Headington Headlines

Headington Headlines #354

TonyOX3

Your weekly round-up of local news for 22 – 28 January.

The County Council has published a road closure notice in connection with the postponed Access to Headington work on Headley Way. It gives a start date of 12 February. According to @RuthWilk the work will go ahead if the Oxfordshire Growth Board agrees (and finds the money) on 1 Feb.

Churchill Ward Councillor Susan Brown @SusanBr86682854 has been elected as the new leader of Oxford City Council. She will take up her post as Bob Price retires next month. Linda Smith @LabLinda75, Blackbird Leys, is Deputy Leader elect.

Oxford Brookes published their plans for a development of 350 homes on their Wheatley Campus site. The site is in South Oxfordshire DC. They have applied for outline planning permission (ref P17/S4254/O); follow the link to see the documents and comments.

Illustrative layout
Illustrative layout
Image: gva.co.uk

It turned out that the tortoise found at Cheney School last week was none other than Tallulah, reported missing from a house on Old Road six months ago. Her incredible 322 metre journey made the national press.

A temporary building was installed in front of the A&E Department at the JR on Sunday. It will accommodate a GP surgery aiming to filter out arrivals who do not need full hospital treatment.

Bill Heine collected his Certificate of Merit on friday.

The latest set of nominations for the City’s Heritage Asset Register has been published and is open for public consultation. OX3 is well represented in this batch – details here.

I wrote a piece about a marketing shot that has gone round locally from Pharmacy2U which tries to persuade you to order your repeat prescriptions through them. I invite you to read the article before deciding whether or not to use them.

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

  • How do we get County to fix this ongoing flooding?
  • Reply re Barton park
  • Beech House
  • Concerns re parking prices in Headington

Headington Headlines #353

TonyOX3

Your weekly round-up of local news for 15 – 21 January.

The start of the Headley Way Access to Headington work due to start today has been delayed at least until February. The reasons given are that the County Council has “concerns over costs, utility diversions and technical issues relating to the hill section between Marsh Lane & the hospital”. I really hope to be wrong but I fear the cycle paths will be the first casualties of any cost saving.

On the same subject, see @RuthWilk‘s post on the local e-democracy forum.

The Co-op are advertising for a Store Manager in ‘New Headington’, but the postcode says it’s the one on Cherwell Drive.

Proposals in the City Council’s draft budget include car parking charges in Headington going up from £1.70 to £2.50 (min. 2 hrs). Follow the link for information on how to object. Local Councillors had a petition stall at the Headington Farmers’ Market on Saturday.

Congratulations to Oxford Brookes University Rowing Club @OBURC, winners of the Oxford Mail Sports Team of the Year award. Full list of winners here.

Bill “Father of the Shark” Heine will receive a Special Certificate of Merit from Oxford City Council on Friday this week in recognition of his charity and broadcasting work. Only three other people have been given this award: Marios Papadopoulos, the founder and music director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra; the former Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Hugo Brunner; and Helmut Kollig, the mayor of Oxford’s German twin town, Bonn. Former Lord Mayor John Power opposed the shark being given planning permission and as quoted in the Oxford Mail still appears bitter about the whole episode.

But most people, I think, have grown to love the shark so here’s my favourite Headington-related tweet of the week.

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

  • Access to Headington – latest on Headley Way/Windmill Road phases
  • Beech House
  • How do we get County to fix this ongoing flooding?

Headington Headlines #352

TonyOX3

Your weekly round-up of local news for 8 – 14 January.

@ScienceOxford, the people developing Stansfeld Park as a science centre, are starting a series of events called “Science on your Doorstep”. The first one is about the plans for Stansfeld Park and is on 25 January. Details here.

Old Marston Parish Council @OldMarstonPC has agreed to fund the building of a footpath on the south side of Elsfield Road from the cemetery to Marsh Lane.

Elsfield Road, Old Marston
Elsfield Road, Old Marston

More from Old Marston. The Parish Council has a new Chair, Duncan Hatfield, after John Batey stepped down from the role. Tony Greenfield is the new Vice-Chairman. Duncan has been an unsuccessful candidate for the Conservatives in recent local elections. Tony Greenfield has a little-used twitter account @Iamonetoo.

If Latimer Road residents thought they could enjoy a bit of peace now the building of Beech House is winding down, they’ll have to think again. Work is just starting to expand St Luke’s Hospital by adding another storey to accommodate 25 more beds.

Thames Water is closing part of Lime Walk this week, with diversions through Stapleton or Bickerton Roads and All Saints Road. Apparently it’s possible the work may only take three days.

The Ward boundaries in the city are under review by the Boundary Commission and there’s a consultation running where you can submit your own ideas. See my post for more detailed information.

The Oxford Mail published the nominations for its annual food awards, but none of the eateries in OX3 made it to the shortlist.

Regardless of that, on Saturday the @ButchersArmsOX3 celebrated the fifth anniversary of their current incarnation with a mini beer festival.

There were no new posts on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week.