Headington Headlines #95

TonyOX3

As social media channels were obsessed with snow in and around Oxford, here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 14 – 20 January.

The priest and congregation of Russian Orthodox church St Nicholas The Wonderworker in Ferry Road, Marston held their annual blessing of the waters at Parsons’ Pleasure on the Cherwell on Saturday. Facebook picture.

More information came out about Oxford County Council’s proposals for the London Road Improvments Stage 3 which I wrote about after a public meeting last month. Note that it says the new scheme “delivers much greater benefits to buses and other traffic; it also minimises the impact on cyclists and pedestrians”. Cyclists and pedestrians bottom of the priority pile again then.

A woman was killed when her car skidded and overturned on the Northern bypass between Marston and Headington on Friday night (the night after the snowfall). Anyone with any further information is asked to contact the police.

Two separate accidents on Sunday evening closed the Eastern by-pass at Horspath Driftway between Headington and Littlemore.

Headington Quarry resident Dr Julia Gasper, who stood for the City Council elections last May as UKIP candidate for Quarry & Risinghurst has quit her position as Chair of the Oxford branch of UKIP. She was investigated by her party after posting “extremist and offensive” homophobic opinions on the UKIP online Members’ Forum. The Mirror newspaper broke the original story last Saturday and reports of her loss of office started appearing on Thursday. The story made The Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday when Nigel Farage confirmed Dr Gasper “has resigned”. It seems she remains a member of the party, which Farage said “believes in free speech”.
The Marr Show on BBC iPlayer is on this link. Farage is introduced at 20’45”, the issue of remarks on the Members’ Forum starts at 25’00” and Gasper is discussed at 25’57”.

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

  • Eastern bypass resurfacing postponed
  • Empty shops in Headington
  • Osler Road junction
  • Church Bells in Ferry Rd, Marston
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.

London Road Improvements (2)

TonyOX3

After the public meeting organised by Cllr Roz Smith in December (see my report) the County transport planner has released more details of the revised scheme which will go out for consultation. You can read the statement on @RuthWilk’s website.

The key features are:

  • an inbound bus lane around the outside of the roundabout from the A40 into the A420 London Road as far as a relocated first bus stop.
  • no further inbound bus lane provided and the existing outbound bus lane unchanged.
  • limited road widening needed, but only for a short distance to the east of Northfield Road.

To my great disappointment there’s nothing about improving provision for cyclists or pedestrians along this stretch of the main road. The statement even says the scheme “minimises the impact on cyclists and pedestrians”. In other words, “we shan’t be doing anything for them”.

Cyclists on the cycle track on the north (Bury Knowle) side of the road have to weave their way past lamp-posts, road sign posts, trees and a bus stop. Westbound (inbound) cyclists have a choice of the busy road and then a bus lane or an unmarked shared pedestrian and cycle path again with a variety of obstacles.

It seems the growing movement to give higher priority to designing roads and streets with cycling in mind hasn’t got through to Oxfordshire transport planners yet. Which gives me the opportunity to share this article showing some innovative thinking about bicycles and bus stops (with thanks to @ParadiseOxford for the original link).

Headington Headlines #94

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 7 – 13 January.

Police appealed for information about a burglary and an attempted burglary in Headington the week before last. The incidents happened in Peat Moors and Dene Road.

The Fire Service was called to Foresters Tower, Wood Farm late on Tuesday afternoon to attend to a small kitchen fire.

@TVP_Oxford are appealing for information or sightings of a black Range Rover LX08 YJH stolen from Merewood Avenue, Risinghurst Sandhills [corrected] on Wednesday.

The Headington Heritage blog carried an impassioned plea to prevent Bury Knowle Barn and Stables being transferred to private ownership for development. History of the buildings on headington.org.uk.

@Oxford_brookes has restricted parking at its Gipsy Lane site to visitors only. It used to be for staff as well.

@Ruskin_College‘s plans to develop Ruskin Fields for housing have been rejected by the government’s Planning Inspector.

Formal consultation has opened about @WimdmillOxford school becoming three-form entry. @RuthWilk explains why it’s important to let your views be known (again).

@RyeStAntony school has submitted two planning applications, one (12/03283/CAC) to demolish the existing bursary building, the other (12/03240/FUL) to build a two-storey classroom building, a single-storey extension to the Randall Building and a new entrance courtyard.

Oxford City councillors have approved Oxford University’s plans for a major new research complex on the Park Hospital site.

William Hill has submitted a planning application (ref. 13/00023/FUL) for a betting shop where Cartridge World used to be. The Oxford Times carried a story headlined “Anger over plans for betting office” implying that local traders were less than happy about the idea. However only one trader is quoted, saying the idea is “ridiculous” and wishing for a retail unit instead. Hardly evidence of widespread anger I suggest. There are already two bookies in Headington and for this application to succeed a change of use will be required.

I’ve started a new page on this blog specifically for planning matters: I’ll try to cover the major developments in the area. The first new entry is about the Haboakus developments in Northway.

Quite a busy week on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum. Active topics this week:

  • Scout Hall in Quarry
  • MISSING – Grey Long Hair Cat (Millie)/li>
  • Should Windmill School grow to over 600 pupils?
  • Volunteers needed to help with type 2 diabetes research
  • Good homes for used carpet?
  • Empty shops in Headington
  • Long-stay charging to begin at Park and Ride
  • Save Bury Knowle Barn and Stables!
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.