Headington Headlines

Headington Headlines #330

TonyOX3

A relatively quiet week of local news for 7 – 13 August.

The County Council is resurfacing the A40 Northern Bypass, with the road being closed at various times including over the weekend just gone and during this current week. The County’s description of the works is far from clear, with Sunderland Avenue and North Way both being mentioned. It is not clear whether the whole road from Headington roundabout through Sunderland Avenue to the Wolvercote roundabout is affected. Their description of work to be done this week reads:

A40 North Way will be closed at night between 7pm and 6am each night from Monday 14 August to Friday 18 August. The noisiest operations will be completed by 11pm each night. The road will be open during the day over this phase.

They also say:

A40 Sunderland Avenue will be closed at night between 7pm and 6am each night from Monday 14 August to Friday 18 August. The noisiest operations will be completed by 11pm each night. The road will be open during the day over this phase.

Make of it what you will. The relevant web pages are here and here.

Good news for community groups left with nowhere to meet by the temporary closure of the Bullingdon Centre in Peat Moors. The Council are installing safety props and the building could reopen by the end of the month.

The Oxford Mail carried a story on 29 High Street implying there might be some movement on the planning stalemate that has kept it derelict for many years. But there doesn’t seem to be anything new in the report, so personally I’ll be surprised if anything happens in the near future.

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

  • Extending Early Bird Discount Chinese Classes

Headington Headlines #329

TonyOX3

Your weekly round-up of local news for 31 July – 6 August.

Black Mamba Tattoos in Windmill Road has moved into the nearby Vente Hairdressers.

News broke on Tuesday that the Trauma Unit at the JR was unsafe if a fire broke out. There are several problems including, inevitably, the cladding. The Trust decided to evacuate the building and move patients and beds elsewhere in the hospital. This was completed by the end of Friday afternoon.

Connor Sparrowhawk’s mother’s personal details were leaked to medical staff facing a tribunal to decide if any of them were at fault over Connor’s death.

Barton residents are being offered a free course in video production and the chance to make a film about how they travel around the local area.

Some properties in Colwell Drive, Barton were evacuated on Thursday after a tree fell on a house. Luckily no-one was injured.

Bury Knowle Park is one of 6 Oxford Parks to be awarded a Green Flag this year.

I made a map of all 729 HMOs in OX3 (HMO = house in multiple occupancy). It’s taken from Oxford City’s published register dated 21 July 2017. Go on, take a look!

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

  • I see stagecoach has published a bus road design guide
  • Local Plan 2036

Headington Headlines #328

TonyOX3

Your weekly round-up of local news for 24 – 30 July.

Oxford City Council announced that construction of the Northway and Marston Flood Alleviation Scheme is complete, giving increased protection to 110 homes.

The closure of the Bullingdon Community Centre (see HH 326) has thrown local community groups out into the cold with nowhere to meet.

A blue plaque commemorating Edward Brooks VC was unveiled at 16 Windsor Street on Saturday. Read more here.

 

@TheSpiritofToad opened its doors to the public on Thursday, selling gin and vodka distilled on the premises. Other products will follow. Their website has been upgraded and includes a page where you can book tours (£20 & £50).

Inside the distillery
Inside the distillery
Photo: @HeadingtonNews

And their output has aleady reached as far as Eynsham!

The former ‘Cycling Tsar’ of London, Andrew Gilligan @MrAGilligan has been given a similar role advising Oxford, Cambridge and Milton Keynes on how to become more cycle-friendly. City leader Bob Price welcomed the appointment but as Oxford Civic Society noted, it’s the County that needs to take action.

@OxfordHealthNHS, which runs the Warneford Hospital, had its website hacked overnight on Tuesday/Wednesday. The site was quickly restored and the Trust says no patient data was compromised.

There are reports that the Swan School, the new Free School to be built in Marston on the site of the Harlow Centre, may stagger its opening hours in an attempt to reduce local traffic congestion. Locals reported in the Oxford Mail are sceptical. There’s more background and links to the story of this school in HH 305 and 306.

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

  • Headington Ward Focus meetings