Archive

  • Blackwood abstains in Commons vote on gay marriage

    OXFORDSHIRE’S MPs were divided as the bill allowing gay marriage passed its first key hurdle in a House of Commons vote last night. Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron, Oxford East’s Labour MP Andrew Smith, Wantage MP Ed Vaizey and Henley

  • MPs vote for gay marriage

    MPs have tonight voted to allow gay people to marry. The Government's bill to legalise same-sex marriage was backed by 400 votes to 175 - with four Oxfordshire MPs voting for, one against and one abstaining. Sir Tony Baldry, who spoke against

  • Revamped nursery wins inspectors' approval

    A BICESTER nursery has improved in two years to get a ‘good’ Ofsted report. In January 2011, Child First Nursery, in Launton Road, was deemed satisfactory, but in this latest report the nursery has made good progress. Manager Andrea Leonard

  • Smokers are urged to keep habit outdoors

    SMOKERS are being encouraged to protect others by taking their habit outdoors. It is hoped the Oxfordshire Smoking Advice Service campaign will encourage people to turn their homes and cars into smoke-free zones. A free community breakfast

  • Riding high: Equestrian sports bask in Olympic success

    FOLLOWING London 2012, Britain is officially the best country in the world at Olympic horse riding. Team GB aced the equestrian event with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze. And, with more than 20 stables and equestrian centres in

  • Pioneer imaging technique could help asthma sufferers

    A PIONEERING lung imaging technique which could improve diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as asthma is being trialled in Oxford. Patients at the Churchill Hospital will be among the first in the world to benefit from xenon imaging to help

  • Failure to clear river fuels fear of flooding

    EVERY time the rain pours and flood warnings flash up, residents of Cassington Mill hold their breath. Neighbours of the Evenlode river in West Oxfordshire say the levels are getting higher, and they fear for the safety of their homes. Roy

  • Popular sports area gets a £40K makeover

    THE next generation of sports stars will benefit from a revamped £40,000 games area in Oxford. The multi-use games area at Peat Moors in Wood Farm was reopened on Friday. The site has been resurfaced and painted and gives people the chance

  • Mini plant supports jobs festival

    MORE than 1,300 youngsters from 10 Oxfordshire schools are getting a chance to shape their future with a major careers event. The 15- and 16-year-olds who will be faced with making career moves this summer, will have the opportunity to meet bosses

  • Less than perfect

    Sir – It’s great you’re featuring articles about allotments. Or it would be if your chosen writer wasn’t trying so hard to be ‘entertaining’ at the expense of anything useful. It’s beyond me why he would write about worm composting when he’s killed

  • Tread carefully

    Sir — The proposed City Deal for Oxford and central Oxfordshire is more city-driven than we may at first realise. Because specific areas of Oxfordshire are also being targeted for development, it serves to mask Oxford’s own rather ambitious expansionist

  • London’s sticky web

    Sir – Damian Fantato’s analysis of the housing situation in Oxford and Oxfordshire (January 17) is profoundly depressing. Carried to its logical conclusion, we shall go on concreting over Oxfordshire until it is a single conurbation stretching from

  • Economy doing well

    Sir – Your headline report on Oxford being the least affordable city in the UK was interesting, as was Paul Swinney’s comment that “the greatest threat to Oxford’s economic growth is the unaffordability of housing”. However, the report Cities Outlook

  • Insoluble problem

    Sir – Most public discussions about Oxford’s housing, including your article (Oxford’s growing dilemma, January 17), omit the big issues. Notably they omit any strategic view about the problems they are trying to solve. Is the problem that more

  • Use empty offices

    Sir –  In reference to the lead article last week (Oxford least affordable city in UK), one cannot deny that Colin Cook’s (city council board member for development) assertion that the Cities Outlook report is a ‘wake up call’ is an appropriate comment

  • Excessive noise

    Sir – As a regular cinema-goer I agree entirely with comments made in recent letters about noise levels in the local cinemas. I wonder if there is any legislation covering cinemas, as in my experience the level of noise far exceeds anything that would

  • Damaging event

    Sir – The county council is once again planning to put hundreds of people in South Oxfordshire under house arrest for a whole day. Preposterous as it may seem, those who live on the 20-mile route of the Henley Challenge Triathlon will once again

  • Doubling resources

    Sir – Your feature on the city/county council initiative to tackle under-achievement in Oxford’s primary schools (January 24) failed to take account of two significant changes introduced by the Government, that made this initiative possible and very

  • Be safe and be seen

    Sir – Last Friday, at about 7.30pm I drove from Cowley to Marston via the Cowley Road and returned by the same route before 8pm. During the course of that short journey I was able to record at least 12 cars with one headlight not working and

