Headington Headlines #154

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 10 – 16 March.

The Stan James bookmakers at Risinghurst was the victim of another armed robbery on Thursday. The same shop was raided back in January.

@CultivateOxford‘s VegVan is going to be in Headington every Saturday from 29 March. They say they are a co-op bringing fresh, local, ecologically-grown food direct from farmers to the city. Whether their planned pitch outside Barclays Bank on the corner of the London Road and Old High Street will work in the long term remains to be seen.

According to BBC Oxford, officers at Birmingham City Council are recommending the closure of the Stansfeld Outdoor Centre.

The Britannia pub closed last night (Sun) for a revamp. It’s scheduled to re-open on Saturday 22 March.

You’ll remember – at least, those of you who live in Wood Farm or Northway will – that Oxford City is going to refurbish all its tower blocks. The second formal consultations are being held to show tenants, leaseholders and the community the enhanced design plans for the tower blocks. You’ll have to be quick though – the consultation for the Plowman Tower is at the Tower Play Base today, Monday 17 March from 5.30pm to 8pm, and for Forester Tower it’s the Wood Farm Children’s Centre on Tuesday 18 March from 4pm to 7pm.

My favourite Headington-related tweet of the week:

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

  • Headington Hill Park Friends inaugural meeting
  • Allotments free at Pullens Lane
  • Exercise equipment in Headington Hill Park
  • Activities for under 5s on Fridays
  • Commercialisation of Headington Hill 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 #153

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 3 – 9 March.

The new management team at @VictoriaArms, Euan and Lizzie, have a combined 26 years in the licencing/hospitality trade.

The body of Dr Richard Barnett who worked at the Manor surgery before his retirement was recovered from the Thames at Shillingford.

A man from Saxon Way appeared in court charged with rape. The alleged incident took place in September 2012. He pleaded ‘not guilty’ and the trial continues.

The inaugural meeting of the Friends of Headington Hill Park will take place on Weds 26 March at 6pm in the East Oxford Community Centre.

More on the @BartonPark_ development – this time a suggestion from Councillors that existing Barton and Northway council tenants ‘might’ get priority in allocation of social housing.

Last week’s Walk of Protest made national TV, albeit on the Urdu channel GeoTV.

A friar who is also a former governor of @RyeStAntony school admitted at Southwark Crown Court possessing more than 5,000 child abuse images. He will be sentenced later.

The Oxford Mail reported on the new @JacobsChopHouse.

@Stagecoach_Ox announced they will be ordering 26 new buses to replace the current @Oxford_Tube fleet.

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

  • Northway Town Green application and Barton Park
  • Osler Road junction
  • Headington Hill Park Friends inaugural meeting
  • Activities for under 5s on Fridays
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 #151

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 17 – 23 February.

The magnolia outside Headington Library was blown down over last weekend (15/16 Feb). Picture c/o @HeadingtonNews.

Headington’s LibDem Councillors delivered flyers announcing a “Walk of Protest” on Saturday 1 March to protest about the poor state of the London Road between Headington roundabout and Bury Knowle Park. Protesters are asked to bring their own placards if possible.

Sainsbury’s opened in Headington shops on Thursday. It’s their 600th Sainsbury’s Local.


Photo: @headingtonnews

Jacobs & Field’s new venture Jacobs Chop House @JacobsChopHouse opened on Friday in what used to be Café Noir on Osler Road.

A man armed with a knife tried to hold up Headington Post Office on Friday, but staff refused to hand over any money and he left empty-handed.

Headington Quarry school marks its 150th anniversary this year! There’s a meeting tomorrow (25 Feb) to start planning the celebrations.

The family who have been managing the Victoria Arms leave today (Monday). They are taking over the Waggon and Horses at Beckhampton, Wilts.

I blogged about the cycleway to be made on the south side of the London Road between Gladstone Road and Wharton Road.

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

  • Roofer in Headington area
  • Flooded roads in Headington
  • police in Headington post office today
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.