First Great Western will continue to operate a modified train timetable tomorrow, due to the wintry weather. However, more services are planned to run than today, with the first trains due to operate on the Oxford-Bicester Town branch line
TRAIN operator First Great Western announced tonight that it plans to resume services on the Oxford-Bicester Town branch line tomorrow. Due to the poor weather conditions, trains on the route, which also serves Islip, were suspended today and
Police said that Bicester police station closed early tonight because of the snow and ice. A spokesman said the front counter closed at 7.30pm. Tomorrow it will be open between 9am and 5pm. He said: "If you need the assistance of Thames Valley
Many schools have already told Oxfordshire County Council they will not be open on Friday. The council says the list is constantly being updated. If parents think a school may be closed, but is not listed as such, the council recommends
This weekend’s sporting fixtures have been decimated by the big freeze. By last night, the FTL Futbol Hellenic, Oxfordshire Senior, North Berks, Witney & District FA and the Giles Sports Witney Youth leagues had called off their compete football programmes
Manager Chris Wilder believes Anthony Tonkin’s experience could be vital during the high-pressure second half of the season as Oxford United bid to clinch automatic promotion. The former Yeovil, Stockport and Crewe left back will be 30 later this month
Luke Foster has had talks with Cambridge United, it’s understood, following United’s decision to let him speak to other clubs during the January transfer window. The move has surprised some U’s fans, because Foster has been very consistent
Oxford United’s FA Carlsberg Trophy game against Woking at the Kassam Stadium will be officially called off on Friday. That formality comes with a pitch inspection by a local referee. The Football Association allow clubs to get referees in two days
Wallingford may have been lucky in getting a game last week, but they are counting the cost after suffering two serious injuries. During their 37-20 victory over Buckingham in South West 1 East – one of few games to beat the weather – both
Oxford City’s former Wycombe striker Andy Baird has decided to leave Court Place Farm because of work commitments. The 30-year-old frontman, has been at the Premier Division since signing from rivals Banbury United in 2008, but is taking more
AEA Technology 27.1 BMW 2961 Electrocomponents 166.7 Gladstone 29 Nationwide Accident Repair 85.5 Oxford Biomedica 11.75 Oxford Catalysts 51.5 Oxford Instruments 214 Reed Elsevier 502.75 RM 159.75 RPS Group 223.2 Courtesy of Redmayne
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year. The Queen has bestowed hundreds of gongs to the great and the good, but The Insider’s fourth annual New Year Honour’s List is here to honour the good, the bad and the downright ridiculous. * Last laugh
After a disastrous 2009, the new year offers new hope in many respects. And while the UN climate talks in Copenhagen ended with an “historic cop out”, as Oxfam describes it, there is much reason to believe that 2010 will be different. The politicians
SO, Gordon Brown is incensed and “appalled” at the Chinese decision to execute the drug smuggler Akmal Shaikh. It is a pity he does not have the same compassion for Garry McKinnon, who is waiting to be extradited to America, where he faces a possible
I see the public spirited and caring leader of the county council is trying to pass the buck again concerning the state of the roads and footpaths during this cold spell. He asked “where is the British spirit that defeated Hitler?”, and then goes on
I thought that Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, couldn’t get any more arrogant than his previous statements have shown him to be. But his latest remarks about snow clearance (Tuesday’s Oxford Mail) exceed even his usual level of
A FRESH supply of rock salt arrived tonight to keep Oxfordshire’s roads gritted as the winter freeze continued. The 40-tonne load arrived after the county council criticised its supplier, Salt Union, of Winsford, in Cheshire, for failing to
WEDNESDAY night’s temperature of -17.7C at RAF Benson was one of the coldest ever recorded at the weather station, and meant the south Oxfordshire village was colder than the daytime temperature in Russia’s capital Moscow. The freezing overnight
A NUMBER of police recruitment events across the county have been postponed due to the cold snap. Police have cancelled fitness tests for prospective officers and Special Constables due to take place at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, in Oxford
PLANS for a residents’ parking scheme in Banbury have been thrown into doubt over funding issues. Last February, Cherwell District Council announced five zones across the town would be considered for residents-only parking, affecting about 3,000 properties
CASES at Oxford's crown court were again disrupted by the weather today. Jurors, witnesses and at least one defendant were unable to reach the court due to the freezing conditions. The ongoing trial of 39-year-old Natalie Ross, of Reedmace Road, Bicester
A RENEWED bid to advance the scheme to extend Oxford south of Blackbird Leys will be put to a planning inspector next week. Plans to build 4,000 homes near Grenoble Road on Green Belt land are being legally challenged. But the public examination into
