Long-diverted commuters will be able to have their say over the future of the Cottesmore footbridge as an “information event” will be held on Friday July 31.

The update comes two months after the crossing over the A4142 Eastern Bypass was closed, leading to major long-term detours for schoolchildren and frequent complaints from residents.

Inspectors at Oxfordshire County Council closed the footbridge due to safety concerns with the structure.

It said its top priority is public safety, which it “will not compromise”.

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Cottesmore footbridge (Image: Google Maps)

Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, county council cabinet member for transport management, said at the time : “The decision to close the bridge has not been taken lightly, but it was the only option in the circumstances.”

Councillor Ed Turner has said the bridge could be strengthened rather than rebuilt – a potential shot in the arm for locals who have feared the bridge would not be open for several years.

There are signs that strengthening the bridge may be an option, but the structural engineering report is not yet through.

A statement from the deputy leader of Oxford City Council Ed Turner explained other measures are also being put in place to improve the situation for cyclists and walkers.

He said: “The cycle track foliage has been cut back and does look better.

“County council officers are liaising with Sainsbury’s about trying to make the pedestrian / cycle route in from the traffic lights safer.”

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David Henwood, shadow councillor for transport in Oxfordshire County Council, has publicly backed demolition of the Cottesmore footbridge, saying it is the “correct course of action”. (Image: Oxford Mail)

According to councillor Turner, “we now have under four months left and aren’t really further forward.”

A session designed to provide information to parents and regular users of the Cottesmore Road bridge is to be held on Friday, July 31, from 1pm until 5pm at the Littlemore Community Centre in Giles Road.

The footbridge is located between Sainsbury’s and Rose Hill, and links Cottesmore Road and Brocklesbury Road on either side of the busy road.

A 23-minute, one-mile diversion is now in place while engineers assess its options to fix the wobbly bridge, which is not expected to reopen until November 2027.

A petition started last month calling for certainty over the future of the bridge in Oxford.

In the petition, Oxford City Council deputy leader Ed Turner has called on his county council counterparts to commit to repairing or replacing the bridge.

Mr Turner also called on the council to ensure the alternative route is safe in the meantime by cutting down hedges, reviewing bus services, adding lighting and reviewing the safety of the pedestrian crossing and the pavement.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding those in the agricultural sector to create fire breaks, clean machinery regularly, and ensure water sources are close at hand.

A farm plan should be available for emergency crews in case of a fire.

Fires can be caused by machinery, electrical faults, arson, or spontaneous combustion of stored hay.

To check haystack temperatures, a thermometer should be used through a pipe in the centre of the middle or lower stacks for 15 minutes.

Hay should be dry before storage and kept away from other buildings and roads.

Fire services attended more than 800 agricultural machinery fires across the UK in 2022, with nine machines catching fire daily during harvest season.

Rick Gannon, known for his appearance on Channel 5’s Rich House, Poor House, visited The Farmer’s Dog in the Cotswolds for his 26th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, July 15.

In an Instagram post, the property investor shared a photo of his bill, which totalled £144.45.

He wrote: “I’ve just walked out of Jeremy Clarkson’s Farmer’s Dog with one of his plates.

“We came for our 26th wedding anniversary. Rammed for a Wednesday, brilliant staff, and the food was amazing.

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Rick Gannon, known for his appearance on Channel 5’s Rich House, Poor House, visited The Farmer’s Dog in the Cotswolds for his 26th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, July 15. (Image: Rick Gannon)

“Then the bill arrived with a 12.5% service charge slapped on top.

“Which to be fair I don’t mind paying for such good service, and I got a plate too so winner winner!”

“Some of you will remember I left with the lucky cat from Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant.

“It’s still sitting at home. Now Jeremy’s plate is coming home with me too. Gordon’s cat. Jeremy’s plate. Who should I visit next?”

The receipt showed he actually purchased the plate for an additional £25.

The Farmer’s Dog (Image: Ben Birchall/PA)

former Top Gear and Grand Tour host, Clarkson, runs The Farmer’s Dog in Asthall near Burford having bought the pub for around £1,000,000.

He documented the grand opening and the run up to it in the fourth series of Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime.

And the 66-year-old Chipping Norton resident runs the pub alongside his 1,000 acre farm in Chadlington.