RESIDENTS have accused hospital chiefs of keeping them in the dark over plans which could mean 18 months of disruption on Headington’s roads.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust wants to install underground heating pipes – called The Hospital Energy Project – to meet growing demand for heating and hot water at the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals, as well as to reduce its reliance on the National Grid during the winter.

But those living in the area said they’ve only recently found out about the £14.8m project and haven’t been able to get any more information.

Headington and Quarry councillor Roz Smith said she only discovered the plan after it was raised at a Headington Focus group meeting.

She said: “In theory the plan is a great one because it was a Government bid to improve energy and to be more environmentally friendly.

“The problem, however, is the NHS Trust has left us all in the dark.

“It’s just as much a surprise for me as anyone else.”

Councillor Smith said she feared the roadworks would cause problems for people coming from all over the country to visit the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals.

Francis Gillett, retired, from Headington, said that he thought the plans seemed “expensive and eccentric”.

He said: “It seems ludicrous that they would spend so much money on a secret plan which will no doubt cost more money than they’ll save by having an energy-efficient heating system.

“They need to tell people what’s going on and not ruin any more roads.”

Patrick Coulter, chairman of Headington Action, said they should have been told before the plans were finalised. He said they were worried about how the work would affect the parking in the area and added: “It’s odd that they kept it a secret. We want to meet with them so we can work together.”

The project was discussed by Oxford City Council members in May this year when a report was submitted in which the council was asking for permission to do the work on the link between the two hospitals.

Yesterday, the authority said it didn’t win the contract but it was unclear which firm did.

OUH NHS Foundation said it intended to release the full plans and more information on Monday with senior communications manager for the trust, Francine Rodrigues, saying people in Headington have “no reason to be concerned”.

She said: “The project will not affect everyone in Headington at any one time. Instead, the work to the roads will be happening in small sections of about 30 metres so one person could be affected next January and and others in the following January. It’s not going to be a big disruption to everyone in one go.”

Asked why the public was not informed of the plans, Ms Rodrigues said the trust did not want to “jump the gun”.

She said: “The reason we did not inform residents about the planned work is because they are very much still plans, in that we have to put applications for road closures into the county council, just like anyone else, and we’re waiting to hear back.

“We will be releasing information to residents on Monday and will be setting up a dedicated email address for any queries.”

She told the Oxford Mail that an email had been sent to a range of councillors about the scheme on November 17.

A report to the NHS board in September said the project was “critical” to ensuring that the energy systems at both hospitals could meet “future growing demands for heating and hot water as hospital patient numbers increase”.

Councillor for Marston Mick Haines said yesterday: “This is the first I’ve heard about any of these plans because the trust hasn’t told us anything.”

Tony Helway of Headington Barbers said he was “appalled” by the idea of more roadworks in the area as the traffic could affect local businesses.

He said: “They could’ve told us before starting all of this work?”