Key footbridge set to remain shut until spring

A footbridge connecting a residential area with a primary school may not reopen until spring after it was closed over safety concerns.

Oxfordshire County Council shut the narrow Swan Street footbridge, which connects Osney Island with Ferry Hinksey Road in Oxford, last month.

The local authority said its inspectors had "identified safety concerns with the structure", initially telling residents that it could be closed for up to four years before adjusting that time frame to spring 2027.

The bridge is widely used by children and parents at West Oxford Primary School, with local resident Simon Collings saying "a fair bit of frustration built up" regarding the closure.

"The initial response was one of shock and anger, because the communication about it [the closure] was very inadequate," he said.

"People just discovered a barrier and a notice up saying it was closed for safety reasons."

The footbridge was first closed on 23 September, following an inspection by council officers that deemed the structure "unsafe".

It has since been replaced by a diversion route through West Street, Botley Road and then Ferry Hinksey Road - adding roughly 10 minutes to journeys and forcing primary school age children to walk along one of Oxford's busiest roads.

Following the initial "frustration" over the closure, Collings said he and other residents had a "good meeting" with council engineers earlier this week.

"We talked to them about it and asked how can we get a solution to this as quickly as possible," he said.

"We arrived at a position where they believe that they can get a new bridge in place, which will be similar to what we've got currently, by spring of next year.

"That's a lot faster than we were being previously told."

The council said its inspectors had decided to close the bridge "as quickly and as practically for the safety of the public".

It added that a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order had been lodged for the expiry length of 18 months, but that it "hoped to be able to replace the footbridge well before then".