Headington Headlines #282

TonyOX3

A day later than usual, here is your weekly round-up of local news for 5 – 11 September.

The heatpipe project cleared two hurdles, bringing work closer to a start. On Monday Vital Energi got consent for the necessary street works licences and on Wednesday the East Area Planning Committee (EAPC) granted planning permission for the works. The planning permission is subject to 20 conditions (several of them standard) and two ‘informatives’. Cllr @RuthWilk posted a useful summary before the minutes appeared online – they are now available in draft on the Council’s website.

Despite some campaigners still talking about legal action, the main problem for Vital Energi and the Trust is the co-ordination of work between this project, Access to Headington and the work on the Latimer Road student accommodation now officially named Beech House.

All my posts about the project are under the ‘Energy Project’ tab in the main menu, and there’s a page of links and contact details here.

At the same meeting the EAPC also gave planning permission for the Northway and Marston Flood Alleviation Scheme, and the demolition of two houses in Waynflete Road, Barton to allow access to a substantial housing development on the land behind which is in South Oxfordshire District. And in a heavy agenda they gave permission for an extension to Holy Trinity Church in Quarry, and refused permission for a three storey housing development on the site of the old Quarry Gate pub. Details of all these are in the draft minutes cited above.

Following last week’s link to @citizenofanvard‘s blog about The Kilns, here’s the follow-up post about Holy Trinity Church @HTHeadQ, especially the Narnia window and C S Lewis’ grave.

Marston-based Oxford City FC @OxCityFC narrowly avoided being put into liquidation when they were able to pay an outstanding tax bill at the last minute. Talks with potential new sponsors continue.

Thames Water’s emergency sewer work at the junction of Windmill Road and Old Road has been causing major traffic delays. Work is apparently going to continue through this week. Oh, and the water company put warning signs at the London Road junction instead of Old Road ‘by mistake’. *sigh*

A new 880 pupil Free School in Oxford – the “Swan School” – has been talked about for at least the past year. It now seems likely it will be located on the site of the Harlow Centre next to St Nicholas Primary School in Marston despite concerns about the extra traffic it would generate. An alternative site in Osney Mead seems to have fallen out of consideration, not least because of uncertainty over Oxford University’s plans for the area.

Headington’s newest restaurant Buongiorno e Buonasera is having its Grand Opening on Friday this week. It’s where the bed shop on the corner of Old High Street used to be, in case you’ve not noticed it.

A suggestion surfaced that part of the regeneration plans for Barton might involve the demolition and rebuilding of Underhill Circus.

Tenants of Oxford’s five tower blocks who own their leases under right-to-buy legislation – including Wood Farm and Northway – are challenging the Council’s plans to charge them up to £50,000 each for refurbishment and renovation work on the blocks. Pictures in @The Oxford Mail seem to show that at least some of the internal work has been carried out without much concern for how it looks. The Council has to apply to a special tribunal, the Property Chamber (no, I hadn’t heard of it either), to sanction the charges.

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

  • Reply M Clarkson
  • Cuts
  • Disruption
  • Campaign Against Cuts to Services at Horton Hospital Banbury
  • Proposal for 880-pupil school for Raymund Road, Marston
  • Lost Passport
  • Community Choir, Headley Way, sessions resume Monday 12th Sept