Cherwell Street in Banbury is now one-way southbound past the collapsed scaffolding. Northbound traffic is diverted via Marlborough Road and North Bar Street.

The open part of Cherwell Street in Banbury now carries southbound traffic only. Oxfordshire County Council made the change on the evening of Wednesday 11 November, after bus companies complained of long delays to their services.

The road has been only partly open since the scaffolding collapse at a building site on 21 October. The council announced the switch on Wednesday morning. It said the road cannot fully reopen until the site owner has made the collapsed scaffolding fully safe.

What has changed

The stretch between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions is the part furthest from the site. It reopened to traffic in both directions late on Friday 30 October. From Wednesday evening it serves southbound traffic only.

The county council’s notice sets out the new arrangement:

  • Northbound traffic is diverted via George Street, Marlborough Road, Horse Fair and North Bar Street.
  • Lower Cherwell Street stays open, but drivers leaving it can only turn left onto Cherwell Street.
  • The Morrisons petrol station can only be entered by southbound traffic, and the exit is right turn only.

When the road will fully reopen

No date has been given. The council said the safety margin around the site “cannot be reduced until collapsed scaffolding is made fully safe by the site owner”.

Oxfordshire County Council is waiting for Cherwell District Council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Both have to be satisfied the area is safe before the road reopens as normal. The council said it was still waiting for news from the HSE on when that could happen.

What it means for you

  • If you would normally drive north along Cherwell Street, go via George Street, Marlborough Road, Horse Fair and North Bar Street instead, and allow extra time.
  • Coming out of Lower Cherwell Street, you can only head left.
  • The change is meant to cut delays to buses. If your bus runs along Cherwell Street, check your operator’s live service updates before you travel.

Two workers were taken to hospital after the collapse on 21 October. Our report on the collapse covers what happened and the HSE investigation. We will update both pages when the road fully reopens.