Greens push for legal action over Botley Road closure

A group of Green councillors are calling for Oxford City Council to consider taking legal action over Network Rail's "mismanagement" of the Botley Road closure.

They have submitted a motion to be considered at a full council meeting taking place later today.

If agreed, the council would examine possible avenues into legal action against the rail company for the management of the Oxford Station project, call for a public inquiry and press for a deliverable completion timeline for the project.

On Friday, Network Rail announced the key road would reopen in August 2026.

Botley Road has been closed since April 2023, with residents expressing frustration and businesses reporting financial losses as a result.

The project was due to be completed in October 2024 but has been repeatedly pushed back.

Councillor Lois Muddiman, who submitted the motion, said it was "abundantly clear" the company "completely underestimated" the scale of the project.

"...the City Council should explore whether there is potential legal action that could be taken against Network Rail and call for a public inquiry into the failings of the project," she added.

Ms Muddiman, who represents the ward in which Botley Road falls, said the residents deserve "nothing less".

Oxfordshire County Council has also said it will be assessing the impact of the new timeline on its own schemes in and around Oxford, including the six trial traffic filters.

On Friday, Network Rail's Western route managing director Marcus Jones said he was "sorry" for the disruption caused to residents, communities and businesses.

The company insisted the new timeline would deliver "the necessary utility diversions", along with enhancements to Botley Road, the replacement of Sheepwash bridge to accommodate more rail services and the new platform five.

It has also promised "a much-improved walkway - almost 4x the size of the old one" to open in the summer for "much more space to get into and out of the city".

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