WHAT will happen to the tiled mural at Temple Cowley Pools if plans to demolish the site go ahead? That is the question swimmers are asking Oxford City Council as it puts the site up for sale. Regular pool user Chris Coghill wants to know if
THEY have battled flooding almost constantly since December. But now South Hinksey villagers may finally be given some good news. The General Elliot pub in Manor Road, which has been shut since 2009, could finally reopen this year. The
OXCLEAN members have been picking up litter from across Oxford in their annual Spring Clean drive. But one Blackbird Leys resident has made it his mission to keep the estates and allotments in his community tidy all year round. Paul Brackett
TWO book-mad parents have helped Kidlington youngsters explore the magical world of reading with a refurbished library. Kathy Webb and Cas Lester helped organise the £3,000 refurbishment at Edward Feild Primary School, Bicester Road. Children
A thief took an iPod from a car left unlocked in East Oxford overnight. The crime happened in Ridgefield Road overnight last Monday. Call police on 101 with information.
Sgt Philippa Payne has taken charge of Eynsham's neighbourhood police team in place of Sgt Liz Bell, who is on maternity leave.
An appeal against a decision to refuse plans for an 83-room hotel in Abingdon Road has been launched, with a hearing taking place next month. A planning application for a three-storey Travelodge hotel on the former UK Bathroom Warehouse site next
AN EXTENDED basement with a swimming pool underneath a North Oxford house should go ahead, council planning officers have said. Oxford City Council will decide at a meeting tonight whether the plans for the house in Farndon Road can go ahead.
A CARDBOARD box can be transformed into a castle, a stick into a sword, and a rock into a mountain – all it takes is a little imagination. Founded in 1974, Oxfordshire Play Association has always been about “play for play’s sake”. And Meryl
When people see the name Jarl Severn, they may automatically assume that he is a foreigner who has parachuted into the top job at successful Oxfordshire medical instrument manufacturer Owen Mumford. But that could not be further from the truth.
1. The trains It sounds obvious but… the trains are old. They are slow. They frequently “fail” (break down). There are often not enough carriages. Better trains would make for better journeys. 2. The cost The price of a monthly season ticket
Two men have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a Headington betting shop last week. The 18-year-old suspects, both from Headington, are currently in custody after being arrested this morning on suspicion of armed robbery and
Sir – I read with great interest Dr Ian East’s letter (February 27) on the advantages of rail travel for commuters in Oxfordshire and would like to echo his sentiments. I live in one of the less fortunate satellite settlements without predictable
Sir – Between 1996 and 2011 house prices in Oxford increased by more than 300 per cent. They are now rising again. The trend has been especially marked in North Oxford, where a combination of good schools, hospitals, transport links (shortly to
Sir – In response to Mr St John (Letters, March 6), the Strategic Housing Market Assessment recommendation is an extra 75,000 houses by 2029, including both the original target and the proposed top-up. That equates to a worrying 20 per cent
Sir – You are to be congratulated on your excellent leading article (March 6) regarding the enormous traffic pressures that will follow on from all the proposed developments in and around Oxford in the next few years. Our particular concerns
Sir – I’ve recently been researching the global land grab, a phenomenon taking place across the world, from Argentina in the west to Cambodia in the east. As a resident of Botley, it strikes me that the approach of Doric Properties to our community
Sir – It is indeed good news that the renowned transport expert, councillor Colin Cook, is "confident that the new link road at the Northern Gateway will mitigate the impact of traffic generated by the development". It is certainly a stroke
Sir – Oh dear, here we go again! An unusually wet winter has the global warming bandwagoners out in force insisting it’s a man-made disaster and we’ll all be doomed within a couple of decades if we don’t take draconian measures immediately. Any
Sir – As last week’s correspondents rightly pointed out, some cyclists ignore the rules of the road, but these are probably in the minority. However, the vociferous anti-cycling lobby happily tar most, if not all, cyclists with the same brush. Fortunately
Sir – Daniel Emlyn-Jones (Letters Extra, February 27) is surely right to suggest that we need less theological debate and more active doing good in the world. His choice of exemplars, however, is a little questionable. Jesus, Buddha and Mohammed
Sir – The new Westgate will shift 2,057 buses a day to run by houses in Thames Street. The developers say it will only result in a ‘negligible’ increase in nasty diesel emissions. If Queen Street is closed, the number of buses running down
Sir – Recyclable waste in blue bins has just been collected by our council workers in their lorries. I have always wanted the answers to these questions: 1: Where does this waste go to be recycled? 2: How much of it is recycled, and how is it
Sir – An advertisement in your In Business magazine states that a long lease is for sale on ‘Former public toilets offering potential development opportunity’. This the men’s lavatory in St Giles. I suggest that it would make a very useful public
Sir – The Turin Shroud may well be genuine (Letters, March 6), but whether it is or not is unimportant. What really matters is the genuineness of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection and the new lease of life, spiritually and in other ways, it
Sir – It must surely be the case that this week’s The Oxford Times letters pages will have numerous letters on the death from starvation of 44-year-old Bampton resident, Mark Wood (GP not asked about health of dead man, March 6), a dreadful case of
Sir – Glancing through quickly before a proper read, the picture and story of young bellringer Tiggy Jones (January 23) caught my eye. Being a ‘Bell Nut’, I was immediately interested and would like to say this to Tiggy: Well done and keep
Sir – Somewhat belatedly I would like to thank the man who dived into the River Cherwell on the afternoon of Sunday, June 30, last year to save a stupid tourist who had fallen from a punt and was thrashing around in the water. The tourist was me
SHE may only be seven, but Hollie Savage has already had a taste of being a firefighter. She helped out with a charity car wash at Wantage fire station over the weekend. She joined her dad, retained firefighter Will Savage, 38, of Wasborough
RESIDENTS say businesses will be put at risk if a main road into Steventon is shut for 10 months. Steventon Parish Council says Network Rail has told it will have to close the bridge on high street for either five or 10 months to rebuild it.
