Work started this morning (9 June) and is due to continue until 11 June beside St Helen’s Church. As a result, there is no through traffic along St Helen’s Wharf. Manned traffic lights are operating at the Iron Bridge to allow residents access in and out of the area.

The work is being carried out on behalf of Openreach, so it is likely to be connected with improvements to the broadband network. Residents living nearby, who endured disruption from the gas mains works earlier this year, were asking why this work could not have been carried out at the same time.

Oxfordshire County Council has introduced a Lane Rental Scheme to help reduce disruption from roadworks. More details can be found at: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/lane-rental-scheme.

Under the scheme, charges of up to £2,500 per day can be applied for works on designated Lane Rental Streets during traffic-sensitive periods. From the published map, St Helen’s Wharf is covered by the scheme, giving contractors a financial incentive to complete the work as quickly as possible.

The scheme was not in operation during the much longer gas mains project. Had it been, Oxfordshire County Council might have collected a decent amount in lane rental charges.