Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department made an assessment of the potential (a) impact of extending Network Rail's closure of Botley Road on local (i) residents and (ii) businesses and (b) merits of alternative proposals prior to granting permission for that extension.

Network Rail, which is delivering the works to increase capacity at Oxford station considered a number of options working closely with Oxford City Council before concluding that the closure of Botley Road should be extended to October 2024. Network Rail will continue to work with local residents, businesses and other stakeholders to minimise disruption.