HOW I agree with Rosie O’Toole (March 10) about Headington, but I would go further in the changes that have spoiled Headington. It is now that as well as having too many supermarkets, charity shops and student accommodation, if Brookes and other
In response to last week’s cry for help to repair the bus shelter opposite the Didcot First office, I am pleased to report that after many months of pursuing this matter with Oxfordshire County Council Highways department and great assistance from
WHAT is all the fuss about closing the gents’ toilets in St Giles, above? I have been involved with police in Oxford since 1957 and do not recall a serious injury accident near those premises in all that time. Two weeks ago, I saw a lorry driver
SOMEONE asked me on the doorstep what the last Labour Government had ever done. I replied rescued the Health Service, invested in our schools and created lots of jobs. But it set me thinking. I could have added: peace to the north of Ireland, cut
I WOULD like to thank Lyndon Joseph and the workers from the county council for getting the potholes filled in at Ferry Lane as I requested. It is remarkable, given the time sequence, that this has been done so quickly and the fact that people
I would like to ask the question: Are Seacourt and West Way the latest subtopias? If anyone should doubt that Doric’s proposals for modernisation of Botley’s West Way will result in nondescript buildings with no architectural merit, let them have
THIS little dog won’t mind being put out for the night when it has a £3,000 sensory garden to explore. Blue Cross rehoming centre in Burford near Witney is building the garden to keep dogs stimulated and happy, which, in turn, will make them easier
Plans for a second self-build development in Bicester have been given the go-ahead. Cherwell District Council approved plans for 42 apartments at land at Coach House Mews. Thirty will be available on an equity loan basis and 12 affordable rent.
Common sense is at last trying to prevail – I refer to the proposal to incorporate Winterbrook into Wallingford. Many years ago, I worked for the GPO. As a postie I sometimes did the Reading Road/Winterbrook walk and I can’t ever remember seeing
Here is a letter devoid of local politics: I write simply to say a really big thank you to the Wantage Rotary Club. Last Monday the club visited Maude House in Wantage where, for two hours, they regaled the residents and their guests with wonderful
Do you not agree that Cherwell district councillors on the planning committee are there to make right and proper decisions on planning applications before them? A recent application for a proposed housing development in Weston On The Green was
Police are still at the scene of a crash between a car and a van in Abingdon this morning. The blue Vauxhall van and black Vauxhall Astra were involved in the accident in Twelve Acre Drive shortly before 9am. Police officers and two ambulance
He’s taken on the NHS and got drugs and better funding for cancer patients everywhere. But his work is not over. This month Clive Stone reveals why fewer drugs being sanctioned for use and wants answers to why a planned gamma knife centre in Oxford
Despite the loss of a couple of key players, and the uncertainty surrounding the future of their pub, the Green Dragon (Haddenham) secured back-to-back titles in the East Division with three rounds of fixtures still remaining. Their latest success
CLIVE Stone argues forcefully for more transparency over the decision to ditch installing a new state-of-the-art Gamma Knife Centre here in Oxford. Mr Stone believes National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) is already cutting back
I was intrigued with the suggestion made in a recent letter to the Oxford Mail to ban cyclists in Oxford (“Cyclists need to be banned from centre before someone is killed”, March 4). Describing an incident in which he was nearly run over by a cyclist
Blackwells has teamed up with an e-reader manufacturer to sponsor a marquee that will feature free talks for the Oxford Literary Festival. In co-operation with Barnes & Noble, it will be located near the Sheldonian Theatre, in Broad Street.
Two new members have joined a committee which scrutinises planned changes to health services. Former NHS manager Moira Logie and ex-nurse Anne Wilkinson will sit on the councillor-led Oxfordshire joint health overview scrutiny committee. Chairman
OXFORD United has had some devoted fans over the years, but few as dedicated as Kotaro Sumita. Mr Sumita became a fan after first seeing the Yellows play in 1999 while staying in Oxford. And readers of the Oxford Mail will be well aware of
A COMMUNITY cafe has reopened after two months following a revamp. The cafe, at West Oxford Community Centre in Botley Road, has been given a facelift after proving to be increasingly popular over the last few years. The old kitchen units were
THE Oxford Mail has partnered with the world’s largest sports store, Decathlon to find Oxford’s best community sports picture. There is something for everyone with four categories: best individual, best team, best display of skill and most entertaining
Calls from Oxford United supporters for the club to make a swift decision over a new manager grew louder yesterday as the search for Chris Wilder’s replacement went past the 50-day mark. After a promising start under caretaker manager Mickey Lewis
An inquest is due to open in Oxford today into the death of a man killed last week. Richard Woolford, of Evans Lane, Kidlington, died on March 9 at the John Radcliffe Hospital. The 73-year-old was driving a mobility scooter on March 4 when he was
A 31-year-old has been jailed for two years after £2,890 worth of drugs were found in his home. Matthew James, of Normandy Crescent, Horspath, Oxford, was convicted in January by a jury at Oxford Crown Court of possessing crack cocaine, heroin
A PUB chef has stepped back in time to compete in the new series of the BBC’s Great British Menu. Emily Watkins, chef and proprietor of the Kingham Plough, in Kingham, near Chipping Norton, will battle 24 top chefs from across the country for the
A body believed to be that of missing grandmother Jackie Gulliford was found in Cassington on Saturday, police said yesterday. The 61-year-old mental health patient had not been seen for more than two months after she left her Hawthorn Road home
THE boyfriend of Jayden Parkinson yesterday turned to her mother and said sorry after admitting being responsible for her death. Ben Blakeley appeared in Oxford Crown Court and pleaded guilty to man-slaughter, but denied the teenager’s murder.
THE family that owns a parade of shops that could be flattened to make way for a £100m redevelopment in Botley say they are determined not to part with the site. Elms Parade owners the Howse family again told the Oxford Mail yesterday they are
OXFORDSHIRE CUP OXFORD Harlequins set up a final date with Banbury after battling past visitors Witney 32-23. Quins’ prolific full back Jack Robinson added two more tries to his tally, but his side had to fight back from 15-13 down in the second
A SECOND consultation period has begun for Oxford City Council’s £15m tower block refurbishment programme. Work on the tower blocks is expected to start next year and the city council is asking members of the public what they think of the latest
MORE than 700 individuals and groups were nominated for this year’s Oxfordshire Youth Awards. And last night hundreds of people turned up at the New Theatre in George Street, Oxford, to discover the winners. Now in their fifth year, the awards
NATIONAL 2 SOUTH CHINNOR suffered last-gasp heartache as they lost 35-31 at home to 14-man Ampthill. The Oxfordshire side secured a losing bonus point to aid their fight against relegation, but will wonder how they did not beat opponents who
FOR 92-year-old Bill Buckingham, the thought of dying in a care home is one he dreads. And Oxfordshire County Council wants to allow more people to stay in their own homes in the later stage of their lives. It is preparing to make a bid for
West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon believes Crazee Diamond is a sprinter to follow after she opened her account at Wolverhampton yesterday. The three-year-old filly only had to be shaken up by Willy Twiston-Davies before romping home three and a
A RISING star in Oxfordshire is all set to face the best young players on the planet this summer – a year after missing out due to a family holiday. Gregor McKenzie will tee up in the Callaway Junior World Championships, held in California this
A 43-year-old man has denied obtaining £39,047.47 of disability living allowance by deception. Tony Craft, of Meadow View Road, Kennington, entered a not guilty plea to the alleged offence, which dates between April 26, 2001, and April 8, 2013,
SAINT Patrick’s Day was celebrated in style yesterday in Yarnton. Yarnton Residential and Nursing Home in Rutten Lane was decked out with green balloons, bunting and decorations, with staff and residents donning their finest emerald attire for
TWO restaurants in Oxfordshire face potential fines of £60,000 for employing illegal workers, following raids by immigration enforcement officers. Home Office officials visited Chef Imperial in High Street, Woodstock, and Mazza Cafe and Restaurant
A MUSICIAN has appeared at the Old Bailey accused of a string of historic sex crimes. Philip Pickett a wind instrument specialist, is charged with a number of offences including three rapes and eight indecent assaults. The 63-year-old, who
NATIONAL 1 HENLEY Hawks climbed out of the relegation zone after a 23-13 victory over Blaydon at Dry Leas. Hawks are level on 50 points with Worthing and Tynedale, but head them both by virtue of games won and points difference. Blaydon
Darren Mullings could make his debut for Oxford City tonight as they host Histon in what could be a crucial match for their Skrill North survival prospects, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. The midfielder made the surprise move from fellow strugglers Gloucester
Henrietta Knight, who trained Best Mate to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups under Jim Culloty, was thrilled to see her former stable jockey land chasing’s blue riband with Lord Windermere. Knight, who is recovering from a broken right ankle, watched
Police are continuing to search for a missing Witney man who has not been seen since last week. Malcolm Jones, 54, was last seen at his house in Bramble Bank, Madley Park, at about 8am last Wednesday, carrying a large rucksack and was wearing blue
SOUTH WEST SENIOR VASE FINAL GOSFORD All Blacks’ Twickenham dreams were shredded by a 57-6 home defeat to Gloucestershire side Newent. The hosts had high hopes going into the national quarter-final clash, but emerged with just two Tim Ellis
SOUTH WEST 1 EAST GROVE felt their 37-19 defeat at Windsor was closer than the score suggested. Wing Harry Carr scored the visitors’ only try with an interception effort converted by fly half Roger Sevier, who also kicked four penalties.
