Clarion Weekly, 24 January 2025
Botley Road to reopen in August 2026
The Botley Road rail bridge will remain closed for another 18 months. Network Rail announced an August 2026 completion date this morning (Friday) at a meeting with rail minister Lord Peter Hendy and Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran.
But there’s some good news for walkers and cyclists – an improved walkway, four times wider than the original, will open in summer 2025 to fix the current cramped conditions for those walking under the bridge. The Minister said:
“The continuing works surrounding Botley Road are frustrating, and the delays are unacceptable, which is why I wanted to hear firsthand from all those affected. I tasked Network Rail with producing a robust plan for its completion, which included additional measures to minimise and mitigate disruption as much as possible while still allowing this work to progress. I’m pleased they have acted and I can assure residents and businesses that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Network Rail’s western managing director, Marcus Jones, apologised for the disruption.
“We’re extremely sorry for the impact the road closure is having on the people of Oxford. This is an incredibly complex project, involving multiple organisations, which has faced a number of significant challenges. But we understand the anger and frustration the delays to this project have caused. Our review has scrutinised every aspect of the programme, and with the utility diversions now well advanced, we’re confident the revised plan is deliverable. We already have a number of measures in place to lessen the impact of the closure as much as we can, and will continue to work with local authorities, stakeholders and communities to explore additional options. We also appreciate this work is having an impact on local businesses and are looking at further ways we can help them.”
The Oxford Clarion revealed earlier this month that the week-long closure to replace the bridge deck had not yet been booked in, meaning the earliest it could reopen was June 2026.
Network Rail has blamed two major obstacles for the delay: a Victorian brick arch underground, which was “three times larger in size than historical records showed, and more critical to the flood defence system than expected”, and the proximity of sewerage to the water main, which meant it wasn’t possible to work on both at the same time as initially planned.
Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran said she was glad a date had been announced, but was unimpressed by Network Rail’s progress.
“Network Rail have demonstrated utterly shambolic project management from start to finish on this project, and I share residents’ outrage at this latest development. Our community has lost all faith in Network Rail to deliver this project full stop. It is now vital that Network Rail stick to this timetable and deliver on time. The road has been closed for nearly two years already, with another 18 months looming. Even a day longer is utterly unacceptable.
“Network Rail have asked our community to live with enormous levels of disruption and I am unconvinced they have done everything possible to support residents through this period. As we embark on another year and a half of disruption, I will be pressing them to properly listen to residents and deliver the mitigation measures that so many have been asking for, along with delivering on financial help for businesses who have been so badly affected. While I am glad that we have August 2026 in the diary as a date for re-opening, I will be watching closely to make sure they stick to it.”
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds said: “The Botley Road closure has affected residents across the whole of Oxford – and beyond. Whether it’s busier roads, bus journeys getting cut short, or cyclists and pedestrians struggling to squeeze through what has been dubbed the ‘tunnel of doom’, we need to get things moving again.”
City council leader Susan Brown agreed: “I welcome Lord Hendy’s active involvement in driving things towards a resolution and his willingness to come to Oxford today to meet and hear from the people most affected. I was able today to raise again the many justified complaints that local people have. The redevelopment of Oxford Station is essential and will bring real long-term benefits to the city – without it, proposals to reopen the Cowley Branch Line to passengers or increase the capacity on East-West rail services will not be feasible.”
Personal stories from local residents have been summarised in a booklet entitled ‘Network Hell’.
This week’s top stories
With 100 days to go until the County Council elections in May, we took a look at what would happen in Oxford if the votes cast in city elections were applied to the new electoral districts.
Read the full story here. Every vote – and every leaflet delivery – will count.
Labour has called for the upcoming Oxford traffic filters to be “halted”. Its local leader Liz Brighouse said “Oxford residents are united in recognising that traffic is a major problem. But debates on what to do about it have turned neighbours against one another.”
Labour also says there needs to be “continued conversations on the future of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods… In the first instance, that means removing the Crowell Road LTN”. The party suggests that “the County Council needs to speed up re-opening the Cowley and Witney railway lines to passengers”.
Campaign group Coalition for Healthy Streets & Active Travel responded that it is “disappointed”: “Labour threatens another 5 to 10 years of uncertainty and traffic jams… no one has any other credible plan to rescue Oxford from its traffic chaos. You can’t reduce traffic jams without reducing traffic.” Oxford’s cycling campaign Cyclox responded similarly, saying it is “disappointed that the Labour group is apparently no longer supporting traffic filters. We believe a solution to Oxford's traffic issues that offers safe and sustainable travel to all is urgently needed: it's up to opponents of filters to put forward viable alternatives.”
