Morris oxford?? You must be as old as me to remember them. In fact, my family owned one, and it had a serious tunnel.
No, in the 206 it is a safe haven for some cables and pipes, and is about 1-2" high. A bigger obstruction in the 206 centre seat is the broom cupboard, which takes away about 4" of kneeroom.
And don't bother asking me if I am now confused with the janitor's room.