‘Keep Botley Road for the people’: Anger as Network Rail dodges key questions

The Oxford Mail asked for answers more than a month ago on a series of major issues using the Freedom of Information Act, including when the rail scheme will be completed, and how much the project is over-budget. But the rail infrastructure company has chosen not to provide any new information having extended the initial request beyond the 28 days which the Act states. READ MORE: Network Rail updates timetable on Botley Road [1]

Jericho resident John Mair, who has been calling for clarity from Network Rail on when Botley Road will reopen at the rail bridge, said: “This is utterly disgraceful – a public body holding a city to ransom, refusing to answer legitimate public questions. “Do they know what they are doing? If not the Department for Transport should shut down the project without delay.”

(Image: Oxford Mail) Mr Mair added that proper answers from Network Rail are unlikely to emerge until after the new Chancellor’s budget at the end of the month. “Maybe they have to wait until Rachel Reeves’ budget to know whether they have the funds to continue with this farce,” said Mr Mair. “Perhaps they might just call it quits and return the Botley Road to the people.”

Botley Road has been closed at the rail bridge since April last year as as result of the ambitious scheme to revamp the station, which involves building a new platform and replacing the rail bridge. In July, Network Rail said Botley Road would no longer be reopening at the end of this month as promised because the scheme has overrun, and there is an overspend on the budget. Now a review, involving Network Rail, contractors Kier, and the Department for Transport is under way.

The county [2] council, the highways authority, says it is not involved in the review. (Image: Oxford Mail) It is understood that a series of options are being considered – including postponing the project. When new Thames Water sewer work started between Abbey Road and Mill Street at the beginning of the month, Network Rail said it would be in a better position to give an update in two months’ time, when this was completed.

The Oxford Mail submitted a Freedom of Information request to the rail infrastructure company in August to try to get some answers. Network Rail has now responded, but has not provided any new information. We asked:

*Please can Network Rail inform us of the estimated completion date for the scheme now it has overrun? *When is the ongoing review likely to be completed? *What is the projected overspend for the project?

*Does the projected overspend exceed GBP100m or not? *How does Network Rail/the Department for Transport plan to pay for the overspend? *Is there a possibility that the project, for the time being, could be completely abandoned so that Botley Road can be reopened at the rail bridge?

*Has Network Rail paid any compensation to traders in the area for their claimed loss of income? (Image: Oxford Mail) Regarding a completion date – and the reopening of Botley Road – Network Rail said: “We do not hold this information as there is a complex network of pipes and cables under Botley Road, and 11 utility providers need to move them for the bridge work. The project is being re-baselined.”

On completing the review, it said: “We do not hold this information as we are awaiting further input from the third parties involved.” And when questioned about the overspend, it gave an identical response to the question regarding the completion date. On the issue of compensation for traders, Network Rail said: “We do not hold any records showing that compensation has been paid to traders and our position is that we are not responsible for compensating businesses for loss of trade resulting from disruption of this type.”

Businesses in the area have spoken out about how the Botley Road closure has affected them. Pickle & Lime greengrocers in Botley Road has closed, and Amanda Suliman-Bell, who runs Rainbow & Spoon boutique, said footfall has fallen 90 per cent since a walkway in Frideswide Square was rerouted. City councillor for Osney and St Thomas Susanna Pressel said: “It seems that the law says Network Rail only has to give us information that they hold in their records.

“The businesses and the users of Botley Road are, of course, in despair. They are experiencing enormous inconvenience, and with no end in sight. “The extra work now being conducted by Thames Water near The One restaurant is making things even more difficult and dangerous for all road users.

“I’m really worried that there will be an accident, because of the confusing and tiresome new diversions, parking restrictions and traffic lights.” A Thames Water spokesperson: “We are acutely aware of the urgency of the project and continue to work closely with Network Rail and their contractor Kier to deliver the works as efficiently as possible.” Network Rail said it had no further comment at this time, “in line with its most recent statement.”

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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. [4] He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire. His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning.

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.

References

^ READ MORE: Network Rail updates timetable on Botley Road (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ county (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
^ can sign up to his newsletters for free here. (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)