A petition has been launched in support of local businesses affected by the closure of the Botley Road in Oxford.

Network Rail, with the permission of the county council, closed Botley Road at the rail bridge in April as part of a £161m upgrade of Oxford rail station.

The rail authority promised traders it would reopen Botley Road at the end of October for four months and then start work again, finishing the scheme in October 2024.

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But earlier this month rail bosses announced that complications with the scheme - including the discovery of an underground Victorian arch - means the project is going to take longer and now there will be no break in the schedule.

Julian Le Vay, who runs local campaign group West Oxford Access, said some businesses might not survive and is campaigning for them to get compensation.

After launching an online petition in support of businesses, Mr Le Vay said: "Several local businesses say that the postponement of reopening of Botley Road, planned for next month, for a full further year is more than they can withstand.

"On top of losses to date, the unending changes in Network Rail’s plans - always at the very last moment - make it impossible for businesses  to plan how to cope. No one supposes that the latest plan will work either.

Oxford Mail: Network Rail in Botley Road

"It seems very wrong that hardworking shop owners should be  bankrupted by the serial incompetence of Network Rail.

"And we as a community stand to lose valued local businesses. So we've launched a petition on behalf of the community, asking the government, whose creature Network Rail is, to give temporary financial support to businesses, as it did during Covid.

"Or failing that the councils, both of which had a hand in approving this project."

The £161m scheme includes the creation of a new western entrance of the station, the replacement of the rail bridge and creation of new walkways and cycle routes around it.

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Dale Crutcher, Network Rail’s industry programme director for Greater Oxford area, said: "This project is extremely complex and has been made even more challenging by the extent of the brick arch underneath the road.

"We’ve done everything we can to deliver the work, including moving to working around the clock, but unfortunately with needing the infrastructure to be ready by the end of next year we have no choice but to keep the road closed until October 2024."

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The petition, which so far has 148 signatures, says: "In addition to huge inconvenience to many people, local businesses are paying the price as trade is strangled.

"Network Rail's constant changes of plan - always at the last moment - make it impossible to cope. Several family businesses valued by the community say they doubt they can survive.

Oxford Mail: "We demand the government, as the owner of Network Rail, compensates businesses for their losses.

"Or failing that, the city and county councils, both of which gave the go-ahead or supported this project on the basis of a four-day closure.

"It is morally wrong that people should lose their livelihood, and the community should lose its shops."

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Network Rail spokeswoman Emily Maiden said: “Every business is unique and the support we can offer businesses will need to be tailored to their needs. We would encourage any affected businesses to contact us via oxfordphase2@networkrail.co.uk or by going to networkrail.co.uk/contactus.

“As an arm’s length government body, we’re funded to maintain, upgrade and repair the railway. Unless our negligence has caused personal injury or damage to property directly from our equipment, legislation does not give any legal obligation to compensate business owners for loss of trade when works are properly undertaken under our statutory powers.”

To sign the change.org petition visit https://chng.it/QqJ2SnqC4H

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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