Oxford News
Oxfordshire footbridge over A-road a collapse risk for years
The post-tensioned footbridge, which spans the busy A4142 Oxford Eastern Bypass, was built in 1963 and provides a route for pedestrians and cyclists.
However, a structural review completed in April 2026, classified it as an “immediate risk” and recommended its closure.
Engineers identified serious issues with the bridge’s concealed post-tensioning system and critical half-joint supports, holding the central span above the dual carriageway.
Inspectors reported “synchronous resonance of the bridge bouncing to footfall”, which it said could result in “sudden shear failure”.
READ MORE: Footbridge across A4142 closes for safety concerns
The report warned that corrosion, water ingress, and deterioration of hidden components may have significantly weakened the structure, making it “unable to resist accidental impact forces”.
Failure of these key elements could lead to its collapse posing risks to both bridge users and traffic travelling at speeds of up to 50mph beneath it.
Freedom of Information documents show that concerns about the bridge date back several years.
Complaints about noticeable “bouncing” were recorded as early as May 2023, while intrusive investigations in 2012 had already identified corrosion and deterioration affecting the post-tensioning system.
A 2015 assessment deemed the bridge “provisionally sub-standard” and highlighted vulnerabilities, including concerns that the south pier could not adequately withstand vehicle impact.
At that stage, demolition had already been discussed as a long-term option.
More recent disclosures reveal that engineers first recommended closing the bridge on April 22.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire bridge closure comes as management ‘weaknesses’ found
However, it remained open while Oxfordshire County Council explored alternatives, including further investigations and the installation of temporary fail-safe supports.
Contractors advised that additional intrusive investigations could take at least six months to arrange and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
More recently, proposals for a temporary support system were also ruled out due to the impracticability of the carriageway before and lack of suitable attachment options.
The final decision to close the bridge was made on May 11, 22 days after an Oxfordshire County Council risk review recommended its closure.
READ MORE: Anger as Oxford footbridge closure causes one-mile detour
Consideration was given to a public press release on May 12, but its was “considered that it would be too complicated to explain why the bridge was being kept open after it had been determined that it was unsafe”.
Ultimately, the bridge was closed on May 15 when signs and barriers were installed and the public were informed.
A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: “The decision to close this popular footbridge was not taken lightly but the safety of the public will always be our top priority.
“This structure has been under review for several years.
“Once it was determined that the structure was no longer safe, following a recent risk review, it was closed.”
The former UK Prime Minister, who lives just outside of Wallingford with his family, was paying tribute to Rod Liddle in a new article in The Spectator following the broadcaster’s death.
Mr Liddle died on Sunday, August 2, after a short illness and having spent his career in journalism and Mr Johnson has now paid tribute to him.
In his Spectator piece, the former Henley MP wrote: “Look at what has happened to free speech in the last couple of decades: J.K. Rowling all but cancelled just for saying a woman is a woman; the cops knocking on your door for non-crime hate incidents; students banning brilliant minds from their campuses; endless ridiculous ‘content warnings’; people fired just for a stray comment on the internet.
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“It’s mad, and yet more and more journalists have been invisibly capitulating. We have been toning it down, cutting that joke, sandpapering things to avoid getting into trouble.
“Not Rod Liddle. In the last few years he seemed to become more and more exceptional: still blazing away from his lonely but glorious redoubt.”
Ms Rowling, who wrote all the books in the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling, has told of her growing “fury” after a leading human rights charity branded the sexual violence support centre she founded “anti-rights”.
The sector’s watchdog has confirmed it is investigating the matter.
The Harry Potter author said she is willing to support legal action on the issue, after a report published by Amnesty International UK listed Beira’s Place alongside several other organisations described as “gender critical” and classed as “anti-rights”.
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The list also named For Women Scotland, which won a Supreme Court case in April 2025, which saw judges at the UK’s highest court rule that the term “woman” in the Equality Act refers to a biological woman.
Beira’s Place was established in Edinburgh in 2022 by Rowling to provide women-only support for women who have experienced sexual violence.
Rowling posted on X on Friday: “Amnesty’s attack on Beira’s Place has left me burning with the kind of fury that mounts with every passing hour.”