VILLAGE shops across Oxfordshire are facing milk and bread shortages as customers panic buy. With deliveries disrupted and shoppers unable to get to major supermarkets, shopkeepers said people had flocked to their stores to stock up, with milk stocks
A FORMER New Zealand All Black who played for Oxford Rugby Club has died after a jet-boat accident. Paul Sapsford, 60, was struck in the rib cage when his boat hit a bank at Lake Ohau in New Zealand on December 28. Local reports reveal
THE big freeze of 2010 is sure to live long in the memory, but many are asking: “when has it been as bad as this?”. How did the county cope when heavy snow fell during previous winter storms? In December 1981, the Oxford Mail photographed
VOTERS in Oxfordshire will have to wait to find out who their new MP is – because council officers need a good night’s sleep before counting their ballots. At the next general election, the acting returning officer for the Oxford West and Abingdon, Wantage
PEOPLE on Oxford’s biggest estates are calling for gritters to visit. City council staff worked through the night on Wednesday to ensure that the city centre and main routes were clear of snow and ice. The council also provided a team of officers to
A fire has broken out at Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury. Several hundred shoppers and about 500 staff were evacuated after smoke was spotted billowing out of the centre at about 2.45pm. Fire crews and police are currently at the scene and it
THE Cowley-built Mini has jumped to seventh best-selling car in the UK in 2009, boosted by strong sales in December. The number of new Minis registered in 2009 was 39,866, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), with Mini's
Some Oxfordshire schools have already told Oxfordshire County Council that they do not plan to open until Monday. They are: Beckley Church of England Primary School (Beckley) Botley Primary School (Oxford) Chiltern Edge
WELSH comedian and actor Rob Brydon is the first big name to sign up for Helen and Douglas House’s sixth annual fundraiser. Childish Things, which raises thousands of pounds for East Oxford hospice, takes place on Saturday, March 20. And before a single
Police this afternoon warned motorists not to be fooled by apparently improving weather conditions and to continue to drive with care. Sub-zero temperatures and large quantities of ice and snow on the roads are still causing treacherous driving
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. FA TROPHY. 2nd round: Oxford Utd v Woking. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Didcot Tn v Truro City, Halesowen Tn v Oxford City. Div 1 South & West: Bracknell Tn v North Leigh
RELATIVES of a military policeman killed in Afghanistan have thanked mourners for their support when his body was brought home. Lance Corporal Michael Pritchard, of the 4th Regiment, Royal Military Police, died on December 20 in the Sangin area of Helmand
There is little doubt that the long-term future of motoring probably lies in the hands of the hydrogen-powered car. But like so many items that once featured on the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World science programme in the near 40 years that it ran from
OXFORD Airport has been handed a double boost by airlines offering more flights for holidaymakers and businessmen from the city. The Channel Islands Travel Group has confirmed it will operate an extended season of flights from Oxford to Jersey this year
MECHANIC Sam Mitchell is hoping to get more racing drivers following in his tyre tracks to help charity. Mr Mitchell, owner of SJM Motor Repairs, in Headington, Oxford, has been named Driver of the Year in his first season racing his 1972 Mark
Pesidents' parking zones in parts of East Oxford will not come into force until next year at the earliest. Oxfordshire County Council is analysing responses to a consultation on controversial proposals to introduce a controlled parking zone (CPZ) in
People across Cherwell district are being asked to leave their rubbish out for collection if it has been missed. A council spokesman said plans had been put in place to make sure all refuse and recycling, except garden waste, is dealt with but it must
RESIDENTS’ parking zones in parts of East Oxford will not come into force until next year at the earliest, the Oxford Mail can reveal. Oxfordshire County Council is currently analysing responses to a consultation on controversial proposals to introduce
Police have arrested two men following an assault in Abingdon. A 19-year-old man had just left The Grapes pub in the early hours on January 1 and was near to the bus stop in Bath Street when two men approached him and assaulted him. The man managed
SNOWMEN (and women) are popping up across the county, just like this one in Didcot. We're looking for the biggest and the best snowmen (or women, dogs, dragons, unicorns . . . you get the drift). Send in your entries to yourpix@oxfordmail.co.uk
Police investigating an attempted murder in Bicester today renewed a plea for witnesses. At about 8.10pm on Tuesday, about five men entered an address in Lapwing Close, Langford Village, and attacked the occupants. Det Insp Steve Duffy
Police today appealed for witnesses after a series of burglaries in Kennington. A property in Upper Road was burgled on December 21. Thieves smashed two windows at the rear to gain access to the house. It is unknown at this stage what was stolen
THE Mini assembly line at Cowley is due to restart tonight after being suspended on Wednesday.
