A TOTAL of 160 new homes will be built in the West Oxfordshire village of Bampton, the home of popular TV drama Downton Abbey. They will be phased in over nine years after Richborough Estates was granted planning permission by West Oxfordshire
PLANS have been unveiled to knock down Kidlington’s closed police station for two houses and six flats. The Oxford Road police station has closed as part of a property savings drive by Thames Valley Police. Front counter services have moved
A 13-classroom block and £4m canteen is the latest part of a £12m expansion plan for a Wantage secondary school. The new three-storey building would also be a community centre for evening classes, King Alfred’s Academy has said. The academy
A 23-year-old man has been arrested following a court hearing in which Ben Blakeley admitted he had killed his girlfriend Jayden Parkinson, 17. Thames Valley Police said threats were allegedly made against someone in the public gallery during the
Inspiring stories of hard work, talent and selfless dedication were celebrated at the seventh annual Oxfordshire Youth Awards. Rachel Bayne reports ARECORD 1,800 people applauded the selfless efforts of young people from across the county at the Oxfordshire
YES says Rosanne Bostock, organiser of OxClean and member of the Oxford Civic Society OVER the weekend of March 7, Oxford Civic Society organised two litter-picking groups in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys for the annual OxClean Spring Clean
The family of a two-year-old girl killed in an accident with a reversing car has paid tribute to her this afternoon. Ellie-May Doran died on Saturday afternoon shortly after the collision at Oaks View Park in Upper Arncott, near Bicester. In
Steve Coppell once used the quote “The best discipline is self discipline” – words that rang true and have been lodged with me ever since. A loss of discipline seemed to cost two of my old teams, Chelsea and Oxford United, three points on Saturday
Trains between Oxford and Banbury are running at slow speeds because of sheep on the line. Network Rail said spokesman Anne Marie Batson said they were alerted to the problem at 9.30am. They sent staff to assess the situation this morning but
RECOMMENDATIONS on how Oxford’s planning system should be changed have been put forward following the Castle Mill controversy. The city council’s planning officers have drawn up an action plan which lists changes to be made following the independent
The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in the county has fallen, latest official figures have revealed. A total of 4,627 people were claiming the benefit in February, down 135 on the previous month according to the Office for National
I REFER to Maryam Ahmed’s, pictured, article concerning the university lecturers’ strike. She states that only eight per cent of the University and College Union membership voted for industrial action. It seems to be the common response of employers
I have followed with interest, and dismay, the article and correspondence on the removal of timber under ‘Logs for Labour’ from Brasenose Woods and Shotover, pictured right. Those involved in conservation work (I have volunteered conservation work
BADGER CULLING IN October 2012, the House of Commons voted by 147 votes to 28 against the badger cull, but the Government ignored this and Owen Paterson, the minister responsible, did not even attend the debate. The Government has also consistently
CHILDREN made a rainbow when the Science Roadshow came to their school. Pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School in Carterton received a visit from Oxford University engineers and mathematicians last Thursday. The scientists are touring county
SHE has taken thousands of calls from patients over two decades. And now, doctors’ surgery receptionist Gilly Cox is preparing to retire after more than 19 years working at the health centre based at Barton’s neighbourhood centre. The 64-year-old
I am writing concerning the closure of Witney main post office transferring business to a completely unsuitable venue (March 12). I would like to correct the belief that this is done to save money. It is being done to make money for shareholders
AS a Wantage resident, I’m disgusted by the amount of litter in the town, grassy areas and roads surrounding Wantage. Certainly it would be nice if people didn’t drop litter, but I can't remember when I saw street cleaners. I now take a plastic
AN emergency visit to dispose of old unwanted paint for a friend to the Redbridge recycling centre was a massive shock because of the disarray of the site with no instructions of what goes where – the layout of the bins and the access to and from the
THE YES VOTE: Over the weekend of March 7, Oxford Civic Society organised two litter-picking groups in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys for the annual OxClean Spring Clean, says Rosanne Bostock, organiser of OxClean and member of the Oxford Civic Society
Close your eyes for a minute and use your imagination. You are at the fairground watching the dodgem car rides. The cars are whizzing around in all different directions bumping into each other and there is lots of crazy noise. Think about what
ORGANISERS are hoping more children will get involved in this year’s Chipping Norton Literary Festival. The event, which is now in its third year, will continue to include authors for youngsters and is branching out to include more schools.
SUSPECTED arson attacks badly damaged two sheds in Cowley last night. Firefighters from Slade Park fire station and Rewley Road fire station used jets and a thermal imaging camera to tackle the fire in Barns Road. They were called to the blaze
THERE’S nothing that signals the arrival of spring quite like the sight of newborn lambs. And first-time farmer Lauren Marriott and her husband Dan are hoping they’ll be the first of many born at their farm in Little Wittenham, near Wallingford
BRADLEY Smith is confident extensive preparation throughout the winter has put him in position to make a flying start when the MotoGP season begins in Qatar this weekend. The 23-year-old is no longer a rookie and he begins a second season in the
NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) are well known for opposing new homes. Now a new breed of NIMBY has appeared in Kidlington – Not In My Badgers’ Yard. The Government has been agreeing new laws to speed up the planning process, but conservation groups
COUNTY council bosses have agreed a series of major transport strategies for different parts of Oxfordshire which are designed to boost the local economy by clearing congestion on busy routes. Some schemes, such as improvements to the Milton and
AN RAF doctor did not properly examine a pilot who later died in a plane crash alongside his teenage passenger, a tribunal has heard. Dr Douglas Wyper said Flight Lieutenant Mike Blee, from Abingdon, was fit to fly before the mid-air collision
An inquest into the death of a soldier who was repatriated through RAF Brize Norton last week is being transferred to his home area of South Tyneside. Army engineer Sapper Adam Moralee, 23, was killed in an accident at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan
A man died from a heroin overdose on Boxing Day, an inquest heard yesterday. Matthew Ducharme, 30, from Leicester, was found unconscious in his partner’s home in Ribston Close, Banbury, on December 26 last year. At an inquest into his death
The jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of a bouncer accused of raping a woman in a town strip club. Ali Kacani, 32, of Lidsey Road, Banbury, denies two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, allegedly carried out in the
POLICE are trying to trace the owners of a group of horses which escaped onto Oxfordshire’s roads this morning. Two of the horses were killed in a collision with a lorry on the A34 northbound at about 2am. Police shut the road near Weston-on-the-Green
THE curriculum in Oxfordshire is taking a lesson from the Far East. Larkmead School in Abingdon yesterday devoted the day to Tabla drumming, Bollywood dancing and Indian cooking. The Indian Day was part of the school’s 2014 Arts Week. Chloe
Two men have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery of a Headington betting shop. The 18-year-old suspects, both from Headington, were last night in custody after being held on suspicion of armed robbery and firearm offences. Police
A jury has been sworn in the trial of a woman accused of an attack on another woman. Joanne Moriarty , 31, of Hart Street, denies attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) to Samantha Hutchinson with intent to do her GBH on March 8 last year
A 34-year-old man who denies causing a crash by pulling the handbrake on in his girlfriend’s car while she was driving has appeared at Oxford Crown Court. The trial of Terry Stoute, of Cresswell Close, Reading, who used to live in Kidlington, was
WITNEY Town Council needs to get guidance on how to become more open, according to one of its members. Duncan Enright has sent a letter to mayor Peter Dorward suggesting that the council seeks advice on how to improve its transparency. His
SCRABBLE just got a bit more interesting. About 900 new words and phrases have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) this month. In the first update of the year, the new words include bestie (a person’s best friend), a bookaholic
AN INQUEST into the death of an OAP who collided with a reversing car while driving his mobility scooter opened yesterday. Richard Woolford, a retired mechanic of Evans Lane, Kidlington, died on March 9 at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.
AN ARTIFICIAL badger sett will have to be created if a developer is to go ahead with plans to build a house. Graham Flint, the director of Pye Homes, has already received planning permission to build a five-bed property in Webbs Way, Kidlington
NORTH BERKS LEAGUE LEADERS Dorchester were held to a 2-2 home draw by champions Saxton Rovers in Division 1. Jamie Fleet and Alex Kerry scored their goals, with the visitors netting via Louis Bloomfield and an own goal. Second placed Ardington
OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE OAKLEY maintained their four-point advantage at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 success at bottom club Garsington. They had Shayne Almond (2) to thank for the points, as he showed come clinical finishing and
A MAGNIFICENT four-timer from Oluwapelumi Maxwell helped Littlemore to a 5-3 victory over Stanford and maintain their 100 per cent record in the Under 11 Spring E League. The visitors trailed 3-1 at half-time to goals from James Reed and Cameroon
Vale of White Horse Under 15s’ best performance of the season wasn’t enough to prevent a 2-0 defeat at Southampton in the Wright Cup semi-finals. Despite defending superbly, with Luke Ballard and Matt Kinchin outstanding and keeper Anthony Hart
Oliver’s Hill benefited from a change of scenery to open his account at the first time of asking for Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon at Wetherby yesterday. Having shown glimpses of form in a bumper and a novices’ hurdle in Ireland for
NORTHWAY passed the 50-goal mark for the season with a 5-2 home defeat of Barton United in the Under 15 C League. Captain Julian Maher headed the hosts into the lead before the break, but goals early in the second half from substitute Daniel Ribeiro
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE ZUBRY Oxford pulled off the day’s shock result by holding Premier Division leaders Cowley Marsh Eagles to a 1-1 draw. Midfielder Michael Filipcwisz scored for the visitors after meeting a ball from Tomasz Samoluk, with
FRIENDS of teenager Connor Tremble are to hold a fundraiser in his memory. The 17-year-old died after he was attacked and repeatedly stabbed at his Iffley Fields home in Oxford last month. Now friends are hoping to raise money to pay for projects
Oxford City won the Under 16 County Cup for a third consecutive season with an emphatic 6-0 success against Chinnor at Thame United. City started the strongest and a number of excellent chances went begging. However, they took the lead on 11 minutes
The A34 has reopened after an earlier collision involving a lorry and two horses Thames Valley Police are trying to track down the owners of two horses killed in this morning's collision Two sheds were damaged
Oxfordshire Under 14s slipped to a 2-0 defeat against Dorset in the Reed Trophy at Milton United. Oxon fell behind after ten minutes when they failed to clear a corner, and Isaac Atherley drove the loose ball home. The hosts dominated possession
Mollie Dyer hit a sparkling hat-trick in Didcot Girls’ School’s 4-0 win at Wallingford in the ESFA Girls’ Under 14 PlayStation Schools’ Cup quarter-final. Dyer slotted home Didcot’s opener, before doubling their lead ahead of half-time after latching
GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE Zak Farrow delivered a double as North Leigh stormed to a 5-0 win at Launton Boys in the Under 14 Knockout Cup semi-finals. Callum Davies, Cory Donohoe and Ollie Stacey were their other marksmen. Josh Moon
BERKS & BUCKS JUNIOR CUP WANTAGE Town A, from North Berks League Division 2, will bid for final glory against Penn and Tylers Green Res on May 3. Town saw off the challenge of fellow league rivals Abingdon United Res 2-0 in their semi-final
NORTH BERKS CHARITY SHIELD RADLEY came unstuck as they crashed out in their third round replay against Division 3 Burghclere 1-0. Kye Franklin scored the only goal to see off their higher league opponents. East Hendred went down 3-1 in
Jonny James will achieve a lifetime’s ambition by playing at Wembley Stadium next month on a day when he hopes to reignite his football career. The 26-year-old from Wantage has played his way through to the final stages of the Budweiser Open Trials
AFC Hinksey manager Kevin McMahon has been reported to the Oxfordshire FA for “disciplinary irregularities” following the fiery Division 1 East encounter against Milton United on Saturday. McMahon was not shown a red card by referee Craig Boyles
OXFORD United’s Johnny Mullins is due to find out how long he faces on the sidelines when he visits a specialist today. The 28-year-old went for a scan on the ankle he injured in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Chesterfield. He left the ground on
Four young men have gone on trial accused of kidnapping a teenager and ordering him to strip naked in a field. Yesterday the group, who deny the charge, appeared at Oxford Crown Court and heard the prosecution outline the case against them.
A FIRM that put up unsafe scaffolding in a busy Oxford street has been fined £10,000. Darren Baker Scaffolding Limited has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation into scaffolding put up outside Debenhams
HE has won various swimming championships over the years. But now 16-year-old Nat Armstrong says he feels he has been left on his own by the NHS because of a condition he can’t get treatment funded for. The City of Oxford Swimming Club member
West Witney missed the chance to pull clear at the top of the Witney & District FA Premier Division after being held to a 2-2 draw by Hanborough. Craig Johnson and Dan Smith scored for Hanborough, with Shaun Rayfield and Kev Lewis replying
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE Devenney Cup ABBA Athletic pulled off a shock away victory over Premier Division AFC Jericho to advance into the semi-finals. A goal from Jimmy Durrell ultimately proved the difference, giving the Division 3 side a
THE A34 Northbound has reopened at the Peartree Interchange after an earlier accident. It was closed for several hours after a collision involving a lorry and two horses. It happened between the A44 Woodstock Road (Peartree Interchange) and
THE World Pooh Sticks Championships this month will have a Mother’s Day theme. On Sunday, March 30, mums will be invited to dress up to win the fancy dress mum competition, and kids are welcome to join in. The championships, pictured – based
Oxfordshire County Council has approved the extension of Carterton Community College. At a meeting of its cabinet yesterday the council agreed to alter the upper age limit of the school, allowing it to provide education for children aged over 16
A bid for £37m for funding towards care for the elderly has been approved. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the bid at its meeting yesterday and the bid will be submitted to NHS England by April 4. If granted, the money would be
OXFORDSHIRE’s bid for a growth fund from central Government has been approved by the county council. At a meeting in County Hall yesterday Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the strategic economic plan which will be submitted to the
A SERIES of transport plans across Oxfordshire, including long-awaited action to tackle jams in Witney, have been approved by county council leaders. But after the planswereapproved yesterday, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council criticised
PLANS for a £6.6m civic building, hotel, office and retail units have been submitted to complete the regeneration of Bicester’s town centre. Cherwell District Council will effectively decide whether to give itself permission to construct the five-storey
Oxford City gave their hopes of avoiding the drop in Skrill North a power of good as they came from behind to beat fellow strugglers Histon 2-1 at Marsh Lane last night. The win – their first since Boxing Day – saw them narrow the gap on Histon
A FATHER and son are to tour the stadiums of all 92 clubs in the Football League to raise money for charity. Darren Bungay and his 11-year-old son Richard will travel 2,800 miles from April 3 to April 12 in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE HEDLEY TOMS THE only game played in the competition saw a 2-0 win for Sporting Headington Academicals over Freeland Yeoman, allowing them to overtake their opponents and go second in Group B. A brace from Tim Wright
Skipper Stuart Hole scored from just inside his own half as North Leigh won 4-0 at Cinderford in Calor Division 1 South & West last night. Hole spotted the home keeper on the edge of his area and fired home on 33 minutes. Elliott Osborne-Ricketts
THIS season’s AG Kingham Cup final will see a Division 4 side take on opponents from a league lower. Division 5 Wallingford Town Res made it two semi-final victories in as many weeks as they won 3-1 against Division 2 Faringdon Town Res. Wallingford
Hailey edged out Abba Athletic 3-2 in their Oxfordshire FA John Fathers Junior Shield quarter-final tie. Jacob Hambidge scored a brace with Hailey goalkeeper Danny Rayfield also finding the back of the net for the hosts. Rafael Garcia-Krailing
Young furniture designers’ work will go on display at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. All objects in the exhibition have been designed and made by second-year foundation degree students from the Rycotewood Furniture Centre, at City of Oxford
Cancer patients are to take part in a pioneering research trial run by Oxford University leaders. One group will take increasing dosages of a new drug CXD101, which is known as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that kills cancer cells by blocking
ST John Ambulance leaders are looking for volunteers to join their growing team of first aid cyclists. The St John Ambulance Cycle Responders are hoping to more than double the size of their teams across Oxfordshire. There are currently nine
