OXFORDSHIRE businesses are going for growth as the county economy continues to buck the trend. That is the conclusion of the Business Barometer, a major survey of the county’s economy which shows 70 per cent of firms reporting a rise in turnover and
Martin Morley, 49, of Speyside Close, Carterton, admitted drink-driving in Burford Road, Minster Lovell, on February 21. Had 65 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above legal limit of 35. Fined £400, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. Banned
A GRANDFATHER will celebrate his 77th birthday by throwing himself 100ft off a building this weekend. And a Headington woman will remember her late father’s birthday by taking a leap of faith. The charity abseil at the John Radcliffe Hospital will see
PLANS for an out-of-town supermarket and shops must be thrown out to save a town centre scheme, town councillors have said. Banbury Town Council said the plan for the Kraft foods site in Southam Road would hit the redevelopment of the Bolton Road area
CAMPAIGNERS will hear within two months if a legal bid to stop the controversial £33bn HS2 rail link is approved. Group 51M, made up of councils up and down the line, is seeking permission to launch a judicial review over a Government decision to press
AS PLANTS and flowers start to bloom this spring, pensioners in Greater Leys have particular reason to smile. Forty residents from around Blackbird Leys spent last year transforming a piece of abandoned land into a community garden. The members of the
IN Saturday's Oxford Mail you'll find 10 great offers to be able to celebrate St George's Day at one of our partner pubs. On our special St George's Day page there are vouchers to use across the county. For example, there is a buy one
ROYAL reporter and author Robert Hardman will be sharing his unique insight into life at Buckingham Palace at the Chipping Norton Literature Festival as he talks about his Jubilee book Our Queen. He will be one of more than 50 authors speaking at the
DIDCOT Girls’ School pupil Eve Norris is taking on the iconic role of Eva Peron in the musical Evita. Eve, 18, pictured, from Steventon, is starring in an Oxfordshire Youth Music Theatre production of the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
A COACH involved in a pile-up on the M40 was an Oxford Tube, it has been confirmed. Stagecoach bosses said they were investigating the crash between junctions four and three in Buckinghamshire this afternoon. Unconfirmed reports suggest none
A CRASH involving an Oxford coach and up to eight vehicles has closed the M40. Police said the crash, said by eyewitnesses to have involved an Oxford Tube coach, happened between junctions four and three southbound, shortly before 4pm.
PLANS for new disabled parking spaces in Bicester and Chipping Norton have been scrapped. Oxfordshire County Council proposed creating a space in Moor Pond Close, Bicester, but residents said the road was normally clear of cars. And
AFTER seeing the depth of sacrifice from UK and US service personnel, an Oxfordshire resident plans to cycle across America to fundraise. Tom Von Kaenel, from Freeland, near Witney, will cycle 4,200 miles to try to raise £5m for UK forces charities,
A NEW Bicester perimeter road will open next week more than two years ahead of schedule. Countryside Properties has confirmed that the road, from the new roundabout on the A41 across the new Kingsmere housing estate to Howes Lane, will officially be
GENEROUS people are being invited to join a fast-paced Dragon’s Den-style event aimed at bringing donors and good causes together. Funding Network Oxford’s ‘giving’ event will offer four community projects six minutes each to make a pitch to an audience
CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to quarry sand from fields near their homes are scenting victory following an eight-year battle to block the plan. Construction company Hanson wants to extract 880,000 tonnes of sand for building work from 70 acres of land
A FIRM which specialises in plant pots and garden products is set for major growth after switching its headquarters to Banbury. The Stewart Company, which also makes products for the catering and aerospace industries, has taken over a 178,000 sq ft office
A NEW sushi bar has opened in Oxford promising fast, healthy food from local suppliers. Chefs at Sooshe, in the Covered Market, create the Japanese-style delicacies using ingredients from neighbouring market traders. It is the brainchild of Ori Halup
Andrew Wiffen’s father, Terry, played for Oxford City FC, Abingdon Town FC and Kidlington FC, but died of a brain tumour in 2007. His 36-year-old son is running in his memory. The plumber at Brasenose College said: “I hope to raise about £5,000. Last
FIREFIGHTERS were honoured at an awards event staged by Faringdon Town Council. The town’s fire station won the Community Achievement Award at the ceremony this month. Station manager Nick Bourke said: “It’s the first time that the station has been
POLICE have issued images of six men they want to speak to in relation to more than £1,000 of damage at a bowling alley. Yobs are thought to have smashed a window above the entrance to Bicester Bowl, at Bicester and Ploughley Sports Centre, in Queens
PAINTER John Piper’s love of the Church can now be witnessed in an exhibition at Dorchester Abbey. For the first time, a temporary art gallery has been established at the abbey so visitors can get a close look at the artist’s lifelong fascination
