Oxfordshire County Council and its principal highways contractor M Group have carried out river wall repairs on the Thames Path towpath, just south of Donnington Bridge.

The repairs had originally been planned for 2027. However, inspections showed the river wall was deteriorating more rapidly than anticipated, with widening cracks presenting an increased risk to public safety.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, said: “The successful completion of the emergency repairs safeguards this section of the towpath and reduces the risk of an unplanned closure of an important walking connection into Oxford.

“This is a well-used route, so it was vital that disruption was kept to a minimum while these essential works were carried out.”

Throughout the work, disruption was kept to a minimum through a carefully managed diversion via Iffley Meadows. This enabled the many people who use this important strategic walking route into Oxford to continue their journeys while the repairs were undertaken.

The diversion and works were carefully managed to minimise impacts on the surrounding sensitive environment.

M Group also identified an alternative piling solution that saved 11.6 tonnes of embodied carbon.

The council’s public rights of way team worked closely with partners including bridge specialists Greenford Ltd, the Environment Agency, Oxford City Council and the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust to accelerate and deliver the necessary emergency work.

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The affected section is off Abingdon Road between Folly Bridge and Donnington Bridge, with further works taking place near Isis farm house. Work is expected to start in late June or early July and last until late September 2025.

A combination of signed diversionary routes and local towpath width reductions will be in place until the repairs are completed.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This work forms part of our commitment to invest in the county’s blue-green infrastructure and it will safeguard this towpath for many years.

“We realise how popular this towpath is, both as a sustainable route into the city as well as for the many walkers who enjoy strolling along the riverside.

“If there was any way of carrying out these repairs without having to close this stretch, we would do so. But the safety of users and workers is our priority and so we ask people to be patient and observe the closure.”

The repair work aims to restore damaged stretches of the towpath along the river and safeguard the riverbank. The work involves the use of machinery and extensive reconstruction, which is why sections of the towpath must remain closed.

About 120 metres of the affected stretch will be subject to piling work, which involves structural piles being driven into the ground to provide strength where the soil is weak or unstable.

For their own safety, people are asked to adhere to the signed diversions and observe obstructions along sections with width restrictions.

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The anticipated start date is Monday 9 September.

The first closure will be in place between the Sir Geoffrey Arthur building and Marlborough Road on the Grandpont side of the riverbank. The opposite bank on the City/Friars Wharf side and the Gasworks Pipe footbridge will be unaffected.

Following completion of the Grandpont works, a second set of closures will come into force from late October, as work takes place along the towpath from Folly Bridge south to Donnington Bridge.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This work forms part of our commitment to invest in the county’s blue-green infrastructure and it will safeguard this towpath for many years to come.

“We realise how popular this towpath is but the safety of users and workers is our priority and so we ask people to be patient and observe the closure.”

A combination of signed diversionary routes and local towpath width reductions at the work areas for both sites will be in place until the repairs are completed.

The repair work is aimed at restoring damaged stretches of towpath along the river and safeguarding the riverbank.

It will involve the use of machinery and extensive reconstruction, which is why the towpath must remain closed. For their own safety, people are asked to adhere to the signed diversions and observe obstructions along sections with width restrictions.

It is hoped that the towpath will fully reopen soon after this work is completed, which is expected to be the beginning of February 2025.

However, it is possible that the dates may have to change due to severe weather or other constraints affecting the works.

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Richard Morgan was taking a dip with friends in Goring during the summer of 1983 when he trod on a strangely shaped object poking out of the river bed.

Peering through the murky water, he and his pals dug away the mud and dragged the monster mandible on to the river bank. It was later identified as that of a young mammoth which roamed more than 30,000 years ago.

The young Richard donated the object to Oxfordshire County Council’s Museum Service and never saw his mammoth again – until a family holiday this summer brought him back to the county from his present day home in the Czech Republic.

Reunited

He said: “I decided it was time to meet up with the mammoth again and share some of the excitement of my discovery with my own children.”

After arriving in the UK, a quick call to the Oxfordshire Museum confirmed that his mammoth was on display there and within the hour Richard and his family were in Woodstock face-to-face with the jaw and reliving the experience of all those years ago.

Richard said: “I think my children thought I was telling them a fisherman’s tale, so it’s great to be able to show them the real thing with its huge teeth. It was caked in river mud the last time I saw it, so it was really nice to see it all cleaned up and on display in the Museum.”

Popular attraction

The museum’s curator Carol Anderson said: “I can imagine how excited Richard must have been by his incredible discovery. We are delighted that he donated it to the Museum Service all those years ago so that it can now be seen and enjoyed by visitors to the Oxfordshire Museum.

She added: “The mammoth jaw is a particular attraction for the many families who visit the museum each summer. It’s amazing to think that creatures like this were walking round what is now Oxfordshire more than 30,000 years ago.”

Richard now hopes that visiting the mammoth will become a family tradition. Perhaps next time he visits he’ll been bringing his grandchildren to share the tale of his amazing discovery.

A special commemorative baton has been carried by 16 people in a relay covering over 200 miles from source to sea over the last 16 days.

The Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Cllr Ian Hudspeth brought the baton back to Steve Good, Chairman of The Thames Path National Trail Partnership, at the end of the 20^th anniversary baton relay source to sea.

The baton was returned to Eynsham Lock where Oxfordshire County Council host the trail team.

Hundreds of people took part in the walking, some booking on just for one day others coming in groups representing The Ramblers, the River Thames Society and our very own Thames Path National Trail Volunteers.

For more information visit http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path, follow @ntthames and hastag #thamespath20.