Oxford Grandpont bridge report says new one not necessary

A Freedom of Information request revealed an official report commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council in 2016 concludes a bridge two minutes away would be a viable alternative and cost one twentieth of the price to refurbish.

Oxford city councillors made the decision at a 'special' planning review meeting last week to allow for construction of the new Oxpens River Bridge which will link Osney Mead to Oxpens, the site of a new Oxford quarter.

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This was despite councillor Amar Latif describing the proposed bridge as a "concrete monstrosity" and objectors raising concerns it would "trash" the local habitat.

'Concrete monstrosity'. (Image: Oxford City Council)

A spokesman for the Friends of Grandpont Nature Park group said: "The Labour-led City Council continue to claim that a new £10million bridge between Grandpont Nature Park and Oxpens Meadow is essential, despite the existence of a bridge already linking the two areas less than two minute walk from the site of the proposed new one.

"When Councillors have asked planning officers about the existing bridge, they have been repeatedly told that refurbishing the bridge is not viable, without a scrap of evidence being provided.

"The existence of an alternative, more sustainable and cost effective option, puts the council’s pursuit of the new bridge in breach of the law.

"And the fact that this report was hidden from councillors tasked with scrutinising proposals for the bridge, and given a false picture of its conclusions, invalidates the decisions made at those committees, which were taken on the basis of misleading information."

Protesters formed a human chain around trees for the chop. (Image: Contribution.)

The report in question was prepared for the county council, who is responsible for transport management, by an independent contractor to "inform on potential costs, practicalities, benefits and disbenefits for improving the existing Gasworks rail bridge".

It says: "The proposed improvements offer a lower cost option to a new foot/cycle bridge crossing the Thames South of the new Oxpens West End development site."

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said: "The report is over seven years old. 

"It could, for example, be anticipated that the proposals may have significant planning and flood related challenges. The report proposals also do not necessarily reflect latest design standards."

For the chop. (Image: Contribution.)

An Oxford City Council spokesman added: "In the light of concerns that have been raised more recently an informal review of the options was undertaken and concluded that the options identified would not reach current recommended standards for cycling, do not take account of increased flood risk, the impact on the properties or Oxpens Meadow adjacent or deliver the potential capacity of the proposed bridge."