DANCERS, stilt walkers and a jazz band will entertain the crowds at Bicester’s Diamond Jubilee street party. Bicester Avenue Garden Centre stepped in to host the party after a main sponsor could not be found in the town centre. The Big
Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill could run either Bon Accord or More Trouble in the Southern Grand National mixed open at the Kimblewick Hunt meeting at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, tomorrow (2pm). The pair feature among a 12-strong entry for the four-mile
Experienced trio Rob Williams, Daniel Rowe and Chad Keegan come into Oxfordshire’s side for the opening Minor Counties Cricket Association Trophy game against Cornwall at St Austell on Sunday. They were unavailable for Oxon’s 50-over friendly win against
OXFORD: A takeaway delivery driver tried to bargain with a mugger who robbed him at knife-point. The victim was delivering food in Brome Place, Barton, when he was threatened on Tuesday night. Two men from Oxford have been arrested on suspicion
BANBURY: Police and bomb disposal experts were last night working to find out more about a suspicious item giving off fumes on a building site. The fire service and police were called to Middleton Road at about 12.40pm yesterday and the road was closed
REDUNDANCY costs totalling £170,000 have been paid out in Oxfordshire under a controversial shake-up of the NHS, according to the Labour party. Government figures obtained by the party show the cash was paid as part of changes to give GPs instead of
SEVEN rowers from Oxfordshire clubs reached the finals of the Great Britain Under 23 trials at Caversham. Twin brothers Scott and Mason Durant, from Oxford Brookes, were on opposite sides in the men’s pair final. Scott and his fellow Brookes partner
EYNSHAM: A 17-year-old boy was arrested on Wednesday afternoon over two distraction burglaries. Last night an extension was granted by Chief Insp Colin Paine. The teenager was still in police custody being questioned over distraction
RARE butterfly species are winging their way back to Oxfordshire because of last year’s warm spring. Butterfly experts say the conditions last spring were perfect for the insects, which emerged weeks earlier than normal, as they appealed yesterday
Oxford City Nomads joint boss Justin Merritt has praised his side’s resilience after they won the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division title. Back in November, City trailed Ardley United by ten points, but an unbeaten run of 21 matches saw them
AFTER watching his side fail to convert performances into results in recent games Oxford United manager Chris Wilder urged his side to make it count at Plymouth Argyle tomorrow. United head to Devon on a run of four games without a win, their worst sequence
FOLLOWING a breathless first season as a senior professional, Cristian Montano could be forgiven for feeling dizzy, but the livewire winger is loving every minute of Oxford United’s play-off push. Less than ten months ago, the West Ham youngster had
MARCUS Barney, who caused the death of an Oxfordshire woman four days before her wedding almost six years ago, has been extradited back to the UK after going on the run to Australia. Barney, pictured, was jailed for seven years in 2007 for causing death
NORTH Oxford slipped to a 5-1 defeat at Maidenhead in the Aegeon Team Tennis League Southern Regional Division. Joe Cartledge provided North Oxford’s only success with a 6-2, 6-1 singles win over Philip Downs. Ruben Rivero-Ramos took a set
THE train arriving at Radley station yesterday morning looked rather different from the usual diet of Thames Turbo diesel commuter trains. Class A4 Pacific locomotive No 4464 Bittern, above, steamed into the station at the head of a Cathedrals Express
COLLEAGUES from two Army regiments bore the coffin of murdered soldier Michael Foley at his funeral yesterday. Representing 4 Logistic Support Regiment, based at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, and the Adjutant General’s Corps, six soldiers carried
JAKE Wright is convinced Oxford United will be playing in npower League One next season – if they finish in the play-offs. With just 270 minutes of football remaining in the regular season the U’s are locked in a battle to finish in the top seven.
Oxford City boss Mike Ford says his side will do everything in their power to prevent tomorrow’s visitors Brackley Town winning the Premier Division title at Court Place Farm. Ford’s old club Brackley need a point to seal the crown, though City can catch
DEVELOPERS behind a controversial new block of student flats yesterday claimed it would improve views of the area for train passsengers. An inquiry into plans to build 74 flats in Mill Street, West Oxford, opened at St Aldate’s Chambers yesterday. The
Banbury United striker Howard Forinton says he is willing to play a part in tomorrow’s Premier Division relegation battle with Leamington – despite competing in the London Marathon 24 hours later. Forinton, who aims to finish in under four hours and
We are writing to express our incredulity on reading the report of the recent Ofsted inspection at Eynsham Primary School and on reading the article in the Oxford Mail (April 5) on the subject. As current or recent parents and having had a great deal
I APOLOGISE to residents of Bayswater Road, Barton, because my attempt to pass on their concerns and representations at the county council’s planning and regulation committee on Monday did not weigh sufficiently with Oxfordshire’s county councillors.
