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Headington Transport Forum

TonyOX3

Riding the wave of enthusiasm for local action groups Headington Action @HeadingtonA organised an open meeting last night (Thursday) to discuss forming a group which would bring together a number of interested individuals and organisations to develop an integrated transport strategy for Headington.

About 18 people attended with representatives from @cyclox, @HeadingtonA, the local Car Club (car-sharing), Headington Cycling Group, Friends of Old Headington and other residents’ groups as well as individuals with particular concerns and interests. Patrick Coulter (Headington Action) chaired the meeting. He explained how he thought a Transport group could fit in with the Neighbourhood Plan process started earlier in the week. Everyone agreed that a joined-up approach to Headington’s transport problems was urgently needed, and equally there was little sign that either the County or the City Councils were likely to deliver an integrated plan without strong input from local residents, businesses, employers and transport operators.

There was some discussion about terms of reference for the group and it was agreed to meet again on Friday 22 March when it was hoped to make progress on formalising the group and its objectives.

I will link to the notes of the meeting when they’re available.

Headington Headlines #93

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 31 December 2012 – 6 January 2013.

The City Council’s Sites & Housing Plan, which specifies what kind of development will be permitted on particular sites throughout Oxford and establishes a number of housing policies, has been approved by the Planning Inspector. It will go to the full Council for final approval in February. I last wrote about this almost exactly a year ago and you can still see my map of the sites in OX3 with extracts from the document against each site. The Plan also creates or updates policies on student housing and HMOs.

In other development news The Oxford Mail reports that developers Haboakus have finally submitted planning applications for three developments in Oxford. Two of the developments are in Northway, the third in Cowley. I have so far failed to find the applications online so can’t confirm this is correct. Haboakus is the joint venture company formed by TV celebrity architect Kevin McCloud’s company Hab (it stands for Happiness, Architecture, Beauty) and the Oakus division of housing asociation GreenSquare (which used to be the Oxford Citizens’ Housing Association). These developments have been much delayed: I first wrote about them in Headington Headlines #3 back in March 2011. The Oxford Mail report suggests there may still be local opposition to the Northway developments. The planning applications are said to be for 21 one and two-bedroom flats to be built in Westlands Drive and 47 homes plus a new Northway community centre in Dora Carr Close. The Dora Carr Close/Community Centre site is outlined on this map.

Free parking at Thornhill P&R is to end, according to the County Council’s draft budget.

My favorite Headington-related tweet this week:

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

  • London Road Improvements Stage 3
  • Scout Hall in Quarry
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 #82

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 15 – 21 October —

There was a Headington Ward Focus Group meeting in Osler House (on the JR site) on Tuesday evening. At the same time there was a meeting at Windmill Primary School with County representatives to discuss the proposals for making the school a three-form entry.

@106JackFM broadcast from @WindmillOxford on Friday morning.

Osler House (www.osler.co.uk) is the Oxford University club for clinical medical students. Or as their representative put it, “Somewhere medical students can get away from doctors, nurses and patients”. They have conference/meeting facilities for over 100 people, including a seminar room complete with modern A/V equipment, a lounge and a bar. The facilities are available for private hire and they are keen to attract more of this business.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved the introduction of long-term parking charges at Thornhill and Water Eaton park-&-rides. The fee will be £3 for stays longer than 11 hours.

Print and copy shop Oxford Design closed their shop on London Road on Friday. They re-open in Stanton St John on Monday. Londis (run by @sundersandher) has been placed in the UK Top 100 independent retailers by the Independent Achievers Academy. And Robert Stanley Opticians, who have been trading at 137 London Road for 40 years, have just refurbished their store. They are having a grand re-opening on Thursday 25 October from 6pm – everyone invited!

Cerian Townsend of the @ThriveBarton team will receive an award in the Oxfordshire Charity & Volunteer Awards at the Town Hall on Tuesday.

@ Headington’s Oxford Mail reporter Damian Fantato has moved to cover North Oxford instead. Debate continues over whether we think this is a promotion.

Councillor Mick Haines unveiled a plaque on Saturday commemorating the residents of Marston killed in the second world war.

Martin Young has formally withdrawn his candidature for the role of Thames Valley PCC.

@DorsetHouse_Ox has joined twitter.

I came across this Headington Heritage blog. I couldn’t see who’s behind it but the items in the ‘Blogs I Follow’ list are possibly significant.

The quest has started to track down Headington’s very own flag (if it ever existed). It might be somewhere in the city archives.

My favorite Headington-related tweet this week:

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

  • Should Windmill School grow to over 600 pupils?
  • Ruskin College open day on Saturday 27 October 2012
  • New cancer centre for Headington
  • Google StreetView has redone Headington
  • Proposed Changes To Holy Trinity Church
  • Job advertisement
  • Thornhill Park & Ride: proposed charges for 11+ hours
  • New Road being built through Northway
  • News about two Headington shops
  • Best places to eat in 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.