  • Skilled attention

    Sir – Without in any way belittling the dreadful problems in NHS institutions in Staffordshire and elsewhere, I am concerned that generalised criticism of the NHS is escalating beyond reason. It is very important that we recognise good practice

  • 'I let my daughter down' child sex trial is told

    A MUM felt she was “failing” as a parent after her daughter fell into abuse at the hands of a child sex gang, the Old Bailey heard yesterday. The mother of the unnamed witness, known as Girl 1, gave evidence at the trial of nine men accused of

  • RUGBY UNION: Bellinger stars in Grove hammering

    Southern Counties North JOE Bellinger’s four tries led leaders Grove to a 59-3 demolition of Alchester at Cane Lane. Full back Roger Sevier kicked Grove ahead with a penalty, but Alchester’s Tom Miles levelled in kind after debutant flanker

  • RUGBY UNION: Joubert penalty caps Banbury comeback

    Round-up ANDREW Joubert’s late penalty earned Banbury Bulls an 18-15 home victory over fellow strugglers Leamington in Midlands 2 West South. Banbury had to fight back from 15-3 down at the break and then withstand a final few minutes of Leamington

  • Captain Oakes has the last word for Oxford Hawks

    Oxford Hawks ladies saw off third-placed Ipswich 3-1 at Banbury Road North to register their fourth win in Conference East. Wearing their new kit, sponsored by Shaw Gibbs, Hawks quickly went a goal down from a short corner before converting one

  • HOCKEY: Dark Blues go down to first defeat

    Oxford University suffered their first South League defeat of the season as they went down 5-3 at Staines in Premier Division 1. Alexander Stobart (2) and Duncan Graves were on the mark for the Dark Blues, who had won nine and drawn four of their

  • Quarry set to be filled in and land restored

    The disused Old Quarry in Hatching Lane, Leafield, is set to be filled in and the land restored to agriculture. West Oxfordshire District Council is being asked to approve the work, which will use waste soil from a nearby building site.

  • Overturned lorry delivers an unwanted load of cement

    AN OVERTURNED cement lorry which shed its load closed a busy route around Didcot yesterday. Police were called to the Hawksworth roundabout on the A4130 after the lorry crashed shortly before 1pm, dumping part of its load of cement on the carriageway

  • Sex attack suspect bailed

    A man arrested over a suspected sex attack has been bailed again by police until February 25. The 23-year-old Banbury resident was arrested on January 21 in connection with an incident three days earlier in People’s Park. A 46-year-old woman

  • RUGBY UNION: Twickenham dreams dashed

    National cups WALLINGFORD’S hopes of a Twickenham appearance were ended by a 25-20 home defeat to Wimborne in the Southern Counties Intermediate Cup final. Victory would have left the hosts just two more wins away from a national final at the

  • Burger van hit

    A burger van was targeted by arsonists. Firefighters were called at 9.52pm on Sunday to a car park behind B&Q in Marcham Road in Abingdon. Fire engines from Abingdon and Didcot attended the incident. The burger van was partially destroyed

  • Four rivers still on flood alert

    Four flood alerts remained in place on the River Thames in Oxfordshire last night. The Environment Agency alerts mean flooding is possible and residents should be prepared. The alerts cover the River Thames and its tributaries from Days Lock

  • RUGBY UNION: Hales doubles up to secure final place

    Oxfordshire Cup TWO tries from centre Adrian Hales helped Chinnor 2nd power into the club’s fourth successive final with 27-8 victory over Witney at Kingsey Road. They will now face either Wallingford or Oxford University Greyhounds at Iffley

  • Bicycle backing

    Sir – Do readers realise that the charity of National Cycle Museum, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, exists? If you are planning to organise a sponsored bicycle ride, please consider raising funds for the principal bicycle museum for the UK. Take a

  • Abingdon bomber

    Sir –  Re your photo (Picture No 59, 150 Images, January 17) “And here’s one Herr Hitler...”. The plane in question is an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle, the front section of which was made in some quantity at the MG factory in Abingdon, not Cowley.

