Angry residents reveal lives blighted by Botley Road closure

The testimonies feature in a new booklet called Network Hell! which is published today which is calling for a fresh timetable for the reopening of the road. Published and edited by Julian Le Vay, the 38-page booklet is intended to put pressure on Network Rail and the Department for Transport. Network Hell! is calling for the road to be reopened "soon", for local businesses to receive compensation from the government, for improved bus services and walking routes, and an independent inquiry.

READ MORE: Landlords devastated as insects are found in pub [1] Among those featured in the document are Neil and Ruth Cameron, from Botley, who are in their 80s. They said in a joint statement: "This has had a disastrous effect on our quality of life.

"It has become impossible to maintain many of the activities we enjoyed formerly, and rendered those we can continue difficult at best, making 'pleasure' unpleasant." Julian Le Vay (Image: Andy Ffrench) There have been repeated delays with the GBP161m scheme to improve the rail station, which led to the closure of the key city route at the rail bridge in April 2023. In July, Network Rail said a series of delays with the scheme meant they would not be able to reopen Botley Road as planned in October.

The rail company then said a review of the entire project would be conducted in conjunction with contractors Kier and the Department for Transport. Now rail minister Lord Hendy has told Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran in a meeting that he will visit the city in January to provide an update on the work schedule. The MP is expected to give the minister a copy of Network Hell!

Oxford Cut In Two; Our Community Blighted. Pensioner Mr Le Vay, a former finance director of the Prison Service, lives off Botley Road and set up pressure group West Oxford Access to monitor Network Rail's progress on the project to upgrade Oxford rail station. He said: "When people heard in July last year the road was not going to reopen in October they felt utterly depressed.

"It's powerful when ordinary people speak of the effect the road closure is having on them - it has blighted their lives. "This booklet is giving people who feel powerless a voice and will keep the pressure on Network Rail to stick to any new work timetable that is announced." Catherine Byrne, of Mill Street, said the pedestrian walkway leading from Botley Road into Frideswide Square - known locally as 'the tunnel of doom - was "a horrible experience".

Catherine Byrne (Image: Julian Le Vay) She added: "Night working has been nearly unbearable. Rhythmic pounding followed by high-pitched drilling between 9pm and 3am. "Mill Street has become a turning area for drivers who are lost, and a short stay car park for private cars and taxis.

"It's a horrible place to live at the moment and most distressing of all, there's no foreseeable end to it." Rosemary Preston, 80, also of Mill Street, said residents had become guides to drivers trying to get back on the A34. Rosemary Preston (Image: Julian Le Vay) She added: "Residents parking spaces are taken, houses and cars are damaged, sometimes seriously."

Mike Magee, of Mill Street, who is disabled, has had to change his GP in Jericho as a GBP14 return taxi fare now costs GBP40. "I have had to go to the John Radcliffe Hospital several times in the past 15 months. That's a round fare of about GBP50," he added.

Mike Magee (Image: Julian Le Vay) Businesses also reveal how they have been adversely affected by the road closure. Pickle & Lime delicatessen in Botley Road, run by Joe Devlin and Theresa O'Rourke, shut in September, The family had been serving customers for about 40 years. Mr Devlin told Network Hell!: "The business suffered from the very first day.

We lost our customers from Summertown and Jericho, people who just stopped coming." Mr Le Vay will give Network Rail a copy of the booklet today. A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We understand how frustrating this delay is to local businesses and residents and understand their concerns.

"We know how important Botley Road is to Oxford and apologise for the ongoing inconvenience. We are working out the best way forward and will continue to engage with the local community as our plans develop. "We regularly communicate with businesses, as well as with residents and stakeholders, and welcome any feedback on the project."

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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. [3] 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

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