A PETITION has been set up calling on the council to repair and reopen Grandpont Bridge.

The busy city centre bridge, which connects Grandpont, Abingdon Road and South Oxford and was used by hundreds of people every day, was closed to the public in March amid concerns it would collapse.

At the time, Oxford City Council pledged to “work swiftly with our partners at the county council with the aim of examining options for the future of the bridge".

Six months on, one frustrated resident has set up a petition, calling on the authorities to reopen it. Stuart Fowkes is claiming little progress has been made in six months.

"With every day that passes, hundreds of people are being inconvenienced and communities remain cut off from the city centre and from each other," the petition reads.

He added: "All [the council] seems to have done is put locked gates on the bridge so no one will be able to get across.

"It's effectively just been closed for six months with no sign of any activity."

Mr Fowkes said alternative routes add significant time for pedestrians and cyclists and are inconvenient for elderly people or those living with disabilities who relied on it as a quick route into the city centre.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, cabinet member for planning and housing delivery, said work was underway.

Cllr Hollingsworth said: “The decision to close the Gasworks Pipe Bridge was made by Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council in March 2021, after a structural report identified that it was at risk of collapse.

"Since then, the city council has been working with Stantec and the county council on the option of refurbishing and strengthening the existing bridge, with the aim of reopening it.

“There are two alternative nearby pedestrian routes across the river, Folly Bridge and the Gasworks Railway Bridge.

"Diversion signs are in place to direct pedestrians to these bridges, and we will be installing additional fencing along the footpath near Friars Wharf Children’s Playground.

"We are continuing to work with the local community to explore if further improvements can be made to these alternative routes.”

Mr Fowkes said that anecdotally, he had heard some people have stopped cycling into town because of the closure and had instead switched to driving.

While the bridge is owned and maintained by the Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council is also partly responsible.

So far, 700 people have signed the petition.