Want to thank a guardian angel who came to your aid in the snow? Did family or friends go that extra mile when the winter weather took hold? If so, then we want to hear about your snow heroes and stories. Call the newsdesk on
Stagecoach Oxfordshire has announced an updated list of bus services affected by yesterday’s heavy snowfall turning to ice. The status of their services is as follows: Oxford Tube - running normally Route 1 - running normally
ALL sports games on Oxford City Council pitches scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled. All city council leisure facilities are open, save for Barton Pool, which is closed as staff are unable to get in to work. One city council
THE first load of salt for the roads has arrived in Oxfordshire this morning. Yesterday Oxfordshire County Council was lobbying the Government because it had not received supplies from its contracted supplier Salt Union. Last night
RECYCLING and waste collections in Oxford have been cancelled today because of bad weather, although two refuse vehicles are collecting trade waste from the city centre. A decision about tomorrow's collections will be made later today.
VALE of White Horse District Council offices in Abingdon and Wantage will close at 4pm due to today's weather conditions.
Waste and recycling collection services remain suspended in West Oxfordshire until it is safe for heavy waste collection vehicles to travel on side roads. A council spokesman said: "If you are due a collection, please can you take your bins
EPIC beats, sizzling DJ sets and raucous revellers not only thawed but managed to fully roast a sell-out New Year’s Eve crowd at Get Loaded in the Dark. With its monster line-up, the size of which was only matched by the length of the queues
An unassuming single-storey house in Cuddesdon is full of surprises when it comes to the interior. Built five years ago for Heath and Sasha Harvey, 1 Bishops Wood is perfect for family living and entertaining. The creative use of space
The snow caused massive disruption to businesses across the county with staff struggling to reach factories and offices and many closing altogether. Production at the Cowley Mini factory was suspended, while designer shopping outlet Bicester Village
AEA Technology 26.6 BMW 2949 Electrocomponents 166.2 Gladstone 29.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 85.5 Oxford Biomedica 11.8 Oxford Catalyst 51.5 Oxford Instruments 214 Reed Elsevier 506.25 RM 159.5 RPS Group 220.4 Courtesy of Redmayne
The New Year is unfolding and I can’t help wondering whether the promised barbecue summer will arrive this year instead of last. Perhaps it will be followed by the mild winter we were meant to have, too. The weather, a British obsession, is still highly
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ Big Garden Birdwatch — the world’s largest wildlife survey — takes place on the last weekend of this month. Last year, a record-breaking 551,881 participants helped celebrate the Big Garden Birdwatch
Agricultural production and wildlife conservation have developed considerably over the last 40 years and, throughout this time, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group has been providing the means to draw these individual lines together. Among those
Drank too much over Christmas? Spent too much? Giving up drinking as your New Year’s resolution? There’s always time for a soothing glass of wine. But not expensive wine — we do understand that you’ve spent too much. Why? Because so have we and we’re
I do dislike this time of year: everyone feels poor; the entire population seems to be on a diet; my colleagues are on an alcohol amnesty until the first of February and my early morning drive in the dark is now emblazoned with neon-clad joggers — the
WHITE Horse Harrier Tim Traynor, home from his studies for the Christmas holiday, proved a class above in the third round at Banbury on Sunday. Traynor, who is still an under 20 runner, blitzed the field with a powerful run in bitterly cold, but sunny
Rail passengers in Oxfordshire experienced some disruption this morning in the cold weather conditions but the majority of services are still running. Vicki Cropper, a spokesman for First Great Western, said 80 per cent of its services ran yesterday
Many adults and children are unable to do some of the things that the rest of us take for granted. For instance, imagine dropping your house keys, but you can’t bend down to pick them up because of a health condition or physical disability. You either
Tonight's greyhound meeting at Oxford Stadium has been called off as there is nearly foot of snow on the track. Tomorrow's BAGS meeting has also been called off
PRICES of new homes in parts of Oxford have soared by almost 15 per cent in the last year, new figures have revealed. A report by estate agent Carter Jonas shows that Botley and Cumnor saw a 14.7 per cent increase to £330,000 in 2009, largely driven
