Bury Knowle

Headington Headlines #127

TonyOX3

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
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 #123

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 29 July – 4 August.

Residents in John Snow Place, which was one of the places targeted in a police drugs raid last week, have set up a neighbourhood watch scheme.

In a road safety check in Headington on Tuesday morning @tvprp stopped a driver who was using a mobile phone and found he had no licence or insurance – and promptly seized the car.

Quarry & Risinghurst Labour Councillors @delia_sinclair and @LaurencepBaxter have a facebook page.

A company called “Headington Food and Wine” has applied for an alcohol licence at the shop that trades as Keraleeyam Stores on the London Road. It’s not clear if it’s the same operation or not. The application is for off-sales only, from 0800 to 2130.

Oxfordshire County Council announced their plans for road improvements to cater for the new Barton West development. The most significant changes will be the new bus and cycle crossing of the A40 and replacment of the double mini roundabouts on Cherwell Drive with traffic lights.

[Updated 11:30 05/08/2013] @Robin_Peake, part of the @ThriveBarton team, is exploring the possibility of setting up a credit union in Barton. He tells me this is a personal initiative, not a ThriveBarton project.

Table-tennis promotional organisation Ping! @ping_tweets put on an everyone-join-in table-tennis event in Bury Knowle Park on Saturday. [Ping! is produced by Sing London and is delivered in partnership with the English Table Tennis Association and supported by National Lottery investment from Sport England.]

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

  • Plans for the new Barton estate now available
  • Supermarkets in Headington
  • Environmental noise – new Sainsbury store
  • Workshop next week
  • New all weather Cricket Pitch in Margaret Road playing field
  • Disorderly conduct?
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 #112

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 13 – 19 May.

Chris Scanlan, city councillor for Barton & Sandhills ward from 2006 to 2010, has died. His funeral took place on Friday. An obituary is here.

The Oxfam shop re-opened on Wednesday after its major refurbishment.

Greene King have sold The Black Boy in Old Headington @TheBlackBoyFood to Everards.

Oxford City Council wants to improve facilities at city parks including Bury Knowle.

The ‘eyesore’ Marywood House in Wood Farm owned by Oxfordshire County Council looks likely to be sold for development. Marywood House was formerly used as a Social Services hostel but it has been vacant and derelict for a number of years. Oxford City’s Sites and Housing Plan (policy SP33) says “Planning permission will be granted for residential development at Marywood House. Planning permission will not be granted for any other uses.”

Starting today, BBC Radio Oxford is featuring Headington on its Big Tour. Timing is variable but there will be an item every morning on the @PhilGayle breakfast show. On Friday there will be live broadcasting from the Farmers’ Market.

My favorite Headington-related tweet this week:

And if you don’t know what a Bakfiets is ….

Don’t forget the next Neighbourhood Forum meeting is on Tuesday evening. Details on the Headington Plan website.

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

  • Sad news: Death of Chris Scanlan
  • Bedroom Tax Demonstration – Saturday 16th 1pm – Bonn Square Oxford
  • Oxford’s Lord Mayor Joins in Oxford Polish School 10th Anniversary
  • A Neighbourhood Plan for Headington
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.