THE entrance to Cowley Road at The Plain roundabout is set to close in the New Year for roadworks, the Oxford Mail can reveal.

The closure will be for a £835,000 programme on The Plain to widen footpaths and narrow vehicle lanes to slow traffic. It is scheduled to finish in May.

Oxfordshire County Council was unable to say for how long the road would close and from what date but it is believed it could be for three weeks in February.

The work – to benefit pedestrians and cyclists – was planned for October but delayed over concerns it would clash with other roadworks.

These included the schemes at Kennington roundabout on the southern bypass and Worcester Street in the city centre.

St Clement’s city councillor Tom Hayes expressed fears for traffic: “I am deeply concerned that closures to the lower end of the Cowley Road will lead to massive congestion and disruption across East Oxford.

Our top stories

“I am also concerned that the roadworks at The Plain will coincide with several other schemes relatively close to each other taking place at the same time, which will cause further traffic gridlock.

“I am disappointed the county council did not deliver this scheme earlier. It is not going to be good for people because the roadworks will be continuing into May Day, which is a public holiday and a big shopping day.”

Mr Hayes also feared public safety would be put at risk by the roadworks: “A lot of the roads in East Oxford are used as rat runs and that will be happening even more when it starts. That will cause an increased risk of death or injury.

“I would urge [Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for transport] Mr [David] Nimmo Smith to reconsider this plan to close the lower part of Cowley Road urgently, in light of residents’ concerns about the impact on East Oxford and the inevitable traffic chaos that will ensue.”

Mr Nimmo Smith said: “I am aware there will have to be closures to the lower part of Cowley Road.”

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Dominic Llewellyn-Jones said: “The improvement scheme will require temporary closures of the roads joining it to allow work on them to be carried out. We are finalising the details of these closures and will be writing to residents and providing information for the general public shortly.”

  • 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.