BUSINESSES in Bicester were urged to ‘keep the flame burning’ and look forward to better times ahead, at this week's launch of the Bicester Business Awards. The competition is organised by Bicester Vision, Bicester Chamber of Commerce, Bicester Hotel
With Britain in recession and economists divided about future business prospects, there remains one area of activity that is still driving forward with full throttle: nostalgia. And nowhere is it more apparent than in Abingdon, where the MG Car Club will
BMW’s Mini factory in Cowley was shut again this morning because of the adverse weather conditions while all routine outpatient appointments at the John Radcliffe Hospital have been cancelled. However, the plant is expected to re-open later
Getting a novel published these days is not easy. Even established writers are finding it difficult to find a publisher – lateral thinking is required if you want to see your book in print. Six enterprising women writers from South Oxfordshire decided
Oxford artist and writer Roma Tearne has been chosen by Amanda Ross for her much-hyped new TV Book Club, which starts on C4 this month. Roma’s novel Brixton Beach, out in paperback on Monday (Harper Press, £7.99), will feature on February 28. Opening
BLOOD, IRON AND GOLD Christian Wolmar (Atlantic, £25)When I caught the Blue Train in Cape Town at the start of its journey to Pretoria, I was surprised to see the baggage handlers wearing white gloves, as if they were attendants at a wedding. It was
Taking the Medicine Druin Burch (Vintage, £9.99) This is so good, it should be available on prescription. It's a history of bad medicine, showing how human emotions such as fear or arrogance have led doctors to use treatments which make people ill
Fans of Inspector Morse know the Alfred Jewel as the priceless treasure that went missing from the Ashmolean Museum. Now it features in The Seven Ages of Britain, presented by David Dimbleby. In the book which accompanies his TV series
Oxford Bus Company is running a similar service to yesterday. A spokesman said: "In the last few minutes we’ve been able to resume serving Rose Hill Oval on the City4 route. "We are running on all of our local City routes, Brookesbus and on the Park
To quickly find your school, use your computer's Find function - press Ctrl and F and enter the school's name • Ladygrove Park Primary School, Didcot. • Larkmead School, Abingdon. • Launton Church of England School, Bicester.
Arctic temperatures and widespread ice caused a new round of disruption today with a temperature of minus 17 degrees Celsius recorded in South Oxfordshire. Forecasters warned of icy roads and treacherous travel conditions across virtually the whole country
The following schools remain closed today because of the bad weather and are scheduled to reopen tomorrow. To quickly find your school, use your computer's Find function - press Ctrl and F and enter the school's name • All Saints Church
For scores of council workers in Oxford, White-out Wednesday — as they dubbed yesterday — started at 4am. About 300 frontline city council staff turned up for work to learn their normal duties had been suspended and only emergency calls would
Oxford United have hit back at claims by some of their rivals that they are splashing out on a bigger squad than others can muster because they have more spending power. It comes after the U’s completed the signing of Cambridge left back Anthony Tonkin
Sir – I write regarding Oxford Brookes revised planning application for their new student centre. The height of the building, a key reason for the original plan being rejected, has not been reduced though a segment approximately 3 x 6 metres has been
Sir – It is no surprise that Oxfordshire Conservatives are planning cuts to services for ordinary people. But their proposal to axe most of the county’s youth service is particularly foolish. Oxfordshire is already one of the lowest spenders in the
Sir – May I use your columns to help those Oxford customers of Thames Water who, for technical reasons eg communal hot water in a block of flats, cannot have a meter, and are still paying through the nose on the old ‘rateable value’ basis? They’re
FOR scores of council workers in Oxford, Whiteout Wednesday — as they dubbed yesterday — started at 4am. About 300 frontline city council staff turned up for work to learn their normal duties had been suspended and only emergency calls would be dealt
Sir – Does Mr Bradnack (Letters, December 31) not realise that Christmas lights don’t go off until 12th Night ie January 6? Is he only interested in the presents at Christmas? It is not an irresponsible extravagance, it is tradition. D. Payne, Kidlington