  • Approve free school in Cowley, say council officers

    PLANS for a new free school in Oxford have taken a step forward after they were backed by council officers. Tyndale Community School hopes to open in the former Lord Nuffield Club, in William Morris Close, Cowley, in September this year. A

  • RACING: Long Run to swerve Newbury

    Long Run will head straight for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after trainer Nicky Henderson decided against a prep run at Newbury on Saturday. The Lambourn handler had pencilled in the Betfair Denman Chase as a next port of call for the King

  • Free speech is vital

    SO David Cameron will give us a referendum on the EU membership if the Tories win the next election. If they did, he would probably go back on his word. Britain is right at rock bottom with its economy and the triple-dip recession has been

  • Exclusion from meeting

    REGARDING issues raised over the recent public interest and standards committee, John Bullivant (Viewpoints, Jan 30) hasn’t read and understood the reasons given for excluding the public from a standards committee hearing. Firstly, legal advice – councillors

  • A whopper over debt

    I WONDER why the Prime Minister was allowed to tell the huge whopper in a TV Con-Dem party political broadcast that the national deficit had been reduced by 25 per cent? The Office for National Statistics says the deficit has gone up from £811bn

  • Give entrepreneur the reins over our stadium

    IT REALLY is a breath of fresh air and great news that there is someone who is prepared to buy Oxford Stadium and keep it as a much-needed multi-purpose leisure facility for our city. Of course, the faceless and muted venture capitalist owners

  • RUGBY UNION: Quins sunk by Brixham

    National 3 South West OXFORD Harlequins could not recover from a poor first half as they lost 29-12 at home to Brixham. Quins, who trailed 24-0 in the first half, remain second from bottom and 16 points from safety. Brixham took the lead

  • FOOTBALL: Booted-off Witney 'unable to pay rent'

    The company that owns Witney Community Stadium says Witney Town FC are no longer allowed to play at the ground because they were unable to pay the rent. The football club were last week given their marching orders from their Downs Road base when

  • RUGBY LEAGUE: Irish ace Hadden signs up

    Ireland prop forward Matty Hadden has become Oxford RL’s latest recruit. He made his Ireland debut against England Knights last season, and represented his country in the one-year to the World Cup event in Manchester last October. Hadden, who

  • FOOTBALL: Wray in frame for Didcot debut

    Didcot Town could give a debut to former Leeds United youngster Tom Wray when they travel to Premier Division Arlesey Town in the Southern League’s Red Insure Cup fourth round tonight. The Irish defender, 29, who has been playing for Ryman League

  • NHS destruction a crime

    DAVID Cameron’s destruction of the NHS is arguably the worst crime committed by a UK government against its people in generations. He is dismantling a much-loved and precious institution, while lying that he is not; he is either terribly stupid

  • A stake in Port Meadow

    I AM writing in connection with the university development on the edge of Port Meadow, in Roger Dudman Way. Oxford University is responsible for some of the most beautiful and the most hideous buildings in the city. Students need accommodation

  • Thanks for information

    MANY thanks to Cllr Bob Johnston for his information regarding the White Horse Leisure Centre. I apologise for my assumption that it was the SODC which developed it, an easy mistake, but I have nothing but praise for it and used it again on Thursday

  • ON YER BIKE: Let's make our city the UK's cycling capital

    CYCLING in Oxford has increased 18 per cent since 2001, according to the 2011 census figures released last week. It sounds really impressive – you’d be forgiven for thinking that Oxford is the cycling capital of the UK. And while Oxford should

  • RUGBY UNION: Solid Chinnor back on track

    National 2 South CHINNOR bounced back from two defeats to beat Lydney 29-17 at Kingsey Road. The hosts started brightly with centre Sam Stoop hauled down just short after a mazy run. Chinnor took the lead on five minutes, when scrum half

  • THE QUIZ LEAGUE: Hatchet hacked by their rivals

    BY THEIR own high standards, Premiership outfit the Hatchet (Childrey), are not having a good campaign. A fifth defeat from nine starts has consigned them to the foot of the table, four points adrift of their nearest rivals. Contrast this with

  • Pool expansion

    Sir – Still no decision about the Temple Cowley Pool but the evidence to support retention of a pool in the Cowley area increases. Houses are being extended, more infilling of green space is planned, so the result is an increased population. No

  • Refurbish site

     Sir – I was lucky enough to swim at the Temple Cowley pool recently at a Tuesday evening ‘women only’ session. It was wonderful to see a pool full, buzzing with women enjoying the pool; women of different swimming abilities, ages, ethnicities,

  • Elephant in the pool

    Sir – The controversy over the city council’s refusal to publish its financial case for demolishing Temple Cowley pools has distracted us from the elephant in the room: if these three pools have to be written off after only 30 years because the cost

  • Money better spent

    Sir – With reference to Peter Berry’s letter (January 24), reference trams in Oxford, I noticed a while ago that the tram network in, I believe Bordeaux, was mentioned. You only have to look at this example to notice that the city has boulevards and

  • Activity is vital

    Sir – It is no wonder that there is a huge obesity problem. It starts at a young age. Councils are selling sports fields for their own benefit/profit. State schools have fewer, if any at all, physical education lessons, so what do people and

  • Plenty to read

    Sir – I would like to thank all my friends and neighbours for being so kind since I’ve been ill. I had to pack up litter-picking in October 2012, been laid up since, haven’t had much luck. I now have gall stones on top of my other problems. I would

