West Barton

Headington Headlines #87

TonyOX3

After last week’s sparse Headington Headlines some more news for that week, all criminal, came to light.

Burglars stole identification cards, a large quantity of gold including chains, rings and bracelets and £2,500 from a house in Cherwell Drive on Tuesday 13 Nov. Police are appealing for any information.

A woman had her bag stolen by a man who attacked her on Friday 16 Nov. The incident happened at about 10:50pm on the corner of Gladstone Road and Trafford Road.

Sub-postmaster Shiv Singhal was attacked in Atkyns Road, Wood Farm near his home early in the morning of Saturday 17 Nov. The attackers threatened to kill his wife if he didn’t hand over his money, keys and phone then went to his house and stole his car.

And after a much more active week in OX3 here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 19 – 25 November.

Bill McCarthy, Baron McCarthy of Headington, who won a scholarship to Ruskin College before moving on to Merton and Nuffield, died on Sunday 18 November. He was a prominent part of the trade union movement and lived in Headington.

C S Lewis, who lived in Headington and is buried in Holy Trinity Churchyard in Quarry is to be commemorated with a plaque in Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey.

Meanwhile the dispute over proposals to alter the interior of Holy Trinity and build over part of the churchyard rumbles on in the e-democracy forum.

A significant step towards the realisation of the Barton West development was taken when the Inspector’s report was published, concluding that the Barton Area Action Plan provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the area. The report will go to the Council Meeting on 17th December with a recommendation that Members adopt the Action Plan. Oxford Mail report | Download the Inspector’s report in full.

Children at three schools in Headington – @WindmillOxford, St Andrew’s Primary and Headington Quarry Nursery dressed up as zebras on Tuesday as part of a campaign to get more zebra crossings installed. @greenoakoxford posted this picture and The Oxford Mail reported.

Concillors @RuthWilk and @DavidRundle held another Headington Ward Focus Meeting on Tuesday. Report here.

A Marston-based blog has started – @MarstonBlog run by @TimDavies. Among other things there’s a summary report of the Marston Community-Led Planning workshop held in Mortimer Hall, Old Marston on Tuesday.

Despite strong opposition expressed during public consultation, County officers are recommending that Windmill School should be expanded to be three-form entry. Documentation here.

A plaque was unveiled outside the library in Bury Knowle Park on Saturday, commemorating the planting of an oak tree as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

High water levels in the Cherwell flooded the gardens of the Victoria Arms @VictoriaArms in Marston. This picture was taken at 11.30 on Saturday morning.

Heads up, Highfield Residents’ Association! Someone’s claiming your ground! My favorite Headington-related tweet this week:

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

  • Proposed Changes To Holy Trinity Church
  • Hit and run on Headley Way
  • Thornhill Park & Ride: proposed charges for 11+ hours
  • Long-stay charging to begin at Park and Ride
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 #86

TonyOX3

I can’t believe how little I’ve got to report this week. Surely there must be other things I’ve missed? Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 12 – 18 November —

@TheOxfordMail carried a report with a positive reaction to the latest Barton West development plans.

The Sikh Gurdwara on London Road has a bright new website.

My favorite Headington-related tweet this week:

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

  • Headington Shell Garage doesn’t sell milk
  • Let’s hear it for Headington and Marston
  • Hit and run on Headley Way
  • Lost Gold ring
  • Osler Road junction
  • Busses
  • Fatal accident on A40
  • Proposed Changes To Holy Trinity Church
  • Fireworks on a Sunday night
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 #60

TonyOX3

Here’s my weekly round-up of local news for 23 – 29 April —

Wood Farm residents have formed a ‘Friends of Magdalen Wood West‘ group to look after the eponymous woodland.

The Barton Area Action Plan has been formally submitted to the Secretary of State. I wrote a short blog piece about it, with links to the official documents. The next step is the Examination in Public: the provisional date and venue for this is 16 to 20 July 2012 in Oxford Town Hall, but this may change.

There was a distraction burglary at Headington Conservative Club in Windmill Road last Saturday (21 April) when two men stole charity cash collecting tins.

On the same day there was a major street brawl in the Wood Farm/The Slade area. According to reports, a gang of 30 men armed with hammers and dog chains attacked several Wood Farm residents. Two men and possibly a third were injured. Police suggest the attack might have been in revenge for an earlier burglary.

Costa Express have opened at the Shell petrol station on the London Road, but it’s only a coffee machine.

A question was raised at the full City Council meeting on Monday about the terms of a leasing agreement for the Northway Community Centre. It centres round a dispute over Cllr Roy Darke’s status as Chair of the Association. I suggest you start with the thread on the e-democracy forum if you want to know more. You can also see the question and answer on the video record of the meeting. Ignore the bit where it says "The recording of the meeting is unavailable" and play the Part 1 video. Scroll through to 39’30” to get the start of the question. Two short sections just after the start have been redacted but stick with it and the video continues. Feelings seem to be running high because after Cllr Bance’s statement (at about 46’40”) Cllr Altaf Khan claims he has been personally verbally attacked and leaves the chamber.

A new residents’ group, the Headington Hill Umbrella Group (HHUG), has been formed to represent the interests of local residents concerned about EF’s developments at Cotuit Hall and the former Plater College, both in Pullens Lane. They have issued an opening press release.

Work started on demolishing The Cavalier pub on Copse Lane, Northway. Accommodation for 58 students will be built in its place. Picture by @headingtonnews.

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

  • Controversy over the signing of the new Leasing Agreement in relation to the yet to be constructed Northway Community Centre
  • EF Academy plans for Cotuit Hall
  • The Cavalier pub
  • Restaurant application for former Tote betting shop in Marston Road
  • Is a wider process needed for consents for Transport Plans?
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.