Quarry

Headington Headlines #233

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 21 – 27 September.

The Headington Plan AGM is on Friday 2 October at 7.00pm in the Green Room, Headington Hill Hall, Oxford Brookes Headington Hill campus.

The ex-BBB stores next to the sooon-to-be-ex-Post Office is reportedly going to become a butcher’s shop.

The story of the old Friar pub site on Marston Road moved into a new chapter with a planning appplication (Ref. 15/02543/FUL) to build a three-storey 30-bedroom student acommodation block (no link because the City’s website has been down over the past few days).

It was the annual Barton Bash on Saturday, opened by @AndrewSmithMP. Proceeds from the £1 entry fee will be donated to the British Heart Foundation in memory of former Barton Community vice-president Barry Holden, who passed away from heart failure in August last year. Article in The Oxford Mail.

Headington’s Live Advent Calendar – a series of 24 performances each in a different venue in the run-up to Christmas – is happening again this year. Contact them @LiveAdvent2015 or liveadvent.org.uk if you can offer a venue, a performance, or other help.

To no-one’s surprise, the promised opening of Windmill School’s new classrooms didn’t happen. At the moment it seems anyone’s guess when they will actually be ready.

A scheme offerring financial incentives to encourage more recycling of household waste has been strongly criticised on the e-democracy forum this week.

A second banner saying “Children Crossing. Headington Quarry Foundation Stage School” has disappeared, presumably stolen, from Quarry Hollow. Parents and residents are understandably upset, especially as the County refuses to install any traffic calming measures as the area is ‘low priority’. Until a serious accident, presumably.

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

  • Friar site for sale
  • New development at top of Windmill Road
  • C’mon Ruth cheer up…you’ll be back in Headington soon.
  • Crown and Thistle
  • New Recycling promotion
  • Stolen ‘children crossing’ banners in Quarry
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 #228

TonyOX3

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

A report in @TheOxfordMail says – unsurprisingly – that the two Oxford bus companies support the Access to Headington scheme.

“Badgers set to get their own home” @BartonPark_. Do you see what @TheOxfordMail did there? Read story.

A small start-up company based in Headington, SwitchIT UK, has launched a crowdfunding appeal to raise funds for a classroom and equipment. They are on twitter as @SwitchITuk.

The Ampleforth Arms in Risinghurst, currently closed but hoping to re-open has established itself as an Asset of Community Value. It has a twitter account @TheAmpRevival.

The plans to refurbish and extend Quarry Village Hall have been approved. All that’s needed now is the money – £70,000 is the estimated cost. Perhaps they need a Justgiving page!

The threatened strike by hospital porters at the JR may be averted if union members agree to the new proposals emerging from “productive” discussions on Friday. However it has also been reported that the GMB Union has joined Unison and announced it will ballot for industrial action.

My favourite Headington-related tweet of the week:

Calling all jam makers! Our plum tree is bearing fruit – please feel free to bring a pot and take some away! pic.twitter.com/wAJpCr4tWp

— Butchers Arms (@ButchersArmsOxf) August 17, 2015

Only one active topic on the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum this week:

  • Mobility scooters
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.

Quarry Velo inaugural ride

TonyOX3

I’ve reported occasionally in Headington Headlines about a start-up cycling club emerging from, well let’s be honest, the bar at The Mason’s Arms in Headington Quarry. Quarry Velo @QuarryVelo as it is called organised the Quarry Roubaix ride a couple of weeks ago as part of Oxford Bike Week – an evening ride around all the sections of cobbled streets in the city centre ending unsurprisingly at The Kings Arms.

A successful end to a highly enjoyable #QuarryRoubaix ride. Many thanks to everyone who came with us. pic.twitter.com/H0BUTEFQyA

— Quarry Velo (@QuarryVelo) June 16, 2015

One of the aims of Oxford Bike Week is to encourage more people to get on their bikes. Quarry Velo supports this, and intends to put on a series of social rides open to any- and everyone. Their first ride — about 20 – 25 miles at a comfortable pace — is next Sunday 5 July. If you’re interested, meet outside Bury Knowle Park opposite Stile Road for an 8.30 start. Lycra is not compulsory! For more details don’t tweet me, tweet to @QuarryVelo.