Two of three housing schemes spearheaded by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud have been approved tonight. Councillors voted in favour of plans to build 21 flats at Westlands Drive, Northway at the Oxford City Council east area planning committee
A TEENAGER was arrested after a man was gestured and sworn at in an alleged racially-aggravated incident. A 53-year-old man was walking along Broadway in Didcot with his wife at about 1.30pm today when police said he noticed two men and two women
IS it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s an unusually tall bike ridden by a postman. Pete Thompson, of Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford, was spotted atop his bespoke contraption on his way to work on Monday morning. The 42-year-old will not be
Farmers Patrick and Christine Gale have donated land to their village church so it can extend the graveyard. The land at Appleford, near Abingdon, was consecrated on Sunday last week by the Bishop of Reading, Andrew Proud. The Rev Helen Kendrick
ROYAL Marines have been putting schoolchildren through their paces. Visitors from Oxford Royal Marines careers office in St Giles gave pupils at Larkmead School, Abingdon, a taste of life in the forces. Dale Saberton, 23, said: “The purpose
HEALTH chiefs say there is no link between cancer deaths and properties in a street near Oxford. South Oxfordshire District Council launched an investigation following concerns from a resident of Mickle Way, Forest Hill. David Hawkins said
THE Government has intervened in controversial housing schemes at Bloxham and Banbury. Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles will now make a final decision on 75 homes off Barford Road and 85 off Milton Road, both
JUST browsing the list of activities beckoning from the brochure had me craving a lie down. Kayaking, wakeboarding or a Trim Trail with the EX34 sports instructors? How about a session on the high ropes, adventure golf, bungee trampolining,
A CAFE has opened its doors to the public as part of a £2m project to renovate two 400-year-old barns at a church in Abingdon. The scheme to convert the buildings at Christ Church in Northcourt Road was launched in 2010. The cafe is in barns
TWO new distribution warehouses in Sutton Courtenay could create 2,000 jobs, it emerged today. London-based Diageo Pension Trust Ltd announced plans for the distribution and logistics buildings on land west of Didcot Power Station, off Sutton Courtenay
This recipe is one of several featured in Ladies in Pigs brochure Give a Fork about Your Pork, printed to help spread the word about just how tasty, versatile and wholesome pork is now. All the recipes in this booklet have been devised and tested in
This week I thought I’d dabble with technology and the allotment and, specifically, device etiquette on the plot. I recently stopped taking the Blackberry with me on allotment visits. Yes, because it is a modern-day distraction, whose tweets
When I first visited Meadow Farm, close to the village of Blackthorn near Bicester, I really didn’t know what to expect because the impenetrable roadside hedges concealed the site from inquisitive eyes. I was full of anticipation because I’d heard
Liberace always bowed down at the altar of excess. “Too much of a good thing is wonderful,” he famously proclaimed. No doubt the flamboyant entertainer would have approved of the bouffant hairstyles, outlandish fashions and gaudy decor — referred
Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera has become a worldwide phenomenon since its unveiling more than 25 years ago. Now a new phenomenon has emerged in its wake: Three Phantoms, a gala evening of songs, anecdotes
Drama JEKYLL AND HYDE Blackwell’s June 8 – July 6 Call 01865 766266 or creationtheatre.co.uk Creation is back, this time with the famous story of good versus evil which plays itself out in the body of one man. Jekyll & Hyde
‘So a comedian walks into a church...” So begins Paul Kerensa’s new act, set to arrive at Wesley Memorial and Cowley Road Churches tonight. Kerensa’s stand-up routine is a bit unusual in that he’s not actually planning on making fun of the church —
Sir — As a graduate of Worcester College, I am appalled to observe the current Provost, Professor Jonathan Bate, objecting to a modest development of student flats proposed by Exeter College that may spoil the private view from his study, while remaining
Sir – You have published letters suggesting that it is no great loss if Oxford University’s oversized blocks of graduate flats obscure the view from Port Meadow of the tower of St Barnabas Church in Jericho. But its tower, Italianate in contrast
Sir – A forgotten aspect of the Roger Dudman development is that it has closed the very useful cycle path that led from west of the railway station to Port Meadow, Walton Well Road and North Oxford. Cyclists who used to use this route are now
Sir – The article (May 23), about Exeter’s proposed development plans for the former Ruskin site in Walton Street states ‘...the plans have been broadly welcomed by the Jericho community’ and an earlier article on April 25 about the same proposal included
Sir – With the rebuilding of the Clarendon Shopping Centre coming on apace, and Hansons being the contractor delivering concrete along New Inn Hall Street on UK National Cycle Route 57, now is a critical reminder to all cyclists, especially women,
Sir – The Times this week published its list of the top 50 museums in the world and we are lucky enough to have two of them here in Oxford. Yet it continues to baffle me that a new home still hasn’t been found for the Museum of Oxford since it
Sir – First Great Western initially told me a return to Abergavenny would be £87, but it transpired that I could have “Supersavers” to and from Swindon and a return from Swindon to Abergavenny for a total of just £37.50. If it makes commercial
Sir – For many years, the people of Oxford have been waiting for the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre. Now, at last, it seems work might actually start. The city council’s David Edwards outlines the proposal — a massive new car park with 1,100
Sir – It is clear that Oxford City Council has taken a difficult decision to rebuild Blackbird Leys swimming pool. However, in the light of protests from Blackbird Leys residents who do not want such a grandiose new pool, not least because it will
Sir – Mr Tyce (Letters, May 16) is almost certainly right that given the chance the residents of Thame would have voted for fewer than 775 houses in their local plan. On the other hand, it is also almost certainly the case that if house-builders
Sir – Imam Monawar Hussain (Report, May 16) is quite right to state that all ethnicities are capable of committing crimes of comparable depravity to those committed by the Muslim men convicted as part of the child sex gang in Oxford. However, there
Sir – Last week you referred to former Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell’s blog, in which he criticises police and social workers for lateness in intervening in the Oxford child abuse case, speculating on “political correctness” (by
Sir – One lucky group of residents has the opportunity to jump to an electric future (Electric plans trundling along, May 23). The search is under way to find ten neighbours to participate in an 18-month electric vehicle trial. Off-road
Sir – The State of Nature conservation report shows a dramatic decline in UK wildlife that should act as a wake-up call for all of us. Due primarily to human activity, 60 per cent of UK species have declined in just 50 years. We are now in
Sir – Nesting doves are being disturbed while work is taking place at the Hills-Homes, development off Witan Way, by the River Windrush, in Witney. These beautiful ‘white doves of peace’ have nested here for generations. I am tired of waiting
Sir – In response to the letter What is fee for? (May 23) Oxford Playhouse is a charity. Over the past two years, the county council, city council and Arts Council England have made substantial cuts in funding to arts organisations. Introducing
You can serve it light and sticky-sweet, or you can stir in a strong flavour of dark foreboding: Engelbert Humperdinck’s German fairytale opera Hansel and Gretel can be played in many different ways. For award-winning director Olivia Fuchs, however
Sir – You have published several letters from me over the past eight years since I started my drive to obtain from the British Government a campaign medal for Bomber Command in the Second World War. The last one in December last year was titled
Sir – I’d like to thank everyone involved in making Levellers’ Day the fantastic success it’s become. It really was a wonderful day and the hundreds who attended certainly enjoyed the procession, stalls and events. Special thanks must go to the
ALEX Phillips, 10, was among visitors to an eye-catching event at Oxford’s Museum of the History of Science. Alex got to see creations by visiting artist Stephanie Douet, who helped visitors make objects of optical illusion. Museum spokeswoman
LAST year’s Sue Ryder Women of Achievement Awards saw nominations for Abingdon Military Wives Choir and Oxford’s first Green Lord Mayor. Now the hunt is on for more of the county’s female high achievers. The seventh annual Women of Achievement
PLANS for a £400,000 all-weather football pitch on Didcot’s Ladygrove estate have been abandoned. Work was due to start in the autumn to create an artificial pitch on Didcot Town FC land at Loop Meadow. But South Oxfordshire District Council
AN EDUCATION company has gone back to the drawing board in its bid to turn a historic Headington building into a school. Swiss-based firm EF had hoped to turn Cotuit Hall in Pullens Lane into an international academy for 400 pupils. But residents
RECENTLY I had the pleasure of going to the Hay literary festival. I love trips away but as a wheelchair user it’s not simply a case of jumping in the car and finding a B&B. When planning a holiday my biggest nightmare is accommodation. Sadly
Oxford Brookes University have unveiled a new £600,000 boathouse on the Thames at Cholsey, near Wallingford. It features land-based training areas, extra boat storage and large changing rooms for the crews. Oarsmen from Brookes have won five
Football fans charged after clashes outside the Kassam Stadium will appear in court over the next two months. Thirty-two people were arrested following the Oxford United v Bristol Rovers match on Saturday, February 9. Twelve were charged with
TRIBUTES have been paid to an “old-fashioned English gent” thought to have been the oldest man in Oxfordshire. Horace Robert Arthur Preedy – who lived through two world wars, served his country and spent his working life helping others, died on
A NEW £10m waste plant near Wallingford is turning Oxfordshire’s food rubbish into power. The anaerobic digestion plant in Benson Lane – called Wallingford AD – collects food and garden waste from all the district councils and Oxfordshire County
