Oxford Baroness says Botley Road closure is discriminatory

Botley Road was shut in April 2023 as part of the redevelopment of Oxford's railway station, a £116 million project. 

The road - the main route into Oxford from the west - had been supposed to reopen temporarily from October 2023 to March 2024 but delays forced Network Rail to re-think and announce the closure would continue until October 2024.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire police say 'speed cameras don't work at 20mph'

Network Rail then announced last month there would be further delays owing to the unforeseen "complexity" of the project with fears being expressed locally that the works could be delayed further until 2025.

Baroness Ruth Deech, 81, who lives near the closure, has expressed her concerns over the pedestrian walkway which has been set up while the road is closed near the train station. 

She said: "I'm elderly - I just can't do it.

"So many of my friends are upset.

Baroness Deech. (Image: Wikimedia Commons.)

"The authorities are in breach of their duty under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments to enable disabled people and others to reach the station.

"As far back as March I showed them that the back gate to the station could be opened and that the buses, which currently drop us at Osney, and then carry on empty to the station, could carry passengers to the back of the station."

The baroness, who attended St Anne's College, also raised concerns over cyclists riding through the "narrow" passageway.

She added: "They claimed that the Botley Road Flyer bus service was a concession to the disabled.

"But it doesn't even stop at the station. It has to be pre-booked and only runs once on three days a week.

Network Rail work at Oxford Station. (Image: Andy Ffrench)

"It is also very difficult to get a bus back to West Oxford.

"We've been trying to meet with Network Rail but they say their office is only big enough for two councillors - can you believe that?"

A Network Rail spokesman said: "We understand that many local residents have concerns about the accessibility of the Botley Road bridge area.

"Unfortunately the need to close the road left limited options available, but throughout we've listened to feedback and made improvements where we can.

"This has included providing a bus service to take people into the city centre, producing an audio guide to help the public navigate the closure, regularly meeting with the local accessibility group, a Facebook page with the latest information, and a weekly digital notification to more than 1,500 residents.

Proposed design for the finished development. (Image: Network Rail)

“We’ve been asked to consider allowing access into the station from the western side on Roger Dudman Way, prior to the work completing.

"This is currently being considered by Great Western Railway (GWR) as the station operator.”

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman added: "We appreciate that the closure of Botley Road has been a major inconvenience for residents, businesses, pedestrians, cyclists, bus users and motorists.

"We have worked with Network Rail and other partners such as the bus companies to mitigate the impact where possible."

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About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi