Headington Headlines

Headington Headlines #122

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 22 – 28 July.

New High Street was closed for several days for resurfacing.

Next street along, several residents in Kennett Road have objected to an application to create a disabled parking space. There’s a suggestion the applicant may already have somewhere to park off the street.

@TVP_Oxford raided a number of properties in Barton and Headington on Wednesday morning on suspicion of drug offences. The targets were in Cranley Road and Waynflete Road in Barton and John Snow Place on the London Road. At least one man has been charged.

News broke that @OxfordshireCC are conducting a strategic transport review of Headington’s traffic problems. Headington transport and cycling groups, Neighbourhood Plan team and other interested groups were unaware until about two weeks ago and there seem to be no plans to involve them. Describing the review as ‘major’ is rather exaggerated as the Council has apparently budgeted less than £25,000 for the consultants they have commissioned.

The cricket wicket in Margaret Road park was refurbished. Councillors @delia_sinclair @MarkLygo and @LaurencepBaxter celebrated.

Having acknowledged a while ago that their ban on smoking anywhere on site was unenforceable in practice, the JR Hospital has submitted a planning application to erect five smoking shelters.

There was a snatch robbery on the London Road on Wednesday the week before last. Police appeal for information.

Morrisons was granted an alcohol licence for 6am to midnight at the old Blockbuster shop.

Barton is getting £14,575 from @OxfordCity‘s Social Inclusion Fund for youth work, advice work and the Barton Bash.

The Film under the Stars screening in Bury Knowle Park on Saturday had to be cancelled because of the rain. @FilmOxford say it will be rescheduled for later in the school holidays.

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

  • Plans for the new Barton estate now available
  • New High Street Re-surfacing
  • Supermarkets in Headington
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 #121

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 15 – 21 July.

Despite earlier statements to the contrary two drop-in sessions were announced for people to see and ask questions about the Barton West development proposals. The dates are today (Monday 22) and tomorrow. Details here.

Oxfordshire County Council has asked for statements of interest in the Marywood House site in Leiden Road.

A teenage girl who had last been seen in Maltfield Road, Northway was reported missing on Tuesday but was found safe and well later that evening.

A cyclist was assaulted and robbed on the Marston cycle path on Tuesday. Police are appealing for information.

William Hill’s appeal over refusal of permission to change the old Cartridge World into a betting shop was dismissed. Meanwhile, a hearing has started on one of Martin Young’s many skirmishes with the Council – this time an appeal over the refusal to agree that building 2 x 2-bed flats and 3 new buildings to form 2 x 2-bed and 1 x 1-bed dwellings was a lawful use of the existing 29 Old High Street.

Cheney School wants to make a burger van move away from the school gates. The van’s trading licence is due for review this week.

The @oxonbike rack outside St Andrew’s School (aka Headington Shops) was moved to the outside of the pavement after concerns about schoolchildren’s safety.

Headington’s @NikkiLoyMusic was a finalist in Strictly Oxford at the New Theatre on Sunday. The charity fund-raising event was organised by Headington’s StepByStep Dance School.

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

  • School transport in and around Headington
  • Plans for the new Barton estate now available
  • New Headington bus routes
  • Thornhill Park and Ride Expansion Plans.
  • Empty shops in Headington
  • Fall outside Waitrose Wed 17th July
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 #120

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 8 – 14 July.

According to @TheOxfordMail some local residents are annoyed about the amount of green space developers must leave when they build houses on the Barton Road cricket site. They think there’s too much.

A woman was taken to hospital with serious burns when a house caught fire in Bernwood Road, Barton on Wednesday. It is thought the fire started in an adjacent caravan and spread to the house. Police are investigating the cause.

Sainsbury’s has applied for an alcohol licence for the shop which at the moment is still Peacocks.

The Fairview Inn on Glebelands (between the Churchill and The Slade) has been designated an Asset of Community Value by @OxfordCity. As I reported in May the pub is in the process of being sold to an undisclosed buyer after being advertised as “having alternative use potential”. Asset of Community Value status gives locals a six-month hold on the sale to give them a chance to come up with the funds to buy the property themselves. See the Save the Fairview website for the latest information.

A woman had her handbag stolen in Bury Knowle Park on Thursday 4 July. Police are appealing for information.

I’m told a nail bar has opened in the shop that was Oxford Design (London Road, near Dominos) on Sunday.

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

  • Plans for the new Barton estate now available
  • Headington Neighbourbood Plan and the Wood Farm area
  • New Headington bus routes
  • Disabled access to Headington Library
  • Noise in Quarry
  • School transport in and around Headington
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.