OXFORDSHIRE’S Olympic gold medal winning men will go for glory in an eight this summer, it was announced today. Andy Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed and Alex Gregory won gold as part of the the men’s four at London 2012. They will now spearhead Britian
A MUM-OF-TWO lost her job on a Boots beauty counter after she left work when her young children were rushed to hospital, an employment tribunal heard yesterday. Anna Golonka, from Trent Road in Didcot, is suing the High Street giant and beauty
PUPILS at a village primary school turned forensic detectives for a day to learn about science. More than 50 youngsters aged seven to 11 took part yesterday in the forensics day at St Amand’s Primary School in East Hendred. Headteacher Helen
FORMER Oxford Harlequins centre Chris Tuatara-Morrison will line up against the British & Irish Lions in Perth this morning. The 26-year-old New Zealander has been handed the Western Force’s No 12 shirt in what will be his debut for the Super
Former Oxfordshire cricketer Jon Batty has embarked on a coaching career after a successful time in the professional game. The 39-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman, who retired last September after a first-class career spanning 18 years, is now the
Aston Rowant have been accused of “pricing themselves out of the market” after Oxfordshire’s Minor Counties Championship match against Herefordshire in August was moved to Banbury. Five county youth games – including the ECB Under 17 Cup matches
The Cricketer Village Cup Tiddington defied the odds with a 19-run win at home to Aston Rowant in the Oxfordshire semi-final. The Cherwell League Division 2 side were bowled out for 167 off 39.2 overs after Rowant won the toss and put them
THE West Way Community Concern Group, because of deep disappointment with the consultation process being conducted by Doric, the proposed developer of the West Way, has conducted its own survey and consultation. I was very encouraged by the positive
ACCORDING to Tony Blair: “It’s a problem within Islam” that caused the Woolwich atrocity. In reality it’s the likes of Tony Blair that caused it. On June 2, a 75-year-old Muslim man was killed in Birmingham, stabbed in the back three times.
After all the consternation on gay marriage, I, for one married bloke, would like to apologise in advance and wish you no offence. I am not gay and I am married, I am also in my early 50s and I would appear to hold more tolerance on this issue
WE ARE used to reading bad news stories these days. Sometimes you feel down and wonder if there is any good or honesty left in society. However, travelling home on the No 500 bus (busy bus) on Friday after work, I felt really poorly so got
The payment of bonuses at any time (June 3, The secret bonuses) is always going to be controversial, especially at a time of financial austerity, but your article deserves comment. As an employee of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, I
FIREFIGHTERS were last night still at the scene of a blaze at a Bicester printing warehouse which broke out in the early hours of Monday. More than 40 firefighters were called to the fire at the Polestar warehouse at 12.55am. One crew was still
ANIMAL welfare campaigners have hit out at irresponsible pet owners following an “epidemic” of dumped pets across Oxfordshire. And the RSPCA says if the number of abandoned animals continues to rise it will reach a three-year high. Since April
JUST four firms of solicitors will be able to offer free legal aid across the Thames Valley as a result of cutbacks lawyers say will hurt the poorest and most vulnerable in society. Government plans to change legal aid will mean only four solicitors
GOING Dutch in Jack Straw's Lane (May 30) – more like going stark raving mad. What is Oxfordshire County Council doing in wasting taxpayers’ money (£70,000), on one of the looniest of ideas so far to hit Oxfordshire. It has wasted our money yet
THE very large pothole in Eynsham Road, just west of Pinnocks Way in Botley, was repaired recently. This has resulted in wheel trims being sprung off. During the past week four wheel trims have been picked up. These are now placed in front
It never seems worth it does it when you’re frantically packing to go away? The kids are all hyperactive, the car overloaded, and the husband harassed. There’s so much to do that by the time you set off on your merry way you’re cursing the very
WHAT I’M CALLED: Jane Gallagher. MY AGE: I am 45. WHAT I DO: I am Play Development Officer, working for a charity called Oxfordshire Play Association. Working to increase play in the county for children and teenagers – best job in the world
A TEENAGER is being treated by ambulance staff following a collision with a car in Abingdon this morning. The accident, involving the 17-year-old and a silver Mercedes car, happened in Ock Street, at the junction with Victoria Road, at about 8.30am
AN EVENT to open a scheme that will link unemployed people on Oxford’s estates with job vacancies was cancelled. Talent Match was to be launched yesterday at the work club at Barton Neighbourhood Centre in Oxford between 12 and 2pm. The reasons
A pedestrian has been taken to hospital this morning following a collision with a cyclist in Oxford. South Central Ambulance said the accident happened at 8.20am outside the Royal Oxford Hotel in Frideswide Square. Spokesman James Keating-Wilkes
THE willingness of people just to dump unwanted and unloved animals remains shocking. The fear has to be that while we know how many are found, there will be many more ‘disposed’ of that we don’t and that is horrifying.
THIRTY-SEVEN properties were yesterday left without water in North Oxford because of a burst water pipe. The 3in pipe broke beneath Borrowmead Road in Northway, yesterday morning. Residents said that the leak smelt like sewage, but Thames Water
A teenager has been arrested after an alleged stabbing. The 17-year-old from Bicester was arrested on suspicion of possessing a weapon after a man suffered arm injuries on Saturday. The teenager has been bailed until June 9. The alleged
OXFORD Brookes University has shot up 13 places in The Guardian’s league table of universities. The Headington-based university now finds itself in 35th place out of the 119 institutions on the list. In last year’s list Brookes was in 48th
A CITY centre alleyway has had a splash of colour added. Oxford street artist Jason Howarth spray painted a “sea life” mural for the Carfax Fish and Chips shop off the High Street. Mr Howarth, 43, said he approached the fast food shop and asked
OXFORD'S Frideswide Square has reopened after a crash between a cyclist and a car. The woman cyclist has been stretchered into an ambulance which has now left the scene. Her condition is not known. Traffic has been backing up in Oxpens
EMERGENCY services are at an incident in Ock Street, Abingdon. The road has been closed by police. The air ambulance has been sent to the scene as well as at least one land ambulance. Further details of the incident are not yet known.
OXFORDSHIRE MotoGP ace Bradley Smith will be fit to race at the Catalan Grand Prix, despite suffering wrist and hand injuries after crashing in practice at last weekend’s Italian GP. The rookie Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider fell at a high-speed downhill
THE claim by South Central Ambulance Service that it would need to have 130 ambulances to properly cover the county rather than the current 40 is staggering. The response rates outside of the city have been a problem for many years, with the ambulance
A CYCLIST has been involved in a collision with a car in Oxford's Frideswide Square this morning. Police were called at 8.27am to the incident just outside the Royal Oxford Hotel. A spokesman said the woman cyclist was conscious and being
FIREFIGHTERS are currently tackling a blaze at Oxford’s Redbridge recycling centre. Oxfordshire’s fire service was called to the scene in Old Abingdon Road at around 7.40am today. No further details of the fire a known at this stage. Do
INDIVIDUAL performances counted for nothing as the top four scorers in the Premier Section all ended up on the losing side, writes ANDY BEAL. Philip Adams was in sensational form, clanging off 16 dolls (4-6-6), but the Cricketers B went down 2-
A WOODSTOCK farmer is proving that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. For the second year running, James Price, 34, has been using fertiliser made from West Oxfordshire residents’ food waste to grow his crops. He buys the nutrient-rich
YOUNGSTERS found an outlet for creativity at a new community shop. The North Abingdon Children’s Centre was the first group to make use of the facility in a vacant unit in Abingdon’s Abbey Shopping Precinct. Number 18 Bury Street has been taken
GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE Premier/Section 1: Vikings Sports B 2, Cricketers B 1; Three Pigeons 0, Red Lion B Eynsham 3; Six Bells C Kidlington 1 Garsington Sports A 2; Red Lion A Eynsham 1, Gladiators A 2; New Club A 2, Ampleforth
A VILLAGE hall’s fortunes have been transformed following a plea published in the Oxford Mail last year. The committee that runs Littlemore Village Hall in Railway Lane was concerned that the facility was not being used by the community. Just
OXFORDSHIRE has a new team of volunteers trained to rescue people from floods. The electricians, teachers and bankers of Oxfordshire Lowand Search and Rescue (OxSAR) already give their time to help police to look for missing people. Now, after
