Oxfordshire County Council confirm key road due to close for up to eight months

The B4016 between Sutton Courtenay and Appleford is a vital link, particularly for children getting to and from school. This is all part of the HIF1 works, which will see, amongst other things, a new crossing over the Thames connecting Didcot to communities to the North. I have always supported this investment infrastructure, but the implementation is in the hands of Oxfordshire County Council.

Councillors have already caused delays to the scheme by a number of years, during which time the cost has escalated, and now the council needs to get to grip with the contractors to ensure the impact on residents is minimised. Concern was first raised with me about the potential closure of the road by the Headteacher of the Europa School in Culham. So I have challenged the county council on what their plans were for this route.

Council officers have confirmed:

“…it is anticipated that the B4016 will be closed for up to eight months and that closure will commence in the summer of 2027.”

We all know that there will be some interruption and inconvenience throughout such a major project but the length of this closure seems aimed at the convenience of the contractors and not minimising the impact on residents.

I have taken up the offer of a meeting with the council to understand why they think such an extended period of closure is necessary and try to challenge this to get the closure limited and the road open more!