Residents in the Botley Road area have created an action group to lobby Network Rail to reduce the length of time the route is shut for rail improvements.

Network Rail and the county council have agreed to close the road for 12 months from January 9 at the rail bridge, for work to replace the rail bridge and construction of the new western entrance of the station.

But residents living near the station say a year-long closure is too disruptive and are lobbying for the work to completed more quickly.

Read again: What we already know about Botley Road closure 

A new group called West Oxford Access will meet tomorrow for the first time at West Oxford Community Centre, at 7.30pm.

Network Rail is also staging a drop-in event tomorrow at the same venue from 1pm to 5pm, to explain more about the closure plans and the station improvements.

Oxford Mail:

Julian Le Vay said West Oxford Access had been formed by the three community groups nearest the station.

He said: "The meeting is open to all living or working in West Oxford who are concerned about the year-long closure of Botley Road, which we think could be shortened."

While ordinary traffic will still be able to access shops and businesses in Botley Road, it will not be able to pass under the rail bridge - only bikes and pedestrians.

Read again: LTN bollards to be replaced 

The group's leaflet says residents are concerned that local businesses will be badly affected and some may not survive, Abingdon Road will become increasingly congested, and journeys to hospital appointments and schools will be affected.

Oxford Mail:

It adds that an alternative to the 12-month closure could be for contractors to work longer hours and at weekends.

Another option is to have a shorter total closure, followed by temporary traffic lights and single-lane traffic at the bridge.

West Oxford Access says there should be a public discussion on the issue.

In September, Network Rail announced that there would be an initial 14-week closure starting from November 12 but the closure period was increased to a year last month.

Oxford Mail:

So far, Network Rail have said the 12-month closure period will cover the demolition of Station Grill and the youth hostel, the rerouting of utility cables, the replacement of the rail bridge and the start of construction of the new western entrance of the station.

Network Rail spokesman David Paull said in a letter to residents and businesses 'the most likely scenario' was for the road under the bridge to be closed to all vehicles, apart from emergency services, for 12 months from January to December.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF