London Road

Headington Headlines #185

TonyOX3

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

The roadworks on the London Road, Headington roundabout and the A40 started last Monday causing even more delays to traffic on the Ring Road and the approaches to Oxford, and triggering the inevitable outcry of complaints. This time the delays were so long and the complaints so loud that the County Council decided to defer the reconstruction of The Plain – due to start today – until after Christmas.

Delays on the Eastern by-pass were exacerbated on Friday morning when a car and a cyclist collided at the junction with Kiln Lane, causing the road to be closed for a time.

The Maggie’s Centre @Maggiesoxford at the Churchill was formally opened on Monday.

A developer wants to build student accommodation and some private housing on the corner of Latimer Road and London Road, on the west side of Latimer opposite Dorset House. There is an exhibition about it in the foyer of the old entrance to Brookes on Gipsy Lane on Tuesday. More information here.

Local solicitors Edward Pilling & Co., whose offices are on the London Road, has been acquired by the law firm Withy King, who have offices in Oxford, Abingdon & Thame. All Pilling’s staff will transfer to Withy King.

A new book club is starting in Headington. The Headington Pageturners are holding their inaugural meeting in @TheWhiteHartH on 12 November. The first book for discussion is Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”.

Also at The White Hart a wine club starts on Wednesday this week. For £20 you get to taste 8 wines – Spanish this week – nibble some cheese and biscuits, and take a bottle home. Phone them for details and booking 01865 761737 or tweet @TheWhiteHartH.

A blue plaque to author Elizabeth Bowen was unveiled in The Croft, Headington on Sunday.

An article about @CocoNoirOxford celebrates five years of trading, but fails to notice that Café Noir has closed. Also ‘Belgium’ chocolate?

What colour should Quarry Village Hall be painted? @RosalindRogers would like your suggestions.

My favourite Headington-related tweet of the week:

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

  • Parking at the JR
  • Quarry Gate pub
  • Parking on pavement
  • London Road “Improvement” Scheme
  • FYI: London Oct 23 Event – Social media and local political representation: a game changer or all hype?
  • Transport and the social divide
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.

Headington Headlines #183

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 29 September – 5 October.

The Foxwell Drive town green public enquiry started last Monday and is scheduled to last another two weeks.

The much talked about and much delayed London Road roadworks are due to start on 13 October – details here. County Councillor David Nimmo Smith @DNimmoSmit1 said: “Delays are to be expected throughout the time when the road works are underway and everyone is being asked to review their daily journey route, mode of transport and time of travel and where possible consider alternatives.”

A teenager was arrested after a man was assaulted near the community centre in Underhill Circus, Barton on Monday.

The Headington Neighbourhood Forum held its first annual meeting on Wednesday. The Neighbourhood Plan process now moves into a consutation phase. Leaflets are being distributed throughout the area and you can also take part in the consutation online.
Links:

Oxfordshire County Council released traffic order documents relating to the @BartonPark_ development and the A40. They cover speed limits, access at the new A40 junction etc. (with an acknowledgement that the access proposals depend on the outcome of the Foxwell Drive Town Green inquiry). I’ve combined seven documents into one which makes them even more confusing than they were. Some of them cover locations well away from Barton Park as well as those which will concern Headington and Barton readers.

@see_emilyplay reported several cars were vandalised in Bateman Street overnight on Friday/Saturday.

The Manor Surgery in Osler Road challenged David Cameron over his conference promise for GP surgeries to open 7 days a week. The surgery has invited the PM to visit the surgery and see the current problems at first hand.

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

  • London Road-Lyndworth Close-Bus stop
  • Londis
  • What now for Headington?
  • London Road “Improvement” Scheme
  • Northway Town Green application and Barton Park
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.

Headington Headlines #181

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 15 – 21 September.

It’s been Brookes Freshers’ Fair this week. A series of these stencilled messages appeared on the pavements along the London Road, ruffling a few feathers among local residents. A day or two later some attempt had been made to scrub them out. (Picture c/o @Mike_Rat.)

Labour held Quarry and Risinhurst Ward in the City by-election on Thursday. The new councillor is @Chewe Munkonge. Full results here.

A woman was followed into her flat in Roosevelt Drive and raped in the early hours of Saturday morning. A man has been arrested and is in police custody.

In what may signal the start of the much-delayed work on the London Road the bus shelter opposite Douglas Veale House, near the Green Road roundabout, has disappeared.

A traffic incident involving a car fire closed the same section of the London Road for a time on Friday morning.

The Headington stench returned on Friday evening and was still there on Sunday.

A new convenience store opened at 8.00 this morning in the colonnade at @Oxford_Brookes Headington campus.

My favourite Headington-related tweet of the week:

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

  • Londis
  • The lack of London Road road markings are a safety risk!
  • Parking on pavement
  • City council by-election in Quarry & Risinghurst ward
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.