THE reopening of a popular footbridge has been spoiled by plans for a probation centre, West Oxford residents have claimed.

It has emerged Network Rail now plans to open the new £1m footbridge in Osney Lane later this month – four weeks earlier than expected.

The bridge served as a quick cut-through into the city centre and has been closed for almost two years.

However, residents are upset the majority of criminals visiting a proposed new probation centre in Mill Street could use the new bridge.

The centre could bring up to 350 criminals – including sex offenders and those with convictions for violence – to the street each week.

Mill Street resident Tina Lees, 29, said: “The bridge was used for trainspotting and families having a quick way into and out of town, but this is really going to change the feel of the bridge.

“A lot of residents won’t take their children up there to look at the trains going past if this is where probationers are being told to go.”

Mill Street resident Susan Dellow, 52, a mother of one, said: “I was all for the bridge going up before we heard about the probation centre.

“I think it’s been finished quickly because the centre is coming. If the probation centre comes, I won’t go over the bridge on my own or go over it at night.

“You don’t know who might be using the bridge in future.”

Father-of-two Dan Rawstorne, 34, from Mill Street, said: “There’s very much a bittersweet feeling about it because it’s been closed for two years and from an access point of view we’re pleased to see it reopening. But it appears it’s being reopened to facilitate the introduction of this mega probation centre.”

The new bridge will be re-opened on Friday, May 15, after the new structure was lifted into place two weeks ago.

Network Rail denied the project was finished quickly to help with plans for the centre.

Thames Valley Probation’s chief officer Gerry Marshall said: “We issue instructions to every offender attending an appointment at any of our offices, giving a map and written details of travel routes on foot, by public transport and by car to make sure they attend their appointments on time.

“If we do move to Trajan House, we would probably expect the majority of offenders coming from the centre of Oxford or from the train station to use the footbridge.

“But nothing is decided and this is exactly the sort of detail we have always intended to consult local residents on before making any decisions.”

Network Rail spokesman Russell Spink said: “Fast-tracking this important piece of work is good news for local people as the bridge should now be opened more than a month earlier than planned.

“It isn’t true at all that we’ve brought this work forward because of the probation centre. We didn’t even know there was going to be one anywhere near the footbridge.”