Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 29 April – 5 May.

There was an election on Thursday – two if you live in Churchill Ward. Turnout ranged from 35% in Headington & Quarry county division to 18.5% in the Churchill ward by-election. Labour were clear and unsurprising winners in all the OX3 areas apart from Headington & Quarry where two existing councillors, one Labour, one LibDem, were competing in a division with new boundaries covering part of each of their existing territory. Roz Smith (LibDem) @RosalindRogers narrowly beat Dee Sinclair @Delia_Sinclair by 31 votes, a majority of 1%. All the results for Oxford are on on my blog or more legibly on this pdf.

About half the new spaces being created at Thornhill P&R opened on Monday – that’s about 250. The remainder are due to be ready by July.

At the Headington roundabout the ‘safe’ cycle route from Thornhill proved impassable for disabled fundraiser @Claire80Lomas as she arrived in Oxford on her hand-bike on a 400 mile cycle challenge. Claire was the person who completed the London marathon in 17 days last year wearing a robotic suit. Her domestique @charliecoffee wasn’t impressed with the “cycling city”‘s response either.

Neither @oxfordcity nor @CycleOxford answered tweets on inaccessibility of Headington R’bout to hand cyclists. Disappointing. #clairescycle

— Charlie Massey (@charliecoffee) May 4, 2013

@FoodieonTour, aka Jacqui Thorndyke, blogged about Headington Farmers’ Market.

The Ruskin Arts Festival was on Saturday 4 May, the same day as a street festival at the top of Kennett Road to mark the start of Oxfordshire Art Weeks.

Oxford author @GriseldaHeppel spoke about her book “Ante’s Inferno” aimed at 9-12 year-olds to girls at @HeadingtonSch.

A project to bring Latin and classical studies to a wider section of the community is to open in Cheney School later this year.

@HeadingtonPlan has a facebook page.

A big list of active topics on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week:

• Thornhill Park and Ride Expansion Plans.
• CoNDem nasty hypocrisy
• Bury Knowle Park big swing on a pole thing
• Free family bus ticket on Arriva (can be used on 280 service in Headington)
• Local elections, May 2013
• Shop at end of Kennett Road
• A Neighbourhood Plan for Headington
• Oxford’s Polish School celebrates 10 years of Achievement!
• Oxford’s 1st Polish Business Fair
• North-East Area Forum
• Redevelopment of Northway