Headington Headlines

Headington Headlines #66

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 18 – 24 June —

The Sikh community’s application to establish a Temple on the London Road was approved by the City’s Planning Officers despite local residents’ concerns over parking congestion.

Headington Co-op has submitted an application (12/02373/PREM) to extend its licensing hours for the sale of alcohol on Sundays from 0600 to 2300, starting Sunday 22 July. This is in line with the government’s decision to relax Sunday trading restrictions for 8 weeks from that date so traders can cash in on the Olympics and Paralympics.

The @ACECentre charity based in Windmill Road has been saved from closure by joining forces with a similar operation in Oldham. The charity supports young people and adults who have communication problems. The closure threat was reported in April, attracting interest from Andrew Smith MP and PM David Cameron.

Pickwick’s Guest House sign has been re-erected after being blown down in the recent storm, so we’ll all know where to turn into Sandfield Road again.

There is now a pink bank for recycling small electrical items in the Waitrose car park. Having raised the query I can confirm that although energy-saving bulbs should be recycled because they contain mercury they should NOT be put in the pink bin (because they’ll probably break, apparently). Instead you should take them to Homebase, Robert Dyas (in the city centre) or Sainsbury’s at Heyford Hill who all collect them for recycling. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) which are the commonest of the new low-energy bulbs should not be put in domestic waste disposal bins of any colour. More info here and my blog post attempting to clear up the confusion here.

The new road in the development between Manor Hospital and the London Road is to be named Blackburn Close in memory of Barbara Woodhouse’s mother.

Two boys aged 17-yrs and 15-yrs were sentenced to 3 years in a young offenders’ institute, and a six-month youth referral order and a three-month 7am-to-7pm curfew respectively for stabbing a man on his own doorstep in Valentia Road last November.

@TVP_Oxford appeals for information after a burglary at the Jack Russell pub, Salford Road, Marston early on Wednesday morning.

There was a burglary in Dunstan Road sometime during Thursday evening. The Police are appealing for information.

@106jackfm was in Headington on Tuesday and gave away £600 in their “Runaway” promotion.

Friends of Old Headington (and that’s all of us surely) held their Gardens Open day yesterday (Sunday).

Active topics on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week:

  • Begging outside Budgens/Greggs
  • Headington to Wheatley Cycle Path
  • Sikh temple in Cherwell Drive
I try to cover news from the OX3 postcode in Headington and out as far as Barton, Sandhills and Risinghurst (see map). To feed into next week’s summary you can comment on this article, or tweet either with the hashtag #ox3 or @mentioning @TonyOX3.

Headington Headlines #65

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 11 – 17 June —

An exceptionally wet day on Monday caused flooding in several areas, including the main cross-roads in the centre of Headington. @HeadingtonNews took a picture.

Thames Water has lifted the hosepipe ban, though the state of drought is still technically in force and the company is still encouraging everyone to be frugal in their use of water.

Dr Jenny Shute, who practices at Bury Knowle Surgery and King Edward Street Surgery, was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours for her services to British skiing after 20 years of work for the sport.

The City Council has been deliberating over the future of the Old Marston Conservation Area and its conclusions are due soon. Several threats to the area have been identified and residents are actively participating in the discussions. @TheOxfordMail has a report.

New fencing for the Sandfield Road play area is being installed.

Active topics on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week:

  • Begging outside Budgens/Greggs
  • Arriva 280 bus from Headington to City centre
  • Lack of seating in Bury Knowle Park
I try to cover news from the OX3 postcode in Headington and out as far as Barton, Sandhills and Risinghurst (see map). To feed into next week’s summary you can comment on this article, or tweet either with the hashtag #ox3 or @mentioning @TonyOX3.

Headington Headlines #64

TonyOX3

Back again, and here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 4 – 10 June —

The weekend saw Diamond Jubilee celebrations in parts of Headington. @headingtonnews captured two street parties in pictures. Sandfield/Staunton roads | Highfield and New Headington

I reported in Headington Headlines 62 that McDonalds franchisee Carl Room had won an award for his charity work supporting Ronald McDonald House in the JR Hospital. The charity ovides accommodation for parents whose children are having treatment in the hospital. After delays due to holidays I now have some more information in the form of this press release which describes Carl’s involvement and recognition more fully.

If you want to go to the Olympic Torch Relay celebrations in South Park on Monday 9 July you have to get a free ticket. Instructions and links here. Only available to Oxford City residents (which seems to mean people with a residential address/postcode paying Council Tax to Oxford City).

Inadequate and misleading road markings for cycle routes in Old Road were criticised in the press.

Warneford Meadow, a town green owned by the NHS, is up for sale. Local groups have until 23 July to express an interest otherwise it will go on the open market.

Friday’s high winds brought down a large branch of a tree in Bury Knowle Park onto the pavement on the London Road, and the Pickwick’s Guest House sign also on the London Road.

The Planning Inspector who will hear the West Barton development plans held a public meeting at the Town Hall on Thursday to explain how the hearing will be conducted.

Six gardens in Old Headington including The Coach House and White Lodge opened on Sunday as part of the National Gardens Scheme.

The Kennett Road dental practice has a new website.

Martin Young wants his firearms licence back.

My favorite Headington-related tweet this week:

Active topics on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week:

  • Olympic event in South Park, Monday 9 July
  • Warneford Meadow, Oxford – Notice of Intention to Dispose
  • Headington’s Mr Chocolate celebrates four years of success!
  • Arriva 280 bus from Headington to City centre
I try to cover news from the OX3 postcode in Headington and out as far as Barton, Sandhills and Risinghurst (see map). To feed into next week’s summary you can comment on this article, or tweet either with the hashtag #ox3 or @mentioning @TonyOX3.