Residents of Claydon are celebrating the protection of an 18th century bridge from the threat of heavy goods vehicles.

The historic bridge is in a frail condition, awaiting repair, but the narrow road running across it has been designated as a diversion for HS2 work.

Villagers and their Parish Council swung into action when they realised Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) had allowed the diversion without a weight restriction.

“It’s a listed canal bridge and it has a 3-tonne weight limit,” said a resident. "It seems the arrangement was made without any notice or information to the parish council.

The 18th century bridge at Claydon which villagers campaigned to protect with a weight limit

placeholder image — The 18th century bridge at Claydon which villagers campaigned to protect with a weight limit

"It’s on a single track road, with no passing places, about a quarter of a mile outside Claydon. It's part of a group of listed bridges along that section of the canal, but most of them are on private land and only used by the odd tractor.

“It has been in a poor state of repair for some time with part of the parapet missing. OCC seemed to recognise that the bridge needed strengthening and submitted a planning application in 2024.

“None of the locals, including the Parish Council, gave the application a second glance. After all, everyone knew that it was time the bridge was repaired.

“However, the devil was in the detail. Well buried in the paperwork it was stated that the weight limit would be increased to 40 tonnes. The proposed changes were so radical that Historic England said it would no longer be classed as an 18th century bridge and recommended refusal.

The diversion showing the restored 3-tonne weight limit for the bridge near Claydon

" The decision date was January 31. However, it sat and sat until on February 3 it was withdrawn,” she said.

“OCC now claims a structural survey was carried out in November 2025 and assessed that the bridge could carry a load of 13 tonnes. It has not been published.

“However, at the same time, another road out of Claydon is being closed by HS2 for four months from Feb 9 and so the route which includes the bridge is part of the official diversion with no weight limit. HS2 insist that OCC agreed the diversion.”

A spokesman for OCC said: “The safety of this bridge was risk assessed in November 2025.

“The earlier assessment of its load-carrying capacity was based on the assumption that the arch barrel thickness was the same as the voussoirs on the elevation.

"A trial hole, however, discovered that there was a further ring of brickwork such that it was thicker than assumed. Even with the loss of brickwork to the inner ring of the arch it was found to have a higher assessment load carrying capacity.

“Traffic will still be subject to the current signed mandatory 3t weight restrictio, until the proposed 13t structural weight restriction is implemented. The bridge still needs strengthening, subject to Listed Building planning consent.”

The county believes the closure is only expected to involve ‘local traffic’ and not HS2 traffic or HGVs.

HS2 is constructing a new section of Boddington Road and ‘complex utility works’.

A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: “We’re sorry for any inconvenience during the closure of Boddington Road and we are working to complete our works as soon as possible. Extra signage is in place to highlight the weight limit on the canal bridge.”