Littlemore Bridge in Oxford to Receive Repairs and New Street Lighting

Littlemore Bridge in Oxford, constructed in the 1950s, is slated for “essential” repairs and the installation of new street lighting. The bridge currently exhibits visible cracks and sections of missing concrete. Oxfordshire County Council has scheduled concrete repairs for early 2025, while asserting that the structure is not presently “unsafe.” Littlemore Parish Council has also identified the bridge as a location for anti-social behaviour, stating its commitment to “ensure public safety and well-being in Littlemore.” The Parish Council further noted: “Ordinarily, street lighting would not be a parish council responsibility.” It clarified, however, that “in this case the parish council, recognising the need for it locally, resolved to collaborate with the city and county councils and councillors to source the funding necessary.” Funding for the project was successfully secured by county councillor Trish Elphinstone and Deputy Lord Mayor Tiago Corais from the city council. Councillor David Henwood, who has advocated for the bridge’s repair since 2015, described the planned repairs and the addition of street lighting as “essential to the bridge.” He elaborated on his concerns, stating: “People feel very unsafe walking under it, especially in the dark.” Councillor Henwood added, “We do get antisocial behaviour in that area, and we have CCTV to help reduce that amount of anti-social behaviour.” He also expressed a broader sentiment regarding the area: “[Littlemore] feels neglected for most of the year, and it’s very rare funding gets sent our way.” Councillor Henwood concluded, “As local councillors we are trying to turn that narrative back to Littlemore, which has not happened in the past, not on the scale it deserves.” A spokesperson for the county council commented: “The bridge is not currently unsafe and the condition is not unusual for the structure of this type and age.” The spokesperson added that “The planned repair work is pro-active and aimed at preventing deterioration of the bridge, which would require more costly intervention in the future.” The council also stated that the prioritization of bridge repairs is regularly reviewed across its extensive inventory of bridges throughout the county.