House blaze in Cowley Road (From Oxford Mail)
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House blaze in Cowley Road
4:32pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News
House blaze in Cowley Road
A HOUSE in Cowley Road is currently on fire, sending smoke billowing into the road.
Fire crews were called to the property near the Cowley Road Methodist Church at around 3.45pm.
They are currently still there battling the blaze.
A police spokesman confirmed Thames Valley officers were also in attendance.
Comments(25)
Joe Chapman
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5:12pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Joe Chapman
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5:13pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Dilligaf2010
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6:13pm Wed 15 Feb 12
brained assassin
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7:11pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Dilligaf2010 wrote:Why would you want to demolish these buildings?! They could be so beautiful if they were just properly maintained.
I don't suppose there's a planning application to demolish pending is there?
Dilligaf2010
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7:50pm Wed 15 Feb 12
brained assassin wrote:I wouldn't, I'd rather see old buildings restored, but developers think differently, so a fire would be beneficial to them.
Dilligaf2010 wrote:Why would you want to demolish these buildings?! They could be so beautiful if they were just properly maintained.
I don't suppose there's a planning application to demolish pending is there?
kikkamaria
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8:14pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Danny A
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9:35pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Andrew:Oxford
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9:50pm Wed 15 Feb 12
kikkamaria wrote:Do squatters "rights" over-ride the local by-laws on HMOs?
The house was actually occupied by squatters, (several homeless people seen around Cowley Road). The owner was processing the papers to get them evicted because they had presented their squatting rights. - The police say they couldn't evict them as they were not seen as a threat to the safety of those in the area - I'm sure!
mrploppy
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11:14pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Andrew:Oxford wrote:If they were renting then yes. A crucial point I fear you overlooked.
kikkamaria wrote:Do squatters "rights" over-ride the local by-laws on HMOs?
The house was actually occupied by squatters, (several homeless people seen around Cowley Road). The owner was processing the papers to get them evicted because they had presented their squatting rights. - The police say they couldn't evict them as they were not seen as a threat to the safety of those in the area - I'm sure!
Lady Penelopee
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9:46am Thu 16 Feb 12
Danny A wrote:Why would Landlords intentionally leave properties empty?
It's far too cheap and easy for landlords to leave properties empty in this country. There should be a significant financial burden placed on landlords in prime locations to ensure that no property is wasted.
They'd have to pay 90% council tax at the very least.
Perhaps they were building up funds to restore the building?
Dilligaf2010
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10:53am Thu 16 Feb 12
Lady Penelopee wrote:That's a question that's being asked all over the Country, there are hundreds of thousand empty properties, it beggars belief considering how many homeless there are.
Danny A wrote:Why would Landlords intentionally leave properties empty?
It's far too cheap and easy for landlords to leave properties empty in this country. There should be a significant financial burden placed on landlords in prime locations to ensure that no property is wasted.
They'd have to pay 90% council tax at the very least.
Perhaps they were building up funds to restore the building?
The Big Issue
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11:44am Thu 16 Feb 12
Dilligaf2010 wrote:That happens to derelict pubs and other buildings where planning consent is refused:I'm wondering if the police see the link?
I don't suppose there's a planning application to demolish pending is there?
Not fussed whether there are any squatters inside, saves paying for drug rehab..
Dilligaf2010
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11:52am Thu 16 Feb 12
The Big Issue wrote:I believe police are now investigating this fire, so maybe they do
Dilligaf2010 wrote:That happens to derelict pubs and other buildings where planning consent is refused:I'm wondering if the police see the link?
I don't suppose there's a planning application to demolish pending is there?
Not fussed whether there are any squatters inside, saves paying for drug rehab..
Lady Penelopee
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3:30pm Thu 16 Feb 12
Lady Penelopee wrote:Actually, I know someone with an empty house. He can't let it out as he doesn't have enough equity for a BTL mortgage and lender won't give consent, so is selling it instead (he's re-located for work), but this is taking ages as sales keep falling through due to mortgages being pulled or conditions being changed. It's been empty about 8 months now.
Danny A wrote: It's far too cheap and easy for landlords to leave properties empty in this country. There should be a significant financial burden placed on landlords in prime locations to ensure that no property is wasted.Why would Landlords intentionally leave properties empty? They'd have to pay 90% council tax at the very least. Perhaps they were building up funds to restore the building?
xjohnx
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6:54pm Thu 16 Feb 12
Almost nobody deliberately leaves empty property unrented without good reason.
Darkforbid
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7:57pm Thu 16 Feb 12
leaves empty property
unrented without good
reason.┄
however lots do, theres loads in this city.
Anyway seems like the police are holding Bernard, in connection with this, but he was at the Steppin' Stones centre, so letting him go would be a good idea
virgotae73
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11:09am Fri 17 Feb 12
LORD PETE MCVAY. OX2 6EG
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10:54pm Fri 17 Feb 12
Danny A wrote:Another brainless quote. It is up to the owner of a property to do as he wishes as long as he is within the law. What has is got to do with you what a person does with his own property?
It's far too cheap and easy for landlords to leave properties empty in this country. There should be a significant financial burden placed on landlords in prime locations to ensure that no property is wasted.
kikkamaria
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11:40pm Fri 17 Feb 12
xjohnx wrote:exactly!this is not the first time there have been squatters in the house, maybe the landlord was waiting for the insurance from the last time they ruined the house. I'm imagining Bernard is the homeless man always on Cowley Road, who was squatting there?
In my experiance as a landlord, its problems with getting BTL mortgages or landlords insurance or both (ever wondered why you can't have a dog in private rentals, for instance). Renting an empty property is the best way to make sure its not squatted. Sometimes properties are left empty because the authorities take ages giving planning permission, also the cost of refurbishment can be prohibitive.
Almost nobody deliberately leaves empty property unrented without good reason.
simplicissimus
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5:16am Sat 18 Feb 12
Danny A wrote:Squatting rights are the bigger problem, so thank heavens the Tories will make squatting the criminal offense it should be.
It's far too cheap and easy for landlords to leave properties empty in this country. There should be a significant financial burden placed on landlords in prime locations to ensure that no property is wasted.
Stalinists, of course, oppose the idea of personal property, but love giving the State ever more intrusive control over and into free individuals' lives.
The smaller the role played by government in the life of a nation, the healthier will be that nation, and ours is pretty ill after 13 years of the last shower.
Cowley Rd. currently encapsulates much of what is wrong in Oxford, and crime levels are shocking. It could be cleaner and safer.
The police must be having a laugh. Was this arson?
simplicissimus
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5:21am Sat 18 Feb 12
mrploppy wrote:Don't understand you, Ploppy. If squatting, they're not renting.
Andrew:Oxford wrote:If they were renting then yes. A crucial point I fear you overlooked.
kikkamaria wrote:Do squatters "rights" over-ride the local by-laws on HMOs?
The house was actually occupied by squatters, (several homeless people seen around Cowley Road). The owner was processing the papers to get them evicted because they had presented their squatting rights. - The police say they couldn't evict them as they were not seen as a threat to the safety of those in the area - I'm sure!
Now that there's been a fire, has TVP or the fire service ruled out arson? Negligence? Fire is a threat o the safety of those in the area, after all.
kikkamaria
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3:39pm Sat 18 Feb 12
sparky123456
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1:46pm Mon 20 Feb 12
SteveOX4
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6:32pm Mon 20 Feb 12
sparky123456 wrote:"Bernard Day, 39, of James Street, Oxford, admitted three counts of begging in public in Cowley Road on November 26, December 11 and January 6. Given an 18-month conditional discharge and told to pay £85 costs. "
bernard. who the hells bernard?! in my opinion that row needs to be turned in to some affordable 1 and 2 bed flats with a few parking spaces. maybe that will happen now.
From February 2011.
Lady Penelopee says...
4:56pm Wed 15 Feb 12