I WANT to draw readers’ attention to an unfolding humanitarian crisis that is going largely unnoticed by the world. In West Africa, more than 10.5 million people are running out of food and starvation is imminent. While no amount of funding can make
FOLLOWING my letter published last Friday, regarding modifications to my ailing cousin’s state benefits, the Department for Work & Pensions is now claiming, following inquiries on his part, that although his total income has indeed been substantially
Botley, Oxford, angler Colin Howse (pictured) tempted this cracking crucian carp weighing an impressive 3.1.0 from Marsh Farm’s Harris Lake, near Guilford. It was a personal best and he also had another smaller crucian, plus four small tench, on soft
The Conservatives held the Watlington county council division in a by-election yesterday as voters chose a replacement for Roger Belson, who died on Boxing Day after a heart attack. Caroline Newton was elected with 865 votes, Liberal Democrat
CHINNOR head coach Jason Bowers says his players must not look beyond tomorrow’s National 3 South West clash at home to Chippenham (2.30). Victory over Chippenham would guarantee Chinnor a home promotion play-off against either Ampthill or Tonbridge
RUMOURS Oxford United are interested in a prolific non-league striker have been laughed off by manager Chris Wilder. United have been linked with a move for Hyde’s Scott Spencer, who has scored 30 goals in 30 starts to fire the Blue Square Bet North
REGARDING the house at 29 Old High Street, Headington (Saturday’s Oxford Mail), I know that people who live in that area are upset by the sight of a building boarded up in their neighbourhood, but spare a thought for the people at Wood Farm, using Leiden
I SEE that after many years of talking and doing nothing, Horspath Parish Council is about to attempt to drain the village burial ground. The council says this is the first round of drainage to see if it works before considering other options, and contractors
THERE nestles in an inside pocket of one of my jackets a one-inch-square plastic bag containing both a large and a small button, each waiting to be called into service should the need arise. The pocket also houses my wallet and it was while
MILES Welch-Hayes is pictured with the Kevin Durham Memorial Cup at the Kassam Stadium before Oxford United’s game with Gillingham last weekend. The skilful and energetic youngster, who plays for United’s under 16 centre of excellence side,
flasher carried out an indecent act in front of a woman on the Thames towpath, near Grandpont Nature Reserve, South Oxford at 2.15pm on Wednesday. The man, aged about 20, was wearing a black jacket and white cap. Call Pc Peter Ciechan
THE position of Sheriff of Oxford may well sound outdated to some. But now it seems Jean Fooks has used her position to ride in to save trees bordering Port Meadow. Ms Fooks is worried about the environmental impact and how the tree chopping will affect
THE Polish Second World War veteran Kazimierz Michalski, who lived in Oxford for more than 50 years, has died at the age of 104. Mr Michalski, who was featured in the Oxford Mail when he fought off a thief in his Thorncliffe Road home at the
KAZIMIERZ Michalski experienced more of life than most – and that was nothing to do with his impressive old age. Mr Michalski fought during the Second World War and was a survivor of the Russian Gulags. It was this fighting spirit which then led him
THE Sheriff of Oxford has ridden in to stop Network Rail chopping down trees on the fringe of Port Meadow. The rail infrastructure company began cutting down trees on the edge of track bordering the historic meadow last week. It was part of
OXFORDSHIRE children suffering from heart problems will finally know in July exactly where they will be receiving treatment in the future. Children’s heart surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford ended in 2010 after four deaths, just as the
“I’m doing it to ease the traffic” was just one of the excuses given to police stopping drivers using the Seacourt park-and-ride lane to skip traffic queues yesterday. Pc Glenn MacRae and Pc Steve Higa were out for 90 minutes and stopped 20 motorists
Oxford City Council’s main telephone lines went down yesterday morning after a computer failure. The problem affected the 01865 249811 and 0800 227676 lines between 7.30am and 10.45am. Shortly after the fault was reported, calls were transferred to
SCOTT Rendell says he has just as much riding on Oxford United’s push for the play-offs as anyone else in the squad – despite being contracted to another club. The 25-year-old joined the U’s on loan from Wycombe Wanderers in January and will stay until
A POLICE operation has revealed that almost one in five drivers is ignoring the 20mph speed limit in Oxford, but the speeding motorists will not be fined. St Giles, Binsey Lane, Ferry Hinksey Road, Mill Street and Richmond Road were targeted
VOLUNTEERS at the Oxford Food Bank took delivery of a new fridge which will help feed hundreds of struggling families and people in the city, thanks to a £10,000 donation from the Oxford Mail’s parent company. The Gannett Foundation awarded
