Headington Headlines #408

Your weekly round-up of local news for 4 – 10 March.

As Frontier Estates are still in the local news, I have brought together all the mentions I have made of them on this blog in the form of a timeline. Use the ‘Frontier’ link in the main menu, or use this link to take you straight there.

Yesterday’s high winds brought down a tree on Headley Way at the crossing by Woodlands Road.

Thieves broke into a shed belonging to Old Marston Parish Council and one belonging to a neighbour. The same people cut a fence in a field with horses. One horse got onto the A40 and was killed.

Rather belatedly I note that Martin Young’s appeal against the City Council’s rejection of his latest planning application was rejected by the Planning Inspector in February. @RosalindRogers was much more alert!

Work has started on the refurbishment of The Somerset pub, Marston Road.

Police are appealing for information about an assault and robbery which happened on the Marston cycle path at around 9.20pm on Saturday 2 March. A man was stopped by three men close to Ferry Road. He was threatened with knives, pushed off his bike, kicked and punched, and his wallet, phone and bracelet stolen.

Laura Biron-Scott is to be the new vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Quarry. She takes up her appointment in June.

My favourite Headington-related tweet:

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

  • Exhibition of Student housing proposals at 1-7 Jack Straws Lane and Marston road Frontier ESTates

Headington Headlines #360

Your weekly round-up of local news for 5 – 11 March.

Posh Fish was named as one of the top 50 fish and chip shops in the country by Fry Magazine, and they should know. It was the only chippy in Oxfordshire included on the list.

The group Philosophy in Pubs which meets once a week in the city centre also meets once a month in The White Hart in Old Headington. They have a Headington facebook page with more information as well as their general Meetup page. Their March meeting is this Wednesday on the topic ‘Is the Self a Useful or Necessary Idea?’, and they stress that no previous knowledge or experience is required!

It looks like the Swan School, planned to be built on the site of the Harlow Centre in Marston, is going to be delayed. No planning application has yet been submitted, and when it is I suspect it’s unlikely to go smoothly. They are now talking of opening with temporary classrooms.

It seems the refurbishment of the Corner House pub has gone well. @ProperEllipsis gives the new décor five stars.

Oxford Brookes mounted a public exhibition of their latest plans to rebuild the Helena Kennedy building on their Headington Hill site, and to redevelop the residential Clive Booth Student Village. They have invited public comments, and there will be more opportunity once the formal planning applications go in. I’ve written a separate short article here.

There were three burglaries at London Road shops overnight last Tuesday/Wednesday. In all of them the doors at the back of the premises were broken open. Police are appealing for information

There’s a meeting this evening (Monday) in Old Marston where Christ Church College will face questions about their proposal to build 750 homes on land they own adjacent to Barton Park. The meeting is at 7pm in Mortimer Hall, Old Marston.

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

  • Abandoned bikes in Headington

Headington Headlines #352

Your weekly round-up of local news for 8 – 14 January.

@ScienceOxford, the people developing Stansfeld Park as a science centre, are starting a series of events called “Science on your Doorstep”. The first one is about the plans for Stansfeld Park and is on 25 January. Details here.

Old Marston Parish Council @OldMarstonPC has agreed to fund the building of a footpath on the south side of Elsfield Road from the cemetery to Marsh Lane.

Elsfield Road, Old Marston
Elsfield Road, Old Marston

More from Old Marston. The Parish Council has a new Chair, Duncan Hatfield, after John Batey stepped down from the role. Tony Greenfield is the new Vice-Chairman. Duncan has been an unsuccessful candidate for the Conservatives in recent local elections. Tony Greenfield has a little-used twitter account @Iamonetoo.

If Latimer Road residents thought they could enjoy a bit of peace now the building of Beech House is winding down, they’ll have to think again. Work is just starting to expand St Luke’s Hospital by adding another storey to accommodate 25 more beds.

Thames Water is closing part of Lime Walk this week, with diversions through Stapleton or Bickerton Roads and All Saints Road. Apparently it’s possible the work may only take three days.

The Ward boundaries in the city are under review by the Boundary Commission and there’s a consultation running where you can submit your own ideas. See my post for more detailed information.

The Oxford Mail published the nominations for its annual food awards, but none of the eateries in OX3 made it to the shortlist.

Regardless of that, on Saturday the @ButchersArmsOX3 celebrated the fifth anniversary of their current incarnation with a mini beer festival.

There were no new posts on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week.