A curly ‘noodle’ bridge will be built at Oxford University – despite locals blasting the scheme as ‘ridiculous’.
The wonky structure for pedestrians will be part of a range of new bridges and access roads being built in the city.
Aerial CGI pictures show the winding shape of the bendy bridge that is set to go over the A40 and has been defended by architects after being mocked by locals.
The new infrastructure, submitted by Oxford University College Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Management, is linked to its scheme for 1,450 new homes at Bayswater Brook to the north of Barton.
It has now been approved by South Oxfordshire District Council despite locals fiercely slamming the scheme as “ridiculous” and “a waste of money”.
The development includes a new A40 cycle and pedestrian bridge, new access onto Elsfield Lane, two accesses onto Bayswater Road, two new public transport crossing bridges over the Bayswater Brook and five pedestrian or cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook.
The main pedestrian bridge has been dubbed Noodle Bridge due to its shape.
Local resident Terence Goad said: “The junction with Bayswater Road is rubbish, it’s dangerous for cyclists. This is a retrograde step.
“The noodling is ridiculous. Nobody will use this nonsense. How this was designed is beggar’s belief.”
Gavin Angell, development director for Dorchester Residential Management, said: “The bridge has been designed by a prize winning architect and is the centrepiece of the transport strategy.
“It will provide a high-quality crossing. It will ensure safe and efficient movement over the A40. I don’t accept it won’t be used by residents trying to cross the A40.”
Locals have been concerned about the development as a whole with fears over flooding.
Speaking at the meeting on Monday, November 11 Ginette Camps-Walsh, from Beckley and Stowood Parish Council, said: “There should be highways infrastructure that mitigates the impact of the development at Bayswater Brook.
“The traffic modelling for this is totally inadequate. We’re very concerned about our local roads because they are congested to over capacity as it is.
“The famous, very ugly bridge has connectivity problems. It’s far too far over to the west. It’s not in the right place.
“The Headington roundabout is a major concern because there is no extra capacity, it will become gridlocked. My biggest concern is about the Bayswater Road which carries HGV’s and they are planning to narrow it by 6m. This is terrible.”
Andrew Clark, chairman of Stanton St John Parish Council, added: “There are a number of strong points of objection we have for this.
“It’s unlikely that any cyclists from Stanton St John will be using the bridge over the A40, we regard it as an unnecessary feature. It’s a waste of money.”
The committee’s chairman David Bretherton said: “This is difficult because it’s such a big scheme, there is so much to it. Overall, I think it’s acceptable, I don’t think it’s a brilliant scheme. We have to take the advice of the experts. I urge you to support it.”
It was voted through with five in favour and two against.