Sir – The various correspondents who criticise Mr Gray’s restaurant reviews (December 31) are being extremely unfair. Indeed, they are totally missing the point. Having read Mr Gray’s reviews assiduously during my four years in Oxford, I am certain
Sir – I wonder if I am alone in being mystified at the extraordinary shutdown that afflicts Oxford and Oxon every Christmas and New Year. Buses and trains are either absent or very infrequent. Thousands of people need to travel to work, to friends
Sir – Thank you for Chris Koenig’s delightful article on the new Fly Baboo Airlines service to Geneva (Business, December 24). As someone with a great interest in the Bombardier Q400 aircraft, it is very warming to see airlines using it to its best
Sir – Calls for a new 40mph limit on the B4022 between Hailey and Finstock (Report, December 31) seem logical — until one digs a little deeper. Far from a solution, lower limits often cause problems — frustration overtakes, bunching and drivers losing
Sir – On New Year’s Eve I went to a party in Magdalen Road and left at about 12.20am. There were still fireworks going off at intervals and as I walked home I noticed a strange flying object followed after a minute or so by another and later by two
Sir – The front page article (December 31), about the Thornhill park-and-ride, raises a question. Banbury Road and Woodstock Road in North Oxford, Abingdon Road and Headington Road are all major entries into Oxford city centre and all have access to
Sir – I have some agreement with Roger Keable (Letters, December 31), but I would like to add better still, that if the Government was truly concerned about carbon emissions from cars, that is apart from an excuse to charge extra tax revenue, they should
Sir – As a member of the Friends of Cutteslowe Park I recently attended a Partnerships for Renewables (PFR) presentation on the proposed wind turbine. Their documentation states “PFR only develops wind turbines in appropriate locations. PFR work hard
Sir – Councillor Waine continues to insist through your pages that, despite being the most improved secondary school in Oxfordshire, “young people at Oxford School are not getting the best possible deal and they should be better provided for in the
Sir – I too was “appalled” by the state of the roads and pavements during our recent cold snap (Letters, December 31). Living in the city didn’t seem to improve our chances of seeing a gritter. In fact our estate (Barton) was so bad that on
Sir – Is the University entitled to close a public footpath every Christmastide? It legitimately closes Mesopotamia, which is University property, on Christmas Day and certain other days. When it does so, however, it fixes a metal barrier at the point
Sir – 2009 has been a good year for the city of lost causes. Bonn Square, and the Ashmolean Museum, both excellent public facilities and, on a smaller and more intimate scale, the delightful rural fence around the green at Upper Wolvercote. Congratulations
A RENEWED bid to move forward the scheme to extend Oxford south of Grenoble Road will be put to a planning inspector next week. Plans to build thousands of homes near Grenoble Road on Green Belt land are being legally challenged, but Oxford City Council
If the offices of The Oxford Times are anything to go by, there were plenty of people showing the sort of spirit county council leader Keith Mitchell alluded to this week in response to complaints about the state of the roads. Across the county, many
We should spare a thought for those gritting the roads across Oxfordshire. The conditions have been especially severe, particularly in length of time. Those operating the gritting service must sometimes think it is a thankless task. They can never do
OXFORDSHIRE has not received any fresh deliveries of salt for its roads as forecasters predicted the the freezing conditions would continue past the weekend. The county council has cut the proportion of roads it grits from 43 per cent to 29
We were meant to be talking about what it is like working with hordes of rampaging St Trinian’s schoolgirls — well, I was, at least. But instead of focusing on how Sarah Harding had transformed herself from wild mini-skirted singer with Girls Aloud into
Sir – The Thornhill park-and-ride serves more places than was intended, ie London, the airports and the John Radcliffe Hospital. Clearly they benefit from the council taxpayers in Oxfordshire, who already pay for the facilities, so why should they
The following schools Oxfordshire County Council says will remain closed today: All Saints Church of England (Aided) Primary School (Didcot). Appleton Church of England. Aston & Cote Church of England Primary School. Aston
Train operator First Great Western will again operate an amended service tomorrow due to the cold snap. FGW said the aim was "to ensure we can run a scheduled service whilst allowing for operating difficulties caused by the significant snowfall
