The Oxfordshire County Council (Oxpens River Thames Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge) Scheme 2024 Confirmation Instrument 2025

This legal instrument confirms the Oxfordshire County Council's scheme to build a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Thames in Oxford.

The bridge's design, location, and dimensions are detailed, along with confirmation that navigational requirements were considered.

The instrument cites the Highways Act 1980 as legal authority.

Arguments For

  • Improved infrastructure: Construction of the bridge provides a new pedestrian and cycle route across the River Thames, improving connectivity and accessibility within Oxford.

  • Sustainable transport: The bridge promotes sustainable modes of transportation, encouraging walking and cycling and reducing reliance on cars.

  • Economic benefits: The construction project stimulates local economic activity through job creation and investment in the local area.

  • Legal basis: The scheme is confirmed under the powers granted by Section 106(3) of the Highways Act 1980, ensuring legal compliance and authorization.

Arguments Against

  • Environmental impact: Construction activities may disrupt the local ecosystem and cause temporary environmental damage during and immediately after the construction of the bridge.

  • Cost considerations: The significant financial commitment required for the project might raise concerns about resource allocation and potential budgetary implications for other infrastructure projects.

  • Alternative approaches: Alternative solutions, possibly less financially intensive, may be investigated before committing to the bridge-building project.

  • Potential disruption: The construction process may cause short-term disturbances for residents, businesses and users in the immediate vicinity of the bridge.

The Secretary of State for Transport, makes this Instrument in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 106(3) of the Highways Act 19801 (“the Act”) and now vested in the Secretary of State2:

In accordance with section 107(1) and (2) of that Act, the Secretary of State has taken into consideration the reasonable requirements of navigation over the waters affected and includes such plans and specifications as necessary.

This Instrument may be cited as the Oxfordshire County Council (Oxpens River Thames Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge) Scheme 2024 Confirmation Instrument 2025 and shall come into force on the date on which notice that it has been confirmed is first published in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Act.

The Oxfordshire County Council (Oxpens River Thames Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge) Scheme 2024 (“the Scheme”) is hereby confirmed.

The Scheme as confirmed including its Schedule and plans are set out in the Schedule to this Instrument and copies of the Scheme with its accompanying plans are deposited at the offices of the Department for Transport, Deposited Documents Service, MHCLG, 1 Priory Square, Priory Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1EA and at the offices of Oxfordshire County Council, County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND.

THE SCHEDULE

THE OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (OXPENS RIVER THAMES PEDESTRIAN/CYCLE BRIDGE) SCHEME 2024

Article 3

THE HIGHWAYS ACT 1980

The Oxfordshire County Council (hereinafter referred to as “the County Council”) on its own behalf makes this Scheme in exercise of its powers under Section 106(3) of the Highways Act 1980 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf.

1.

The County Council is authorised to construct over the navigable waters of the River Thames, the bridge specified in the Schedule to this Scheme as part of the highway which they are proposing to construct between the Oxpens Meadow in the north and the Grandpont Nature Park in the south in the City of Oxford, in the County of Oxfordshire.

2.

This Scheme may be cited as The Oxfordshire County Council (Oxpens River Thames Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge) Scheme 2024.

Given under the Common Seal

Of the County Council on the 25th day of April 2024

CS

132/24

THE COMMON SEAL OF

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

was hereunto affixed in the presence of:-

Duly Authorised Officer

THE SCHEDULE TO THE SCHEME

Article 3

Plans and specification of the Oxpens River Thames Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge

The location and general design of the Oxpens River Thames Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge are shown on the plans numbered OXPEN-STN-GEN-ALL-RP-S-0101 PO2 and OXPEN-STN-GEN-ALL-RP-S-0102 PO1 annexed hereto.

POINTS OF COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION

The bridge is located with its northern abutment adjacent to the Oxford Ice Rink (Postal Code OX1 1RX), and its southern abutment within Grandpont Nature Park.

From the Northern abutment, the bridge projects across the floodplains of the Oxpens Meadow and continues over the River Thames to land in the Grandpont Nature Park.

With a structure references No. 6118, the bridge is located at Ordnance Survey Co-ordinates E450815 N205666 (SP 50815 05666).

SPAN

The structure has 5 spans: 1 span between the southern abutment and the southern pier 13.95 metres; 1 main span of 37.5 metres over the Thames and 3 spans over the flood plain between the pier on the northern side of the Thames and the northern abutment each 15.78 metres of length.

HEADWAY

The minimum sofit level of the bridge is 58.6 metres Above Ordnance Datum giving a 400 millimetre clearance above the current air-draught requirement of the upstream railway bridge at 58.20 metres Above Ordnance Datum upstream. Downstream, air draught requirements are set by the Gasworks Bridge at 58.40 metres Above Ordnance Datum.

The sofit of the deck remains relatively level across the entire water span rising in a maximum mid channel, with the minimum headway at the north and south banks.

WATERWAY

No reduction to the existing clear navigable waterway between the southern bank and the northern bank is proposed.

OVERALL DIMENSIONS

The overall length of the bridge including parapet sections on the abutments, will be 111.6 metres. The bridge will at its maximum be a width 4.8 metres and will accommodate a 3.5 metres shared user facility. The bridge will be bounded by 1.4 metres high parapets on either side of the bridge, with structural arched sections raising above this to a height from the deck of 2.355 metres and 61.31 metres Above Ordnance Datum.

[Images omitted]

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument)

This Instrument confirms a Scheme to construct a pedestrian/cycle bridge over the navigable waters of the River Thames as part of the highway which Oxfordshire County Council are proposing to construct between Oxpens Meadow in the north and the Grandpont Nature Park in the City of Oxford, in the County of Oxfordshire.