Businesses near major road closure being 'supported'

Oxford's Botley Road has been closed since April 2023

Businesses that have been affected by the extended closure of a major route in Oxford will be supported by Network Rail, it has said.

Botley Road has been closed since April 2023 as part of a £161m project to upgrade Oxford Station and is expected to reopen in August 2026.

Last month, five businesses affected by the closure stopped paying their business rates and said they would not pay them until they received further financial support.

In a statement, Network Rail said it was providing businesses with "independent, tailored advice" to apply for a reduction in their rates.

"We continue to work with local businesses and government stakeholders on ways we can provide support within the constraints of being a public body and regulations for managing public money," the spokesperson said.

The route is due to reopen in August 2026

In a letter last week addressing concerns raised by Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds, the rail minister, Lord Hendy, said the government was "working hard with Network Rail to finalise a solution" for businesses on and around the Botley Road.

The Network Rail spokesperson said it was "continuing our regular engagement with these businesses and are providing independent, tailored advice for their business rate applications to the Valuation Office Agency".

Business rates are collected by Oxford City Council on behalf of the government, which set the rates and keep most of the income.

Decisions over changes to business rate charges are made by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

A spokesperson for the VOA said although it could not comment on individual cases, it was "engaging with local businesses and other partners affected by the ongoing works around Botley Road".

"Where customers have applied for a reduction in their rateable value we'll always look to progress cases as quickly as possible," the spokesperson added.

Tom Rainey previously said his two businesses in the area were "financially, 10% down"

Local business owners have previously they could not "sustain" the losses inflicted by the closure "indefinitely".

Zack Iqbal, owner of First Stop Spanner Works, told the BBC it was like "this section of Oxford is closed for business, closed for residents, and just basically shut off from the rest of the world".

Tom Rainey, who owns The Porter House restaurant and hotel and The Punter pub, said they were "financially, 10% down".

Mr Rainey is one of five business owners that stopped paying their rates, saying: "Not one person has offered us anything, and therefore we believe the only option is to make a stand."

While he admitted it was "a bit extreme", he said: "If I end up with a jail term, then I would accept that".