  • Three arrested

    THREE teenagers were arrested after a car was broken into at a Didcot car dealership. Thames Valley Police sent its helicopter after being called to Julians of Didcot in Station Road at 11.53pm on Sunday. Officers arrested three teenagers on

  • Let's wise up, says Wilder

    Chris Wilder has urged Oxford United’s squad to wise up if they want to achieve something this season after suffering two disappointing results in four days. The U’s had opportunities to win both games, but followed up a 1-1 draw at home to Burton

  • COMMENT: No good reason why bins can't be emptied quickly

    MOST householders rely on councils to sort out the roads, run the local schools and empty their bins. Of course councils do many other things but, in the main, those are people’s three main priorities. Given Oxfordshire County Council runs

  • Binmen still struggling to catch up after snow

    BINS have been left festering at the side of roads across Oxfordshire for a month after a string of cancelled collections. Thousands of residents in West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse last had their waste collected four

  • Church won't build over 15 graves after public complaints

    A HISTORIC Oxford church will not be extended over 15 graves, after an outcry by residents. Church leaders wanted to expand Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry, where Narnia author CS Lewis is buried, to create more storage and meeting space

  • Lights failures cause delays

    TWO traffic light failures caused delays in Oxford yesterday. The lights on Littlemore roundabout went out after a car crashed into them at 3.53am on Sunday. The problem was fixed shortly after 9am yesterday. Lisa-Jane Harrold, 26, of Court

  • We’ve had a red nose for 25 years

    AT 92 years old, Peggy Barson remembers red noses flooding Oxfordshire for the first time 25 years ago today. It was the first ever Red Nose Day to raise money for charity Comic Relief and spread cheer for a good cause, now an annual tradition.

  • Oxford United ladies claim cup surprise

    OXFORD United Ladies pulled off a stunning shock as they knocked Charlton Athletic out of the FA Women’s Cup. Lauren Allison and Natasha Caswell scored as the U’s came from behind to win 2-1 in the third round at Thamesmead. It is the furthest

  • Day 14: Tuesday, February 5

    10:25am Girl 1's dad: "Getting information from her was virtually impossible." Said she ran away more than 70 times. — @Ben_Wilkinson_ 05 February 2013   10:20am

  • DARTS: George slay leaders Red Lion

    THE formbook was ripped up in the Greene King ODDA League Section 2 as struggling George Bar ran out 8-1 winners at home to leaders Red Lion. The hosts made a flying start as Barry Wells, Wayne Stevens, Dave Hughes and Jimmy Oram gave them a shock

  • Two crashes cause delays on Northern Bypass

    TWO collisions on the A40 this morning resulted in delays to traffic. Two vehicles crashed on the A40 Northern By-Pass Road between Marston and the Cutteslowe Roundabout at 6.56am. One lane was blocked due to debris on the road. At 7.20am

  • Parting shot at Government by our top judge

    TOO many criminals are being jailed and the Government is not doing enough to help, one of Oxford’s most eminent judges has said. His Honour Christopher Compston has stepped down from Oxford Crown Court after 12 years with a warning that people

  • DARTS: Oxon boosted by trio's comeback

    OXFORDSHIRE’S men’s A have been strengthened by the return of three key players for the trip to Yorkshire this weekend. Jon Jukes, Stuart Dutton and Stuart White were named as reserves for the British Inter-County Championships match with Surrey

  • COMMENT: Judge should know

    YOU may not agree with Judge Christopher Compston’s belief that we are jailing too many people but it is to his credit that he has spoken out following his retirement. Judge Compston has built up a wealth of knowledge during his career and it is

  • Thames Water bills to rise by 5.5 per cent

    THAMES Water today announced an increase in its customers’ bills for the next financial year. Bills are set to increase by 5.5 per cent, raising the average annual bill by £18 to £354. The increase comes in for the 2013/14 financial year and

  • Pupils get a taste of 1776 school life

    ABINGDON School pupils have been learning about some of the famous figures from its past, including the illegitimate grandson of Charles II and all five members of Radiohead. An exhibition at Abingdon’s County Hall Museum opened on Thursday, the

  • Former workers hopeful of making camera store a success

    PLANS have clicked into place in Bicester to launch a business on the site of failed camera retailer Jessops. Former Jessops employees Paul Crockett and Robert Peckham, have been given the keys to the Sheep Street shop and will relaunch it under

  • Drivers face diversions as roadworks begin

    A KEY route through Headington, Oxford, will be closed for resurfacing work for two weeks. The maintenance work will start in Warneford Lane on Monday. It will take place on the eastbound lane of the dual carriageway between Morrell Avenue roundabout