As our report above suggests, Labour is at risk of dropping from 11 seats in Oxford to 5 at the upcoming election – losing seats to the anti-LTN Independent Oxford Alliance on one side and the Greens on the other. The IOA, meanwhile, said “Sorry Liz, but you’re years too late.”
Since the statement was published, Labour’s previously announced Cowley candidate for May’s elections has withdrawn. Incumbent councillor Charlie Hicks is not standing again. The party has asked interested members to apply by 6pm today (Friday).
The Oxpens development has been approved by Oxford City Council. The council’s planning committee voted in favour of the scheme which includes lab space/offices, a hotel, 230 apartments and 260 student flats. Kevin Minns of developers Oxwed called it “arguably the most important development site in Oxford”. The site is between Oxpens Road and the River Thames.
Cllr Lizzy Diggins (Lab) said “the amazing potential it will bring to this corner of Oxford is really exciting”. Cllr Laurence Fouweather (LibDem), however, said “I’m concerned that we’re possibly loading the city centre’s roads with another 4,000 jobs, rather than houses.” Cllr Lois Muddiman (Green) spoke against the development, saying “There are seven times more new jobs than the housing on site can accommodate – why is housing not our first priority?”, and criticising “boring, bland, blocky architecture like the Westgate – this is the centre of Oxford, we should do better”.
The Environment Agency recommended refusal on the basis that Oxford Sewage Treatment Works is at capacity. The committee instead agreed a condition stating “no occupation of any part of the development until we’ve dealt with the issue about waste water capacity”. The committee was told that although the tall buildings (20-27m, compared to the usual 15-18m) would result in “some harm to the designated heritage assets, the public benefits and the efficient use of land outweigh the harm”.
Developers Oxwed are a joint venture between Nuffield College and Oxford City Council, though the council planning committee is independent. The plans were passed with 7 councillors in favour, 2 against and 1 abstention.
(Last year we wrote about the challenges of tall developments vs Oxford’s historic skyline, and about the controversial bridge being built at Oxpens.)
McDonalds has been refused permission to open until 3am in its intended new premises further up Cornmarket, the former Leon unit – even though its current premises are allowed to open that late. Oxford City Council says the new location is too close to residential areas to stay open until 3am. Council officers wrote:
“A 3am closure would generate a level of activity that would be considered harmful to residential amenity in an area of the City Centre which includes accommodation where people sleep, including residential flats, The Store hotel, and Jesus College student accommodation.”
The existing McDonalds is set to close as part of the Clarendon Centre redevelopment. The chain says it is a “trusted late-night dining choice” and provides “a structured, safe environment late into the night”.
(The Clarion can’t think of anything more guaranteed to result in an appeal than the world's biggest fast food chain, and concomitant lawyers, moving 100m up the road and being told it can't keep its current opening hours. But mostly we’re worried about where else we might get emergency fries at 2am while covering an election count in the Town Hall… possibly this May. We're not lovin’ it.)
Around the city
- The Eagle & Child restoration has taken a step forward with Oxford City Council giving planning permission for conservation works. Planners concluded the works were “clearly and convincingly justified” and spoke of “the public benefit of the preservation of the listed buildings”. This first application only covered building repairs; a second application will include remodelling the pub and bakery plus the new “scholars’ quarters”. We looked at the plans for the iconic pub in a long read here.
- Second-home owners in Oxford will have to pay double council tax from 1 April. The change will affect an estimated 668 dwellings. It was originally planned for April 2024 but the required one-year warnings could not be sent out until Government legislation was passed. Oxford City Council already charges double tax on houses that have been empty for more than a year. A partnership with homelessness charity Aspire Oxford aims to identify tenants for long-term empty homes and match them with property owners.
- Oxford residents are to get a kerbside recycling service for clothes, bedding and other textiles. Collections are free and must be booked online. A new textiles recycling bank will also be installed at Rose Hill Community Centre. The service goes live on 31 January. Oxford City Council says “Most of the clothing which is collected is processed and sold abroad. Good quality items which can be reused are sold to second-hand clothing traders in Ukraine.” Proceeds will go to Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
- A controlled parking zone (CPZ) for Lower Wolvercote has been deferred for further study pending effects of the Oxford North development and charges at Godstow car park, after a dozen people spoke against the scheme at a county council meeting on Thursday. Oxford North will have 480 new homes and a million square foot of labs/workspace. Cllr Gant said that officers had designed the Lower Wolvercote CPZ scheme with this in mind, but agreed that since Oxford North was still under construction any effects were not yet clear.
