RESIDENTS in Headington are bracing themselves for traffic chaos as a month of roadworks began this week.

Oxfordshire County Council has closed a section of Old Road while it improves cycle and pedestrian access.

The work started yesterday and all traffic, including Buses, is being diverted for four weeks.

But residents fear the diversion route – along Margaret Road and York Road – will create havoc outside Windmill Primary School.

County councillor Roz Smith, who lives in Headington, stepped in yesterday morning to help direct traffic outside the school.

She said with extra cars and buses trying to get round the corner, the situation had been chaos.

She added: “It’s a worry about school safety.”

Old Road will be closed to traffic from the Windmill Road junction to York Road.

It comes as separate work is already being carried out on the traffic lights at the Windmill Road junction.

Mrs Smith said: “Traffic was backed up 50 cars or more the other day, just trying to get past the junction of Windmill Road and Old Road.

“It’s the main route to Oxford Brookes, the John Radcliffe and Cheney School.”

The bus route being diverted is the Stagecoach 10, which at peak times runs every 10 minutes in both directions.

Mrs Smith said: “I don’t understand why they didn’t do all this work during the summer holidays. I’m not saying the work didn’t need to be done but the staging and consultation was dire.”

The work forms part of the council’s New Headington Transport Improvements scheme which aims to improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians, to encourage people to ditch their cars.

The scheme, which will cost about £450,000, includes work taking place on The Slade and Windmill Road, the junction refurbishment at Windmill Road/The Slade/Old Road, the signal-controlled crossing in Horspath Driftway, and footpath improvements adjacent to the Eastern Bypass.

Elaine Bellenger from Monaco clothing shop in Old High Street, said: “The road will be gridlocked.

“It’s going to cause very very bad congestion – it’ll just be a nightmare.”

County council spokesman Gemma Watts said: “The work includes new cycle lanes in Old Road and The Slade and upgrades to walkways at nearby crossings and junctions.

She added: “We often schedule work to coincide with the school holidays, but no highways authority could carry out all their roadworks during this time.”

Windmill headteacher Lynn Knapp said yesterday: “We sent out an alert to parents about this last week telling them to be more careful.

“Having the traffic diverted down Margaret Road created a huge increase this morning.

“And that impacts on the safety of children walking to school, especially the ones who walk alone.

“Parents need to know they can’t park on the corner and drivers need to be aware there is a school on this road.

“Buses swinging round corners will cause big problems.”