SCHOOL playground expansion plans have been delayed by a row about a railway bridge.

St Philip and St James’ CofE School, in Navigation Way, North Oxford, wants to increase the size of its playing area southwards, but needs land currently used as a path to a level crossing and the Trap Grounds Allotments.

The expansion proposals are included in a planning bid by Network Rail to close the level crossing and replace a railway bridge near Aristotle Lane.

Oxford City Council had aimed to make a decision by Monday, but significant opposition has delayed it, meaning a decision will not be taken at least until next month.

City councillor Elizabeth Wade said there was frustration among parents and teachers, adding: “The work needs to go ahead because the area for the children to play in is not big enough.”

Oxfordshire County Council, which runs the school, said playground expansion could not progress until Network Rail’s bid was approved.

Spokesman Dominic Llewellyn-Jones said: “Network Rail’s scheme fundamentally impacts upon the land and boundaries of the site available for the school’s scheme.

“We are continuing to work with interested parties towards a resolution as quickly as possible.”

Network Rail’s application to the city council involves closing a level crossing to the Trap Grounds and moving a small car park further south.

But allotments plot owners have said closing the level crossing would make it more difficult to transport gardening equipment over the railway.

And the Oxford Waterside Residents’ Association has raised concerns that the bridge could become atract skateboarders and that the new path to the bridge – half a metre taller – would affect privacy.

Its chairman Stuart Skyte told the city council: “The two-metre wall between the path and houses will no longer be sufficient to guarantee security and privacy.

“We would like to raise the height of the wall...at the expense of Network Rail. Were the [ramp] to be constructed of super-smooth Tarmac, it would become a Mecca for skateboarders.”

Natural England and the Environment Agency (EA) have also objected to the plans, over flood risk and a lack of information about the impact on Port Meadow.

EA planning adviser Jack Moeran said that no flood risk assessment and no assessment of “the risks to nature conservation” were provided.

He added: “We will maintain our objection until the applicant has supplied information to demonstrate risks posed by the development can be avoided”.

Yesterday Network Rail spokeswoman Victoria Bradley said: “We liaised closely with local residents and believe we have produced a design that minimises its visual impact.

“We have also undertaken extensive studies to address the issues raised about the potential environmental impact of the new footbridge.”

Ms Bradley said the firm expects its bid to be considered by the city council in October.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704.Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.