- A workshop took place on Saturday in Cowley to gather community input on artworks for Templars Square. The murals, painted by local artist Lisa Made It, will reflect what Cowley means to locals. Labour councillor Trish Elphinstone attended the event, saying: “It was good to see people from the local community getting involved with the Templars Square art project. Not only is it fun, it is an opportunity to express the kinds of shops residents want in the future. Cagney’s Cafe gave me my first taste of good coffee. It is important that residents get a say in the future of their shopping centre and get the right services they want.” Locals who were unable to attend can still take part by sharing their ideas by email or dropping them off at Templars Square.
- Oxford Mutual Aid is bidding for £1.7 million from the Lottery. The collective was set up during Covid to co-ordinate volunteer deliveries of food parcels, as part of the 'OX4 Food Crew' operating across the city. The funding bid is to open a social supermarket selling groceries sourced at low cost.
Around the county
- Oxfordshire County Council expects to hear “by the end of January” what the Government has decided on council reorganisation. In an online explainer it stressed that it had “significant concern” about the prospect of postponing elections, and that it was in detailed discussions with other councils in the Thames Valley – believed to be Buckinghamshire, the Berkshire councils, and Swindon. Oxford City Council put out a video instead, in which leader Susan Brown said “We will probably elect a mayor for the Thames Valley, but deciding exactly what that means is complicated.” She then went on to outline the dispute between city and county councils on reorganisation.
- Town council elections in West Oxfordshire saw three Conservative councillors and one Liberal Democrat elected to Carterton Town Council, and three independents in Woodstock. Both town councils suffered resignations in recent months after local controversies. Among the Carterton winners was Elaine Hatton, who won for the Conservatives in 2018 (unopposed) and 2019; signed a letter as a Green Party member and councillor in 2020; switched to the LibDems in 2021; then returned to the Conservatives for this election.
- 115 homes are proposed for the southern edge of North Leigh, between Witney and Hanborough. Developers Lioncourt call it “a sustainable village extension”. Other recent planning applications in the village, which has a population of 1,800, already add up to a further 113 homes. The development would include 26 2-bed dwellings and 78 3-bed, plus 11 larger homes. It would centre around the Grim’s Ditch ancient monument. The site is on the S7 bus route, but the traffic-free cycle path to Hanborough station currently has a gap past North Leigh village and narrow sections. Responses from villagers to the planning application have been uniformly negative; one commenter said “There has been more than enough housing development in North Leigh; it has grown 40% in six years. We would like the village to remain a village, not become a small town.” The outline planning application is currently with West Oxfordshire District Council for consideration.
- Oxfordshire County Council has announced a new flood risk management strategy. Measures include improving knowledge of flood hotspots; developing a local flood wardens’ pilot scheme; and liaising with parish councils to develop emergency plans. Deputy leader Cllr Dr Pete Sudbury said: “We need to try to get ahead of the game. We're moving away from sporadic floods to multiple sequential clusters of them. The next ratchet up is continuous flooding over an extended period. We need to pre-empt that, which is why this strategy is so important.” We explored flooding in Oxfordshire in a long read recently.
- A developer-funded car club is on the way for Thame as “an alternative to private car ownership”. Centred around the recent Wenman Rd development on the south of town, it will be allowed to use residents’ parking bays if county council plans are approved.
- Thames Water is looking for contractors to finance and build its proposed new Abingdon Reservoir. It has highlighted “two large scale future opportunities” for suppliers and investors. The reservoir is planned to be in operation by 2040.
- Residential roads in Didcot, south of the railway line, are to get 20mph limits. (Many roads north of the railway line are already 20mph.) Through roads including Station Road, Hitchcock Way, Foxhall Road, Park Rd and Wantage Road will remain at 30mph. Oxford Bus Company gave the plans “strong support”. Also at the Oxfordshire County Council transport meeting on Thursday, the central Didcot residents' permit parking scheme was approved, as was a permit and visitor parking scheme for Witney's Corn Street and Church Green, and 20mph limits for Beckley, East Challow, Eye & Dunsden, and Shenington with Alkerton.
