Traffic concerns mounting over scheme to link up heating of JR and Churchill hospitals

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is carrying out the 18-month scheme - called 'The Hospital Energy Project' - to meet growing demand for heating and hot water, as well as to reduce its reliance on the national power grid during the winter.

But the work requires new pipes to be laid between the two sites and nearby residents say they are concerned about disruption to parking and traffic.

The trust said it would release further details next week. 

A report to its board in September said: "The Trust has commenced an 18-month £14.8 million project to upgrade the heating and hot water systems that supply the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals.

"The project is critical to ensure that energy systems at both hospitals are flexible enough to meet future growing demands for heating and hot water as hospital patient numbers increase, and facilities expand and improve.

"The new energy systems will offer both hospitals better resilience and less reliance on the national power grid in the high demand months of winter, reduce energy costs as well as reduce carbon emissions from both sites, while providing the ability to meet future environmental compliances."

In a post on his TonyOX3 website this morning, Headington blogger Tony Turton claimed "the lower end of Sandfield Road is already an obstacle course used by residents, rat-runners avoiding the Headley Way traffic lights and people going to Beech Road, the Manor Hospital and the Beech Road flats".

And he warned that the corner of Latimer and London roads could be "a building site" at the same time pipes could be laid there.

Mr Turton added: "The trouble is no-one knows. I expect these issues can be resolved, but while the trust remains silent rumours will circulate and anxiety will grow.

"An announcement has apparently been promised, and possibly some kind of exhibition, but why this didn't happen two months ago is a mystery."