SOUTHERN COUNTIES NORTH ALCHESTER held on to defeat morning leaders Bletchley 17-15 at their Fritwell ground. As a result of their fourth victory in five matches, Alchester overtook Wallingford to go ten points clear of the relegation zone.
REG Bowers hit three maximums as Premier leaders Goodlake Arms A thrashed their B side 8-1. He kicked off a high-quality display, which also included a 150 check-out from Kevin Wilkins. Chris Hughes, Mark Pryde (180) and Preben Krabben also
THE developer looking to flatten Oxford’s historic greyhound stadium has dismissed arguments that it needs to be saved for its community facilities. Galliard Homes has commissioned a report into the impact of the closure of Oxford Stadium as it
ROUND-UP LEADERS Abingdon ran in nine tries in a 66-10 home hammering of Harwell in the BB&O Championship. No 8 Gareth Smith, flanker Lloyd Wilcocks and centre Callum Percival bagged doubles, with wings Robert Tyreman and Benny Samuel plus
The A40 at Eynsham was partially blocked yesterday morning after an accident involving two cars. Traffic was slow on the westbound carriageway approaching the Eynsham roundabout. The crash happened at around 7am.
The identity of a man found dead inside a house in Kidlington has not yet been revealed. Thames Valley Police said the case had been passed to the coroner. The man, in his 50s, was found dead inside a property in Buckland Court on Saturday
A 24-year-old man arrested last week on suspicion of terror-related offences has been released without charge. The man was arrested in Cowley early last Tuesday as part of an investigation into those supporting fighting in Syria. He was held
After months of beaming smiles and giggles, it was finally time for parents to show off their peek-a-boo skills. Mums and dads flocked to Cowley yesterday for the first day of the Oxford Mail’s Baby of the Year 2014 competition. Kate Cassels
TETLEY’S CHALLENGE CUP OXFORD RL were dumped out in emphatic fashion with a 68-6 third-round defeat at Hunslet Hawks. Hunslet were 52-0 up after a devastating first-half display featuring nine tries. But Oxford did at least gain some respectability
THERE comes a point when a situation gets so bad you just have to kick in and take emergency action. It would seem Oxford University Hospitals Trust has reached that point as it chucks out any promise it will try to hit the Government’s targets
Illegal workers found at two restaurants Baby of the Year is back: Take your wee one down to Matalan at The John Allen Centre in Cowley between 10am and 4pm today. Click here for details West Oxford Bowls Club is
There is no plan to review any Thames Valley Police undercover operations after allegations a Metropolitan Police officer spied on the family of murdered Stephen Lawrence. Home Secretary Theresa May has announced a public inquiry into undercover
A BOUNCER accused of raping a woman in a Banbury strip club has denied the complainant was feeling sick when he met her. Ali Kacani, 32, of Lidsey Road, Banbury, denies two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, allegedly carried out in
THEIR clubhouse has been damaged by flooding on more than five previous occasions. And the members of West Oxford Bowls Club are once again counting the cost of flood damage after the most recent severe weather. They say the building at the
A 3-1 defeat at home to Sevenoaks on Saturday means Oxford Hawks need a point from their last two fixtures to avoid getting sucked into the South League Premier Division 1 relegation fight. The Kent outfit, who recruited several ex-National League
Oxford Hawks had goalkeeper Jess Hudson to thank as they ran out 2-0 winners away to lowly Barnes in their penultimate Investec Conference West fixture of the season. The London side threw everything at Hawks early on, but a combination of some
MUSICIANS came together to celebrate a talented artist, friend and brother. Sam Kiff died in December, aged 25, and on Sunday friends gathered at Fat Lil’s in Witney for an afternoon of music celebrating his life, and raising money for mental health
