cycling

Headington Headlines #131

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 23 – 29 September.

As expected, the East Area Planning Committee approved the outline plans for the Barton West development at their meeting on Tuesday evening.

New ‘Cyclists Dismount’ bollards have been installed at each end of the footpath connecting Parry Close and Purcell Road in Marston.

As Morrison’s opening edged ever nearer a notice appeared advertising for staff. You can apply online but hurry, the closing date is the end of the month.

There’s a possibility Wood Farm and Lye Valley might become a new controlled parking Zone.

The Barton Young Achievers Awards dinner was held on Saturday. Reports from, among others, @VanCllrvcoulter @SharonDirckx @ThriveBarton and @Robin_Peake were unanimous in their praise.

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

  • Bus Users’ Forum Tue 15 Oct
  • Quarry Gate pub
  • County Council service changes
  • New Headington bus routes
  • Betting Shop Licenses
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 #129

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 9 – 15 September.

Details emerged in The Oxford Mail of the £16.6m contribution the Barton West developers (Grosvenor Estates and Oxford City) will make to infrastructure projects supporting the development. The City’s East Area Planning Committee held a public Q&A session devoted to Barton West on Thursday.

Unease over what is seen as an imminent invasion of big-chain supermarkets into Headington continued to grow as it became clear that both @OxFurniture and its next-door neighbour @UpandRunningUK have been given notice to quit. Oxford Furniture is hoping to find alternative premises in Headington. Up & Running say they will continue trading in Headington but as yet have not said where – if they know themselves yet. There are rumours that Oxfam might be bought out too despite their longer lease and recent refurbishment. If so that would make a row of three shops available.

The Fairview Inn is back on the open market. It has been declared an Asset of Community Value but locals have faied to raise the money to buy it which this would have allowed them to do. Read the back story here.

The newly upgraded cycle path from Edgeway Road to Croft Road has opened. Picture c/o @HeadingtonNews.

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

  • Supermarkets in Headington
  • Proposed Changes to Green Road Roundabout
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 #126

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 19 – 25 August.

The improvements to the Croft Road cycle path in Marston have been delayed because the company supplying two bridges has gone bust, according to a message on the Marston Cycle Path flood information message board.

The official announcement of the new Headington bus routes finally emerged on Monday. The services are being subsidised with £1.2m from the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). I assume that’s £0.4m for each of the three years of the initial contracts. Peter Headicar of Oxford Brookes University sent me a considered appraisal.

The people who run Brambles own the business and the premises. They’re selling because they want to retire.

@SunderSandher, who runs the Londis store, has reminded everyone that the shop will soon be open 24hrs a day.

The Wood Farm neighbourhood policing team moved to a new base at the Churchill Hospital on Tuesday.

The planning application to build three houses on the car park next to the Crown & Thistle on Old Road has been approved.

The Prime Minister has a bad back. It is thought he was treated at the Nuffield on Monday.

The campaign by Cllr @laurencepbaxter to persuade Oxfordshire County Council to reinstate the right turn into Risinghurst from the A40 continued. He tells me that if the County Council can’t or won’t fund a crossing with safety improvements – preferably a crossing with lights – it would be difficult to justify re-opening the turn.

Ther are reports that Hill View Farm in Marston may be turned into a conference centre. A twitter account @SaveOxfordFarm has been set up but as yet hasn’t really got going.

My favourite Headington-related tweet of the week:

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

  • Crown and Thistle
  • New Headington Bus Routes
  • Hill View Farm, 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.