TRANSPORT bosses are to rethink how road closures are allowed after a row about a £14.8m hospital pipeline scheme.
The review follows public outcry over proposals to build an underground heating system between the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals.
People in Headington were only told about the six-month project at the end of November last year – just over a month before it was due to start – and have accused authorities of keeping them “in the dark” about the work.
The Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust scheme started on January 4 but ground to a halt just days later after it emerged contractor Vital Energi had not obtained planning permission.
Oxfordshire County Council, which separately approved road closures needed for the work, yesterday admitted it should have informed local councillors sooner.
A report to the scrutiny committee said: “Staff acted within their powers and remits, but the exceptional nature of these works and the level of disquiet expressed suggests the working practices of issuing S50 notices should be reviewed.
“While it was the responsibility of the university hospital trust or its agents to manage consultation with residents and businesses, it is recognised officers should inform the local councillor of schemes of an exceptional nature such as this.”
The committee is due to question council officers about their involvement in the pipeline project next Thursday.
The report to councillors said OUH had first approached the county council about the scheme on October 22, 2013, with the information about when road closures would be needed sent by Vital Energi on October 21, 2015. The hospitals trust did not publicise its plans until November 30, 2015, the county council report said.
Mike Ratcliffe, chairman of the Headington Neighbourhood Draft Plan steering group committee, said: “By keeping us in the dark, it was implied that what was happening to our roads wasn’t a big deal, when in fact it was.
“It will affect the thousands of people who drive along Old Road, not to mention the people living in the houses here.”
Bickerton Road resident Maureen Joseph, 79, added: “I can’t believe the people involved have known about this process for years and only let us know what was going on once it had started.
“The first we knew of it was a few leaflets through the door and our roads being dug up, which really isn’t on.”
Last month OUH’s chairman, Dame Fiona Caldicott, issued an apology to residents on behalf of the trust, adding: “This has not been handled as well as we could have done.”
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