Campaigners to appeal bridge judicial review

A campaign group is planning to appeal a judicial review decision that ruled in favour of building a new river bridge.

The Oxpens River Bridge in Oxford, linking Oxpens Meadow to Grandpont Nature Park, was granted planning permission from Oxford City Council last year.

The council said it would provide a new walking and cycling route between planned regeneration projects by the authority and Oxford University, including the Osney Mead industrial development, and Oxpens to the city centre.

Some locals have objected, arguing that building it will cause irreversible damage to Grandpont Nature Park due to the loss of trees and green space.

Bruce Hugman, from Friends of Grandpont Nature Park, said: "At this time of year especially, the threatened riverside woodland in the nature park is simply and unconditionally beautiful.

"Hundreds of walkers, strollers, joggers and cyclists use it and love it every day.

"When there are real alternatives, including abandoning this bridge project entirely, there is simply no excuse for destroying lovely, richly diverse, irreplaceable woodland."

The group has also argued another nearby bridge could be used instead.

It secured a judicial review into the decision but the High Court dismissed the groups' challenges.

Campaigners have applied to appeal, arguing the planning committee was misled into thinking that the park was a designated "Area of Change" scheduled for development in the Local Plan.

They also said an environmental impact assessment was avoided by "unlawfully dividing the project into the bridge itself and the new paths connecting it", even though the paths would cause the most environmental damage.

The group is waiting to hear whether its request to appeal will be approved.

The council previously stressed it had followed proper processes, including ecological, environmental risk, arboriculture and biodiversity assessments.

Osney Mead councillor Susanna Pressel said: "I have been contacted by a lot of West Oxford residents who are delighted to know that we might be getting a new, fast and safe pedestrian and cycle route to the city centre.

"It will be far, far better than the existing bridge to the south-east, which can't be improved because there isn't enough space for a proper, gentle ramp on the city side.

"I hope I have been able to reassure most people that the new footbridge would not cause the 'destruction' of the Grandpont Nature Park."

You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.