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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

Headington Headlines #245

TonyOX3

Your weekly round-up of local news for 14 – 20 December.

The Hospital Energy Project information machine has still to start functioning. Despite several attempts by a number of people including me, there’s still a discrepancy between the Trust/Vital and County Highways over when the All Saint’s Road work will be finished. The Trust say 27 January, the County’s traffic order says 17 January. They both agree it starts on 4 January.

On the positive side a meeting this coming Tuesday should see a Liaison Group set up, with representatives from the affected roads, Councillors, the Hospital Trust and contractors Vital Energi taking on the task of sorting out the inevitable problems. It’s not a public meeting but does include people who volunteered at the open meeting on 9 December. I will be reporting on the outcome. There is another article, including a mention of the liaison meeting, in the Oxford Mail.

BBC local TV news on Tuesday night featured a report on parking spaces, or the lack of them, for car club cars (see also HH 240). Headington Transport Group’s Charles Young was featured; also Cllr Roz Smith.

Despite widespread cynicism in some quarters, Headington/Barton/Risinghurst “Team Purple” came top of the City Council’s recycling league competition last week.

Skipton Building Society’s first anniversary celebrations went well, as this report tells. It was also covered by @ThatsOxfordTV as part of Headington’s @LiveAdvent2015, with photographer @RossMackenzie talking about his work.

Holy Trinity Church, Windmill School and Headington Quarry School staged an outdoor, travelling nativity play in Quarry on Friday with real sheep and ponies. Their route went from the Coach House in Quarry Road, to the church, and then to the Mason Arms before finishing at Headington Quarry School.

I can’t really make one of my own tweets the favourite of the week, but here it is again.

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

  • Disruption
  • Lost watch
  • X90

A Merry Christmas to you all!

Headington Headlines #235

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 5 – 11 October.

@Oxford_Framing joined twitter.

@Oxford_Brookes‘ public art project “The Rain Pavilion” was finally on full view last weekend, just in time for the rain on Monnday.

Wood Farm Health Centre in Leiden Road reopened as Wood Farm Healthy Living Centre after a complete refurbishment, although the change of branding doesn’t seem to have reached its website yet.

The full planning application for student accommodation on the corner of Latimer Road is now on the City Council’s website (ref 15/00858/FUL).

Full marks to Leaders letting agency @LeadersOxford who took advantage of the total breakdown of civil society caused by bagmageddon by giving away reusable shopping bags carrying their logo.

The Diocese of Oxford wishes to recruit a Vicar for St. Mary’s in Barton. The church has entered into a partnership with St Aldate’s in the city centre which it is hoped will benefit both churches.

My favourite Headington-related tweet of the week:

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

  • Open Magdalen Wood Tree Felling
  • Stolen ‘children crossing’ banners in Quarry
  • New Recycling promotion
  • Bus drivers and London Road
  • “Longwall is coming up fast”
  • New Recycling promotion
  • Friends of Bury Knowle Park still active?
  • Cars and vans driving and parking on the pavement
I 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.