Archive

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Bypass speed cut to 50mph

The entire stretch of Oxford's notorious Eastern Bypass is to be made a 50mph zone in the new year following a series of fatal accidents. The decision was made at a meeting yesterday (December 22), when transport experts at Oxfordshire County Council

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Walk will kick-start big year

Abingdon will kick off its 450th anniversary celeb- rations marking the granting of its Charter with a New Year's Day walk around the town's ancient boundaries. Mayor Allison Rooke will officially begin the anniversary celebrations when she starts off

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Barn arson attacks could be linked

A serial arsonist could be behind three separate barn fires across the Bicester area in less than a fortnight. A police spokesman said officers were keeping an open mind as to whether the fires could be linked. Arsonists torched three barns, filled with

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Good and bad side of Christmas

We know our mums are wonderful. Christine Peck didn't hesitate when her daughter Loretta started giving birth in the back of a taxi on the way to the John Radcliffe Hospital. She turned midwife and delivered the baby herself. Taxi driver Takmayer Rizvi

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Housing plan 'a bid to recruit and keep staff'

Oxford University wants to significantly extend Wolvercote by building 200 homes for its staff in the heart of the village. The £40m scheme represents a historic move by the university, which is determined to address a housing shortage that is making

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NHS helpline is ready for rush

Record numbers of people are expected to call the NHS Direct line for medical advice over the Christmas period. Based on figures from last year's festive holiday, Thames Valley and Northamptonshire NHS Direct is getting ready for a surge in callers, asking

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Woman gives birth in taxi

A taxi driver picked up one fare -- and ended up delivering two after a mother gave birth to her fifth child on the back seat of an Oxford cab. Loretta Peck holding Taleah after giving birth in a taxi driven by Takhayer Rizvi It was supposed to be a quick

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Put education before money

You report that Oxfordshire County Council plans to turn Bury Knowle public library at Headington, Oxford, over to businesses (Oxford Mail, November 29). This is putting a money-spinner before local community education needs. It's misguided and wrong.

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Council given warning over car park costs

If Wallingford Town Council took over the running of local car parks, it would have to raise car parking charges straight away. Otherwise, council tax would have to rise to make up for the inevitable deficit, South Oxfordshire District Council chief executive

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Football: SEARL AND THORNE TAKE THAME REINS

Basement boys Thame United have unveiled Richard Searl and Alan Thorne as the Southern League Division 1 West club's new managerial team. Searl has been caretaker manager, following the departure of Tony Joyce. Thorne was joint manager at Thame with Andy

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SATURDAY

FOOTBALL GLS FOOTBALL HELLENIC LEAGUE Premier Div: Abingdon Utd v North Leigh (1), Hungerford Tn v Abingdon Tn (1), Milton Utd v Witney Utd (1), Shrivenham v Slimbridge (12). Div 1 West: Headington Ams v Easington Spts, Letcombe v Hook Norton (11.30),

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Football: Dodds has ban cut to 42 days

GLS Football Hellenic League - Carterton will be without the services of centre back Karl Dodds until the end of January after he started a 42-day ban for his sending off against Didcot Town. Dodds was orginally handed a 112-day ban after he received

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Thieves ruined our christmas

A woman is heartbroken after thieves stole video footage of her recently deceased grandfather and is appealing for them to give it back. Donna Mason Donna Mason returned to her home in Warborough, near Wallingford, on Wednesday evening to find that burglars

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Free school travel faces axe

Free and subsidised bus travel for faith school pupils and sixth formers with special needs could be axed under proposals to plug a massive overspend in Oxfordshire's school transport budget. The county council has agreed to carry out consultation on

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Villagers get £55k to spend

Community and recreation facilities in Littlemore are set to get a £55,000 boost. The hand-out is part of a planning agreement with Westbury Homes, which is to build 78 homes on the former Speedwell School site in Wilberforce Place. Littlemore Parish

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Ward is 'safe from closure'

Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust has told staff and patients that a dementia ward is safe from temporary closure "for the foreseeable future". Earlier this month, the Oxford Mail reported that health chiefs in Oxford were considering temporarily

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TV fans kick up fuzz at school

Residents have blamed a new secondary school building for interfering with their television reception. People living in Campbell Road, East Oxford, are convinced that St Gregory the Great Catholic School's £15m building in Cricket Road has weakened their

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Traders want a square deal

Campaigners hope part of an East Oxford street which has been closed to traffic can be turned into a public square. Dawson Street, which runs between Cowley Road and St Clement's Street, was shut off at the Cowley Road end while major roadworks took place

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Football: CHRISTMAS CRACKERS!

Brian Talbot has called for a winter break in England - to give everyone a rest from football. Poor attendances at Oxford United's games this month, both home and away, indicate that many supporters can't afford to go to so many matches. United have nine

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MOTORSPORT: FRIENDS MOURN BRAVE 'BURNSY'

Friends, family and famous names from the world of motorsport gathered to pay tribute to Reading-born world champion rally driver Richard Burns. Mourners, including fellow drivers and television presenters, packed into St Luke's Church in Chelsea, London

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Santa alive and well

In reply to John Chadwick, who observes no sign of Santa or a crib in Oxford (Oxford Mail, December 19), may we invite him to Templars Square where Santa is alive, well and visiting his grotto here daily? In addition, we have a traditional crib and a

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Precious Sunday

USDAW, the trade union for retail staff, is spearheading a campaign to oppose longer Sunday trading hours that would allow large stores to open for 24 hours because we believe the British public has no real appetite for more shopping hours on Sundays.