Layla Moran, Oxford West and Abingdon MP, has told residents the reopening of Botley Road must not mark the end of scrutiny.
In a letter sent to residents living on Botley Road, the Liberal Democrat MP described the reopening after almost three-and-a-half years of closure as “a moment of relief” but said many people had lost faith in the project.
One of Oxford’s busiest routes had been shut since April 2023 until its recent reopening, while Network Rail carries out major work to expand Oxford Station and build a new rail bridge.
(Image: Matthew Evans)
The £161 million project, which is now estimated to have ballooned to £237 million, has been plagued by delays, with completion dates repeatedly pushed back.
The closure lasted around 41 months, far longer than originally planned, causing major disruption for motorists, bus passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and businesses.
In her letter, Ms Moran said residents had initially been promised two six-month closures with the road reopening in between.
She wrote: “What happened instead was a continuous closure of 41 months, a reopening date repeatedly pushed back and a budget that has risen from £161 million to an estimate of £237 million as of January 2026.
“It is little wonder that many have lost faith in the project as a whole.”
The MP said she had spent years pressing Network Rail and government ministers over the impact on residents and traders.
She highlighted an emergency summit she organised on bus services, safety concerns and access arrangements, saying it helped secure a temporary bus stop and other improvements.
(Image: Layla Moran)
Ms Moran also pointed to a visit from Rail Minister Lord Hendy in January 2025 after mounting criticism over delays. The minister and Network Rail gave a presentation which concluded with a slide saying “sorry”, adding that the pace of work later increased.
“Sorry was not good enough”, she said, so she began pressing the Government for support after some had experienced a 60 per cent drop in income.
Last year £850,000 in goodwill payments was finally distributed to eligible businesses after sustained pressure from campaigners, councillors and MPs.
However, Ms Moran said the reopening should not be viewed as the end of the story.
“I want accountability for this project, and I want to ensure that lessons are learned from this project,” she wrote.
(Image: Frank Dumbleton)
She revealed she has asked the National Audit Office to investigate the scheme in the context of infrastructure delivery and value for money, arguing there were errors in project scoping and failures in surveying and risk management.
The MP has also written to Parliament’s Transport Committee urging it to consider the Botley Road project as a case study.
Looking ahead, Ms Moran said work around Oxford Station must now be completed without “repeating the mistakes of the past four years”, while bus services through the corridor need to be fully restored.
She also urged residents to support traders affected by the prolonged closure.
“The businesses along the road have lost almost three and a half years of trade,” she said. “They need customers back. If you can, please use them.”
#Botley #Road #scandal #demands #accountability