Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 26 August – 1 September.
To many people’s surprise @OxfordshireCC launched a consultation asking for thoughts on traffic and transport problems and solutions in and around Headington. Read my comments here and respond to the Council here.
In Thursday’s debate on Syria Local MP Andrew Smith @OxfordLabourMP voted for the Labour amendment (which failed) and against the Government motion backing military intervention. Oxford’s other MP @NicolaBlackwood (Con) voted the other way.
A nasty episode came to an end when two people, one of them from Bonar Road, were jailed for four years for a prolonged and vicious assault on a man living in Wood Farm.
The @Victoria Arms beer festival happened over the weekend, and @TheMasonsArmsHQ‘s beer festival is next weekend.
The White Horse on the London Road has started charging people to use its car park. It’s to deter students and commuters using it for long-stay parking. A two-hour stay costs £2. If you spend £5 or more in the pub you get your £2 back.
The ninth annual Barton Bash took place on Saturday.
Headington Road Runners @HeadingtonRR staged the Headington 5 run on Sunday. The event earned some criticism because a marshalling error meant the route was only about 4.5 miles, disappointing some competitors who’d hoped to record good personal times for 5 miles.
Someone is stealing the toilet rolls from Bury Knowle Park toilets. So far police have not appealed for information, but some awful jokes did the rounds on twitter (no, I’m not repeating them).
Feel-good story of the week – a young man, Jorge Villaescusa, who lives in Headington chased after a bike thief in Cornmarket and was able to return the bike to its grateful owner.
There are some significant Headington meetings coming up in the next two weeks. On Wednesday this week the East Area Planning Committee meets in the Town Hall to decide on the planning applications for Bury Knowle Park depot and the Warren Crescent garages (which might affect the Lye Valley SSSI). See the e-democracy forum for more information on these two. The following week the Headington Ward Focus meeting on Tuesday 10th has the County’s transport strategy as the main topic and County officers have said they will attend. The Headington Transport Group is meeting on the same day, again with the transport strategy as the main agenda item.
Active topics on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week:
- Lilac rubbish sacks and compulsory wheelie bins
- Headington Transport Strategy Consultation
- Planning meeting re Bury Knowle Park depot, and Warren Crescent