A perfect storm of poor planning, lack of communication and bungling contractors left a school without power during the crucial exam week and miles of frustrated rush-hour commuters.
During work on a gas main near Woodstock Road fibre optic contractors cut through the gas and electricity supply, leading to power cuts and extensive further works.
It meant that Wood Green School was shut to all students last Wednesday apart from those sitting exams.
It is now running on a temporary diesel generator which is disrupting schooling because of fumes and noise.
Meanwhile Witney faced gridlock when Bridge Street was shut on May 21 and June 4.
Temporary traffic lights at the junction of Woodstock Road and West End have affected all routes through the town centre.
Wood Green headteacher Rob Shadbolt told parents and carers: "Without power we were without fire alarms and other provision to be able to open safely.
"We did manage to continue with the exams on Wednesday, and everyone managed this challenging situation well but there was inevitable disruption to exams which we have reported to the exam boards."
He said the substation "not only powers the school, but also a home and other provision in the area including, we understand, a sewage pump for the neighbourhood so it is necessary to have the generator running 24 hours a day as without it the school would remain closed, the exams would be further disrupted but also there would be impact on the local community".
Environmental Health have been out to assess the situation to reassure the school and neighbours that it is safe to continue with the generator.
Witney councillor Duncan Enright claimed local councillors were not briefed on the various works which have caused such disruption in the town.
He said: "There are so many works at one time, with gas and electricity incidents adding to the problems.
"I am urgently seeking a site visit with contractors and have been speaking to neighbours about the issues."
He said people living on Bridge Street wanted to know why the bridge, which was hit in December 2022, has not been fixed and had concerns that the material used for resurfacing was noisy and would allow rainwater to pool.
At the same time town councillor Thomas Ashby said there were also highways issues within his ward.
He said: "Oxfordshire County Council have only patched half of Ralegh Crescent and even then, it's an appalling surface.
"Three weeks ago I emailed highways, chasing why only half the job has been done. Their response, nothing.... no replies."
“It’s astonishing that Duncan Enright, the county councillor for Bridge Street and the cabinet member for highways management was unaware of the roadworks here and across the town.
"Councillors need to be engaged right from the start so that residents can be informed of works and disruption."
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it is "completing works to repair cabling damaged by a third party" in the Woodstock Road area.
It said power was restored to the 561 customers who were initially off supply on the same day as the power cut occurred.
A secondary issue on the network was then identified and customers were either restored by switching or moved to generated power while all repairs are being safely carried out.
A spokesperson said: “SSEN expects repair works to be completed through this evening (Monday June 12).
“Any customers who are concerned about vulnerability during a power cut are asked to consider signing up for SSEN’s Priority Services Register.”
Oxfordshire County Council said the work carried out on Bridge Street was surface dressing to prolong the life of the carriageway before any full resurfacing was required.
It is in discussions with contractors who plan to carry out drain cleaning on Tuesday, June 13.
A spokesperson said: "The work was completed in less than a day on 21 May and diversions were put in place. No major delays were reported."
On Ralegh Crescent, the county council said the job was not completed as it was trialling more efficient resurfacing techniques using two different materials applied as a screed, in order to provide comparisons between two suppliers.
"There will be another similar trial carried out in the south of the county later in the year."
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