'Incredibly frustrating': Calls for council to sit down with Network Rail and finally reopen Northants village bridge closed for two years

Conservative MP Sarah Bool has said it is "incredibly frustrating" that a meeting involving the council, Network Rail and herself had still not been arranged despite repeated requests.

The road between Bugbrooke and Gayton has been a long-running issue since 2018, when traffic lights were installed to create a single lane to prevent further deterioration of the road.

In 2023, WNC said repair works were anticipated to be completed during summer 2024. They never happened.

In June 2024, the road was closed off altogether by WNC. It remains closed today.

Freedom of Information requests also revealed that more than £220,000 had been spent on temporary traffic lights at the site over a six-year period.

Speaking out again, Conservative councillor Phil Bignell (Bugbrooke ward) said: "It's not just the residents of Bugbrooke that are affected by it. Everywhere I go, Kislingbury, Harpole, Heyford, they all ask me the same question, when is it going to open? It's affecting the whole area that I cover."

Sarah Bool said: "The last updates that I've given to everyone, I had a meeting with the senior leaders within the council asking to have a meeting with Network Rail, the council and myself so that we can understand what's happening.

"This meeting has still not been arranged and it is incredibly frustrating. Also because Network Rail have said to me that they are missing key documents from the council.

"I do not understand what the delay is but we are continually pushing to make sure that they do deliver this. We need to get this road and bridge reopened and we need to send a clear message to the council that they need to get on with it.

"So if you live in Bugbrooke, Kislingbury, Gayton, Harpole, Heyford please sign our petition."

Reform councillor Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at WNC, said: “We continue to have positive conversations with stakeholders on this issue. It’s important to note that significant challenges remain around the technical specifications and funding for this work.”

Network Rail has been contacted for comment.

In October 2025, Network Rail previously said: "We've been engaging with WNC's highways team for a number of months and are supportive of their scheme to complete repairs on the highway at Bugbrooke. We understand that local people are extremely keen to see the bridge reopened to vehicles and welcome a meeting with the council to help move things forward."

The delay appears to be the result of a stand-off between WNC and Network Rail, as the road passes over a railway bridge, with both parties needing to agree on the repair design before work can proceed.

The road is one of the four key access points into the village and the official diversion adds another three and a half miles to motorists' journeys.

When the Chronicle & Echo last reported on the issue in October 2025, councillor Bignell described the closure as "a disgrace".

He said: "Network Rail are happy with the bridge and the council can't seem to afford the cost of the project of actually fixing the road, so until those two get together and sort it out we really have problems."

"I met here with Kier Highways and they estimated about a million pounds for this to be done. I don't know where they're going to find a million pounds from to be honest.

"It needs quite a bit of work, we need shuttering on the banking to build the kerbs up so the kerbs then can stop any cars or lorries ending up on the railtrack."