A 2.2KM pipeline through the heart of Headington will cause six months of "complete gridlock", residents have warned after contractors revealed the work will start in November.

Vital Energi who have been contracted to build a heat and energy pipeline connecting the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals announced on Thursday that work will start on November 18, just one month after a separate £12.5m infrastructure overhaul begins.

The firm told residents at a public meeting on Thursday night that because of the simultaneous Access to Headington project the works for the heat and energy link will now take 19 weeks instead of just 17.

Residents warned representatives from the company that the works will clog up the city’s roads and cause chaos for anyone who lives, works and studies in the area.

Liz Brighouse, county councillor for Churchill & Lye Valley, said: "This is going to be complete gridlock on this whole area."

Fellow councillor Roz Smith said: "We are going to have disruption, there is no doubt about that."

Vital Energi said it would try to limit disruption as much as possible.

Addressing concerns that car parking spaces will be lost, community and stakeholder liaison at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust Jo Lennon said that both the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals would create temporary car parks and the city council was offering 25 extra visitor parking spaces for residents.

City councillor for Headington Ruth Wilkinson said after the meeting: "Headington is paying the price for its economic success.

"It's a big growth area of the City in terms of employment but people with jobs there can't afford to live there."

She added that with so many projects between now and spring 2018 happening at the same time "it is going to be a stressful two years for anyone who lives, works or studies in the area."

The entire pipeline project will last 19 weeks with various stretches of road dug up by three teams and houses blocked and parking space restricted for up to three weeks at a time.

The first works will involve the construction of temporary car parks on November 7 at the hospitals for affected residents.

The car parks will have an access code which only residents can use. Work will then begin on select sections of the road from November 18.

Work will temporarily be halted over Christmas with contractors stopping from December 19 until January 2.

All work will be completed by March 2017 for the project which will is designed to save the NHS money through energy efficiency and cut down on harmful C02 emissions.

BLOB

MOTORISTS and residents who will be affected by the construction of the 2.2km hospital pipeline can now apply for extra parking permits.

Oxfordshire County Council has issued 25 visitor permits ahead of the works which will dig up roads for 19 weeks and block entrances to some homes and parking spaces.

Residents affected by the work and who live at Sandfield Road – between Woodlands Road and London Road junction – Latimer Road, All Saints Road and Lime Walk – between All Saints Road junction and Old Road junction – can apply online at oxfordshire.gov.uk. for the permits.