacted me about this issue, with pedestrians risking walking in the road to avoid the large crowds at rush hour.”

She added: “I am glad the agencies involved have been able to work together to get this over the line, and hope it is just the first of many steps taken to iron out the difficulties residents are facing as a result of the road closure.”

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County councillor and cabinet member for highways Andrew Gant said the “additional bus stop will relieve pressure on the existing stops, and stop pedestrians being forced into the road at busy times”.

He added: “While the problems are complex and there are multiple agencies involved, I and others at the county council are determined to work together with other agencies to lessen the disruption for local people.”

Mr Gant committed to “continuing to listen to local people” to ensure Botley Road was “safer for all road users”.

MP Layla Moran

The £161m upgrade of Oxford Rail station means the busy road will be closed until October.

Pedestrians and cyclists can still use a a narrow throughfare but Ms Moran said the current arrangements in place last time she visited meant that "too many people were struggling to get to work".