Crime & Safety
Skyscrapers and ships built faster than Oxford Botley Road closure
The road was closed at the rail bridge on April 11, 2023, when Rishi Sunak was Prime Minister, Joe Biden was US President and the current War in Gaza had not yet begun.
On the other hand, similar to today, Arsenal were eight points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League, although in 2023 that lead was overturned.
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Initially the closure at Botley Road was only expected to last for months but several delays – including the discovery of a Victorian arch and complicated utility pipes – hindered the project.
This latest three-year milestone means that the project has taken longer, and in some cases far longer, than some of the world’s most iconic landmarks and vessels, even if many cost more than the £237.4m spent on the Oxford scheme.
We’ve listed some of them here.
Mary Rose ship (1511) – around 18 months
King Henry’s favourite vessel was constructed between January 29, 1510 and July 1511 and served as the Tudor monarch’s flagship for 34 years.
In the 1970s, the 800-tonne behemoth which held a crew of around 500, was the subject of a major salvage mission near the Isle of Wight.
In addition, it’s worth noting that the Botley Road closure has also lasted longer than three of King Henry’s six marriages.
The Eiffel Tower (1889) – 2 years, 2 months and 5 days
Completed in March 1889, the 330-metre tower was constructed as the centre piece of the 1889 World’s Fair and to crown the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution.
It is now the most visited monument with an entrance fee in the world.
The Titanic (1911) – 3 years, 2 days
Slightly cheating here, but in two days this will be true and the end of the Botley Road scheme will still take months.
The largest ship in the world, at 269.1m long and 46,328 GRT (gross register tonnage), sank on its maiden voyage after being completed in 1911.
The Empire State Building (1931) – 1 year and 45 days
The 1,454-foot building was constructed between 1930 and 1931 and was the world’s tallest building at the time.
Despite the Wall Street Crash in October 1929, the investors decided to plough ahead with the project because of how much progress had already been made.
It officially opened on May 1, 1931.
The Space Needle (1961) – 400 days
Another landmark raised for a World’s Fair, this 138-foot tower is built to withstand winds of up to 200mph and earthquakes of up to 9.0 magnitude.
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Construction began in April 1961 and the basic tower was finished by December 1961, after about eight months.
Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway (2011) – 3 years and 2 months
The high-speed railway connects the Bohai Economic Rim and the Yangtze River Delta, two major economic sites in China.
Construction began in April 2008 with the line opened to the public for commercial service in June 2011.
It remains the world’s longest high-speed line ever constructed in a single phase, at 1,318km.
Philip Foster, of Green Road, Headington, was recently on trial at Oxford Crown Court.
After he was found guilty of inciting a female child to engage in sexual activity, an Ofsted spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with those affected by Philip Foster’s horrific crime.
“It is appalling to hear of any child being harmed by an individual who was meant to keep them safe. We have worked with the police to support their investigation and the judicial process.
“The vast majority of registered childcare in England is safe and of a high quality. However, when significant concerns are raised with us about a childcare provider, we will use our regulatory powers to take action.”
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The 49-year-old was charged with one count of inciting a female child to engage in sexual activity between August 1 2022 and December 21 2023.
He was also charged with rape of a female child during the same time period.
Foster pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The court heard that Foster was working for a childminder’s at the time of the offence.
On Tuesday, April 7, a jury found him guilty of inciting a female child to engage in sexual activity. It could not reach a verdict on the charge of rape.
Foster was remanded into custody ahead of the next hearing on Tuesday, April 14, when the prosecution will decide if it wants to pursue a retrial on the charge of rape.
The Friends of Raleigh Park will host the event in Seacourt Hall, Botley, on April 25 to commemorate the centenary of Raleigh Park being gifted to the people of Oxford.
The celebration will feature a panel of speakers discussing the history and significance of the park’s donor, Raymond Ffennell, and dedicatee, Professor Sir Walter Raleigh.
The future of the park, designated as a local wildlife site, will also be a topic of discussion.
Speakers will include historians, CEOs of preservation trusts, and representatives from various organisations.
The following day, a new centenary bench, made from historic bench supports and timber from the Great Oak, which fell in 2015, will be commissioned in the park.
The fatal crash occurred on the A417 Reading Road in East Hendred, near Wantage, on Thursday, April 9 just before 7.20pm.
Police say they were contacted by South Central Ambulance Service to report the crash, which involved a silver Volkswagen Golf and a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a man in his 70s, died at the scene of the crash.
Thames Valley Police said the man’s family has been informed and is being supported by specially trained officers.
No arrests have so far been made, but police are now appealing for any witnesses to the crash to come forward.
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Tributes have been paid to the man, who is named in the comments as Chris.
Lucy Dunsdon said: “I’m so sorry for your loss. Chris was the kindest man with a heart of gold. He’ll be sadly missed by many.”
Keith Sessions added: “Chris was a great guy, always remember our chats when he left his day working at the chicken farm, always farming or walking the greyhounds. RIP, taken so tragically.”
Anyone with information or footage should contact police by calling 101 or submitting a report to the Thames Valley Police website, quoting the reference number 43260172791.
Alternatively, make an anonymous report to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its website.
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