Barton

Headington Headlines #70

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 16 – 22 July —

The Planning Enquiry into the Barton Area Action Plan went on all week in the Town Hall. The most significant development to emerge was @OxfordCity dropping its insistence on a 40mph speed limit on the Marston – Headington section of the A40. It looks like a 50mph limit could well be agreed with housing backing onto the road rather than facng it. There will be a two-day follow-up public hearing in September before the Inspector makes a final decision.

Oxford University revealed its plans for redeveloping the Park Hospital site on Old Road. There will be four new laboratories and a multi-storey car park. The site will be developed over the next eight years “into a revolutionary science facility”. Plans include a restaurant, shop and possibly a gym available to Headington residents. The University recognises it will be required to make a substantial developers’ contribution particularly to mitigate traffic problems in the area.

Martin Young announced his intention to stand for election to the post of Police Commissioner.

Bury Knowle Park was again awarded a Green Flag.

St Joseph’s Primary School won this year’s SOS School Build competition funded by Abingdon construction company Leadbitter. The £7500 prize wil be used to build an extension to the school music room.

On Saturday the Shell garage was again targeted by @GreenpeaceOxon protesting against plans to drill for oil in the Arctic.

Instead of a favourite tweet, how about this Headington-related Curiosity of the Week? There really is a website (well, a section of one) devoted to ‘You are here’ signs.

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

  • Buddleia Bother
  • Block Connectors Invite
  • Tar and feather dressing on Old Road /The Slade
  • Parish councils in Headington & Marston
  • Recommend a gas man?
  • Save Bury Knowle Barn and Stables!
  • Events in Headington & Marston area
  • Barton Area Action Plan: see what was submitted to Secretary of State
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 #69

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 9 – 15 July —

Headington School (@HeadingtonSch) won four gold, four silver and one bronze medal at the National Schools’ Regatta making it the top rowing school in the country. Rowers from the school formed a guard of honour for the Olympic torch in South Park on Monday.

Did you miss that? The Olympic Torch relay came to South Park on Monday.

The Shell station on the London Road was targeted by protesters opposing Shell’s plans to drill for oil in the Arctic. @GreenpeaceOxford reported.

There’s a new web presence in the Barton development scene. Barton Oxford LLP is a joint venture between Grosvenor Developments Ltd and Oxford City Council – in other words they are the developers for the Barton West project. They have a new website at www.bartonoxford.org.uk.

There was a two-vehicle crash at Headington roundabout on Friday.

Holy Trinity Church (Headington Quarry) held their Summer Fete on Saturday and Churches Together in Headington held a Summer Fun Day in Bury Knowle Park the same day. [Did you notice how I managed not to put Summer in ironic quotes there?]

The Oxford City Heritage Assets Register project @OxfordHeritage joined twitter.

The Kennett Road litter bin finally got moved (it was obstructing the line-of-sight for cars entering the London Road). It’s now outside Blockbusters (picture c/o @headingtonnews).

There is another application (ref 12/01605/CT3) to convert Bury Knowle stables and barn into private dwellings. As always, headington.org.uk has the background and history of the buildings.

And in other planning news Martin Young has submitted a new application for 29 Old High Street. The application (ref. 12/01765/FUL) is for “Partial demolition of existing house and demolition of existing garages and outbuildings. Erection of two storey side and rear extension. Provision of new access, car parking and turning area. Rebuilding of stone boundary wall fronting Old High Street.”

My favorite Headington-related tweet this week:

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

  • Barton Area Action Plan: see what was submitted to Secretary of State
  • bus no. 13 route change today
  • Olympic Flame celebrations
  • Parking near Churchill Hospital?
  • Collinwood Road crossing of the A40.
  • Digest
  • Oxford Star Paper
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 #67

TonyOX3

It seems to have been a fairly quiet week in OX3: here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 25 June – 1 July —

The draft Headington Hill Conservation Area Appraisal produced in partnership between the City Council and local residents’ groups is open for formal consultation until 24 July. Be warned – the main report is 58 pages long!

The HHUG residents’ group opposing EF’s plans for an International Academy at Cotuit Hall, Pullens Lane, were encouraged by apparent support from planning officers for their claim that the Academy would require change-of-use planning permission.

A nice story from @ThriveBarton about a young Barton man’s efforts in fundraising for Thrive.

I posted two pictures (1, 2) of the refurbished Sandfield Road play area. The section for smaller children is fenced off (as requested by local residents) and there’s another area with a zip wire and other equipment for older and more adventurous kids. There are also two sets of blue-painted parallel steel bars which I think must be skateboarding features.

My favorite Headington-related tweet this week:

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

  • Sikh temple in Cherwell Drive
  • Headington Hill Conservation Area Appraisal
  • Experimental closure of gap in A40 near Risinghurst
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.