West Barton

Headington Headlines #121

TonyOX3

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

Despite earlier statements to the contrary two drop-in sessions were announced for people to see and ask questions about the Barton West development proposals. The dates are today (Monday 22) and tomorrow. Details here.

Oxfordshire County Council has asked for statements of interest in the Marywood House site in Leiden Road.

A teenage girl who had last been seen in Maltfield Road, Northway was reported missing on Tuesday but was found safe and well later that evening.

A cyclist was assaulted and robbed on the Marston cycle path on Tuesday. Police are appealing for information.

William Hill’s appeal over refusal of permission to change the old Cartridge World into a betting shop was dismissed. Meanwhile, a hearing has started on one of Martin Young’s many skirmishes with the Council – this time an appeal over the refusal to agree that building 2 x 2-bed flats and 3 new buildings to form 2 x 2-bed and 1 x 1-bed dwellings was a lawful use of the existing 29 Old High Street.

Cheney School wants to make a burger van move away from the school gates. The van’s trading licence is due for review this week.

The @oxonbike rack outside St Andrew’s School (aka Headington Shops) was moved to the outside of the pavement after concerns about schoolchildren’s safety.

Headington’s @NikkiLoyMusic was a finalist in Strictly Oxford at the New Theatre on Sunday. The charity fund-raising event was organised by Headington’s StepByStep Dance School.

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

  • School transport in and around Headington
  • Plans for the new Barton estate now available
  • New Headington bus routes
  • Thornhill Park and Ride Expansion Plans.
  • Empty shops in Headington
  • Fall outside Waitrose Wed 17th July
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 #117

TonyOX3

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

The big news of the week was the launch of what people are loving to describe as a ‘Boris Bike’ scheme in Headington. It’s proper name is Oxonbike, on twitter as @Oxonbike. You can pick bikes up and drop them off at Thornhill P&R, the JR, Nuffield and Churchill hospitals, the Old Road campus and on London Road (see below). A seventh site will open at Brookes/Gipsy Lane. For detailed information and discussion you can look at the Oxonbike web page and FAQ and the Headington & Marston e-democracy forum thread.

The location of one of the Oxonbike stations directly outside St Andrew’s School on London Road (it’s described as ‘Headington Shops’) has been criticised, not least because no-one including local councillors or the school was consulted about it. The County Council and Oxonbike operators Grandscheme have apologised for their ‘oversight’ and offered to relocate it if a better alternative can be found.

As I reported last week the outline planning application for Barton West has been published. @TheOxfordMail covered the story, focussing on the divided opinion about the scheme’s merits. Despite the complexity of the application developers @BartonOxford tell me there are no plans for any public exhibition.

Meanwhile, objectors to the proposed Barton West access road have succeeded in having their application for land on Foxwell Drive to be declared a Town Green accepted by the County Council. There will now be a consultation period before the application is decided.

Environmental Health officers from Oxfordshire CC removed two sound systems and a TV from a house in Sherwood Place, Barton after noise complaints from neighbours.

You can have your wedding reception in Headington Hill Park. It appears to be a joint venture between @OxfordCity and a Headington-based company called Total Event Management @TotalEventMgmt.

A man was stabbed in the shoulder on the corner of Gladstone Road and London Road on Wednesday.

An programme to build self-esteem in teenage girls run by Barton-based @ThriveBarton operating within charity Innovista was described in @TheOxfordMail.

Some people in Marston and Headington – and further afield – were annoyed by the sound of loud music and fireworks on Friday and Saturday night. College balls seem to have been to blame, but Marston’s own village fête fireworks may also have contributed.

Some of Headington’s gardens were open on Sunday as part of the Open Gardens scheme.

My favourite Headington-related tweet of the week:

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

  • Headington cycling signs
  • Family search
  • Black Boy pub
  • Headington bike hire scheme
  • Noise in Quarry
  • Supermarkets in Headington
  • Headington Neighbourbood Plan and the Wood Farm area
  • Shops and businesses in Headington
  • Joe Mcmanners
  • Balls
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 #116

TonyOX3

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

Morrisons has submitted a planning application for a new shop front at ex-Blockbusters.

As expected, the East Area Planning Committee rejected Martin Young’s latest planning application for 29 Old High Street. Also not unexpected, Mr young is going to appeal.

A blue plaque commemorating Oliver Cromwell signing the Treaty for the surrender of Oxford in 1646 was unveiled at Cromwell House, Old Marston, on Sunday.

An outline planning application for the Barton West development (Ref: 13/01383/OUT) has been submitted to the Council. There are 66 documents to read on the website so let’s hope there will be some more accessible way for the public to understand the proposals.

Signs have gone up along the ‘North-east Quiet Route‘ from Headington roundabout to the start of the Cherwell meadows in Marston.

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

  • Crown and Thistle
  • Plans for resurfacing of London Road between Bury Knowle and Green Road roundabout
  • Noise in Quarry
  • Redevelopment of Northway
  • Black Boy pub
  • Headington bike hire scheme
  • Interesting side effect of the road works at Wheatley
  • Planning changes – how will they impact on our shops?
  • Headington cycling signs
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.