- The proposed 20mph speed limit for Bicester has opened for consultation. The limit would cover residential areas of the town but not the arterial roads, which would remain 30mph. Banbury Road, Buckingham Road, Middleton Stoney Road, Bucknell Road, Banbury Road, London Road and Launton Road would be among those remaining at 30mph. Oxfordshire County Council is inviting comments with a deadline of 14 February. The 20mph programme is drawing to a close, with only one other settlement of any size (Carterton) still to be decided.
University and research
- As we went to press, the Radcliffe Camera has been occupied by activists from Oxford Action for Palestine. They issued this statement: “At 9 o’clock this morning, members of Oxford Action for Palestine established the Khalida Jarrar Library, beginning the occupation of the Radcliffe Camera. We will end the occupation only when the University publicly agrees to meet all of OA4P’s demands within a defined timeframe. We continue to stand in solidarity and unequivocally call for a free Palestine.”
- William Hague will be installed as Chancellor of the University of Oxford on 19 February at a meeting of Convocation in the Sheldonian Theatre. Alumni and members of Congregation have been invited to apply for a ticket although numbers are limited.
- MP and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has joined Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government as a member of the World Leaders Circle and a Distinguished Fellow. The World Leaders Circle is a global network of former heads of government. It was created as a forum to exchange ideas and foster international collaboration among leaders on topics such as digital transformation, climate change and global security, to promote more effective governments worldwide. Mr Sunak commented: "I’m delighted to be joining the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford and the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Both Blavatnik and Hoover do superb work on how we can rise to the economic and security challenges we face and seize the technological opportunities of our time."
Trains and buses
- A new ‘orbital’ bus service starts next month, linking Redbridge Park & Ride, Oxford Science Park, Littlemore, Cowley, the JR, and Thornhill P&R, without the need to go via the city centre. The Stagecoach-operated 600 will run half-hourly, dropping down to hourly in the evening and on Sundays. At the same time, Witney will get new express buses to Oxford in the early morning and late evening. The new S2 journeys will take around 35 minutes from Witney Market Square to Magdalen Street. Both this and the 600 are due to start operation in late February.
- Oxford’s half-hourly train service to Banbury and Birmingham will still not be restored at the May timetable change. CrossCountry are reinstating the 0914, 1112 and 2109 departures, but there will still be hour-long gaps for much of the afternoon and evening. Before Covid the service was half-hourly from 0630 to 2130, with 32 northbound departures each weekday compared to 21 at present and 24 from May. CrossCountry is currently expected to be the last train operator to be nationalised.
Walking and cycling
- Work has started on installing 70 new bike racks across Oxford. The ‘Sheffield stands’ will be installed on Broad Street (5), Ship Street (6), Queen’s Lane (21), South Parade (12), Brasenose Lane (16), Leopold Street (7) and Observatory Street (3). Oxford City Council obtained developer funding for the racks.
- A fence between Flower Lane and Howard Street in East Oxford will be removed to make walking and cycling easier, following a second consultation. A new raised pedestrian crossing will be put in place across Howard Street.
Oxfordshire politics
Each week we round up the constituency activities of Oxfordshire's MPs, with the usual caveat that not everything they do makes it to their social feed, and casework rarely hits the headlines, but it gives a flavour of their efforts. If you're as geeky as us, you can hit the links for the recordings of the speeches and play the fun game of “can you spot any other Oxfordshire MPs in the chamber?”. There's quite a few this week…
- Banbury’s Sean Woodcock spoke in Parliament about access to public services in rural areas, highlighting the resilience and inventiveness of his constituents: you can see the full speech here. He celebrated Labour's plans to crackdown on public sector and welfare fraud, welcomed the announcement of an Armed Forces Commissioner, and shared details of investment in homelessness. Along with 30 other MPs he wrote to FirstPort Properties to follow up on demands to improve administration of properties they manage. He was out and about in Grimsbury and Hardwick with councillors looking at potholes. Finally, he signed the Holocaust Memorial Trust's Book of Commitment, saying “Holocaust Memorial Day this year marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. The day presents an important opportunity for people to reflect on the darkest times of European history. I pledge to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust and speak out against all forms of antisemitism, which in recent months has risen exponentially and which needs to be tackled head on.”
- Layla Moran in Oxford West & Abingdon is looking to hire a new parliamentary assistant, while in Oxfordshire this week she’s been on the case of the Botley Road closure.
- Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds has also been lobbying for Botley Road to be reopened. Her socials indicate a focus on front bench work this week, but she was spotted in Cambridge. She highlighted the government announcement to triple emergency homeless funding.
- Olly Glover, for Didcot & Wantage, spoke in Parliament about the need to increase SEND funding. His full speech is here. He supported action on re-using electronic devices, spoke in Parliament on council funding gaps, asked the minister about epilepsy, Parkinsons and ADHD drug shortages . He spoke in favour of rooftop solar power in the Sunshine bill, and finally went canvassing and ate pizza in Wallingford.
- Calum Miller for Bicester & Woodstock reminded people to complete the East West Rail consultation for Bicester’s London Road crossing and visited the signal room at Marylebone station. He met the Ladies captain for the UK squad at the Invictus Games, visited local care providers and celebrated a local poetry book launch. He spoke in the Sunshine Bill debate about residents’ concerns with the scale of the proposed Botley West solar farm, advocating rooftop solar as an alternative.
- Henley & Thame's Freddie van Mierlo condemned the government decision to delay a new hospital for his constituents, saying the repair bill of the legacy Royal Berkshire Hospital would grow to £400m over the next decade. He signed the Holocaust Educational Trust's Book of Commitment. He had a crowd of people canvassing in Watlington, celebrated 20mph speed limits and became a dementia research champion for Alzheimers UK.
- Witney’s Charlie Maynard celebrated a community owned pub (might need a Clarion editorial meeting there), talked to the BBC about retail giant Shein, became vice chair of the APPG on Less Survivable Cancers, went canvassing in Standlake (there's a very nice video and another pub recommendation), and spoke out against Thames Water. Again. And the Environment Agency.
Dates for your diary
- Oxford Pipe Bridge re-opening party. Midday, 1 February, Featuring cake and, we are reliably informed, a piper.
- Huh, that's funny; a night where science and comedy collide. 30 January, Lynrace Spirit, Jericho. Chris Lintott (BBC Sky at Night) and Liz Johnson (animal scientist and comedian) plus smart comedians, funny scientists and the just plain curious, this will make you laugh... and then think.
- Property Development in Oxford with Oxford Civic Society. 6pm, 30 January, at Rewley House. Kevin Minns, managing director of Minns Estates and of Oxwed (the joint venture developing the Oxpens site), will look at the challenges of developing property in Oxford, with its history, protected views, greenbelt and limited availability of land. (More on this in our Housing Week series.)
- Igor Grohotsky, 8 February, North Wall. Dynamo Kyiv footballer turned singer-songwriter comes to Oxford: “masterful guitar skills and a genuine soul”.
This weekend
- Missing Christmas already? Frideswide Voices, Christ Church Cathedral’s girls’ choir, is singing Benjamin Britten’s glorious A Ceremony of Carols tonight (Friday) at 6.05pm in the cathedral.
- Comic Club at the Story Museum is tomorrow morning (Saturday) and every month – an opportunity for 8-10 year olds to draw comics with the Phoenix’s Neill Cameron. Are you Team Bagel or Team Donut?
- French organ wunderkind Lucile Dollat is giving a rare recital at Exeter College Chapel tomorrow (Saturday), with Debussy, Fauré and Rachmaninov linked by her own improvisations.
Oxford’s independent media
- Cherwell talks to Mark Goldring, outgoing CEO of Asylum Welcome, about the 2024 demonstrations.
- The Oxford Sausage tells macabre tales of where notable people have left their hearts buried across Oxford, for the love of the city.
- Headington Liveable Streets commissioned an artists’ impression of a Dutch-style roundabout in Headington.
- Ox in a Box has been to Witney to check out a new café and the Dirty Bros burger bar.
- Daily Info reviews the Chinese New Year Festival Show at the Playhouse. Featuring “umbrella foot juggling”.
- The Bodleian Library shows you how to spot a poisonous book. On TikTok.
Reading the thoughtful, erudite and sometimes mischievous writings of Oxford’s authors is one of the highlights of our week. If there’s a source we’re missing, let us know…
Notes from Clarion HQ
…and then, at the less thoughtful end of the scale, there’s the Oxford Mail’s headline this week: “How can cycling in Oxford be made safer? Mail readers suggest ‘banning cycling’.” We’re not going to link to it because, well, it doesn’t deserve the clicks.
So much news in one week, and fewer than 100 days to go until the May elections. Sometimes you just need a picture of a cat to calm things down. See you next week.