She had previously stated that Amnesty had made a “massive error of judgment” if it believed “organisations it has attacked will be unwilling to go to court”.
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She added: “They underestimate both the solidarity that exists between the targeted organisations and my willingness to support legal action, not just on behalf of Beira’s Place, but for all women’s and LGB organisations falsely branded ‘anti-rights’.”
The Charity Commission said on Thursday that it was looking into the issue and confirmed on Friday that it had opened a case into the matter; however, it has not yet taken the step of opening a formal inquiry.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We have opened a regulatory compliance case to further assess concerns raised with us about a briefing published by Amnesty International UK Charitable Trust.
“As part of this, we will be engaging with the charity’s trustees to gather more information.”
The commission, which regulates charities in England and Wales, also said the charity had referred itself to the watchdog by submitting a serious incident report.
Caroline, whose surname has not been released, was last seen on Shilton Road in Burford, West Oxfordshire, at about 2am on Wednesday, August 5.
More than 60 hours later, police are still searching for the 66-year-old woman and are trying to establish where she was last seen, and helicopters from the National Police Air Service have been assisting in searching the area.
READ MORE: M40 closed with two hour delays due to ‘serious’ crash
Thames Valley Police released a new image on Friday, August 8, a CCTV footage still believed to show Caroline on Oxford Road, opposite Burford Road, at about 5.27am on the morning of her disappearance.
A statement released along with the image said: “We understand the quality of the image is poor, but we are sharing it because we are doing everything we can to establish Caroline’s movements and locate her safely.
“We hope that someone may recognise her, remember seeing her, or have information that could help our enquiries.
“We continue to ask residents in Burford and the surrounding areas, as well as any motorists who travelled through this area at around 5.30am, to check any CCTV, doorbell, dashcam or other footage they may have.
“Even the smallest detail could prove vital to our enquiries.
READ MORE: PC Harper’s mother visits site of son’s death amid backlash
“We would like to thank everyone who has shared our appeals and contacted us with information so far.
“The support from the local community has been invaluable, and we continue to appeal for anyone who may have seen Caroline, or who recalls anything unusual during those early morning hours, to come forward.”
Anyone with information should contact police quoting reference number 43260403808, and anyone who sees the missing woman is asked to call 999.
Lizzie Waterworth has voiced the title character in the children’s TV series for 13 years, appearing across all 250 episodes broadcast between 2006 and 2019.
The BAFTA-nominated voice actor was shortlisted for Best Performer at the British Academy Children’s Awards in 2019 for her work as Henry.
She also played Nitty Nora, the school nurse, in the 2011 live-action film Horrid Henry: The Movie.
READ MORE: TV icon daughter’s £3.95m swimming pool mansion in Oxfordshire unsold
Away from the mischievous animated schoolboy, Ms Waterworth’s credits include Alphablocks, Bob the Builder, The Backyardigans, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, Franklin, Clifford’s Puppy Days and the stop-motion film Strike.
Now, the Oxford Mail can exclusively announce that Ms Waterworth is coming to the county’s very own comic-con on Sunday, September 7.
Abbey-Con is held by Rob Turner and Trooper Events annually at the White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre in Abingdon.
A statement from the convention’s organisers said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that Lizzie Waterworth is joining us at Abbey-Con!
“You may know Lizzie as the voice of Horrid Henry (a role that earned her a BAFTA nomination!), but that’s just the beginning!
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“She’s also brought to life beloved characters in Alphablocks, Bob the Builder, Isadora Moon, and even Cutie the Elephant in the award-winning video game It Takes Two.
“With an incredible career spanning animation, television and gaming, Lizzie has been entertaining families for years.
“But her work doesn’t stop behind the microphone! She’s passionate about helping young people build confidence through public speaking and works with schools, businesses and Milton Keynes University Hospital to support children during hospital visits.
“Whether you’re a lifelong Horrid Henry fan, grew up watching her characters, or just love meeting the talented people behind your favourite shows and games, this is your chance to meet Lizzie in person!
“At Abbey-Con in The White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre.”
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