Ruth Wilkinson and David Rundle

The latest planning application is for a property in Old High Street. Comments/objections should be sent in by 16 September please.

If you would like to see it in full, please select “Planning applications” on the central orange menu bar

If you require information on the planning application process, please phone the City’s planning department (details on the above link) or contact David and Ruth.

Many of you will have seen the article on page 9 of today’s Oxford Mail “Driving us to despair” on the hazards faced by pedestrians and motorists at the London Road/Windmill Road traffic lights

Meanwhile there has been a hold-up further down the London Road. The County Council website reveals the answer why:

In Phase 12A (outside Iceland), work to divert underground services in the area of the new retaining wall was unfortunately delayed due to reasons outside our control, which means this phase will not be completed until late September. To ensure that the overall scheme is completed on time, we will be starting work in Phase 8 (opposite St Andrew’s School) sooner than originally planned, which means that this section can be reopened to the public in time for the start of the new school term.

We are still on target to complete the kerbline changes and paving around the Windmill Road junction, so that the junction is running at normal capacity in time for the start of the school term.

Does anyone have any of the following please? Someone in the ward would like to volunteer his time to look after his elderly neighbour’s gardens and needs this equipment:

• small garden fork
• small garden trowel
• secateurs
• large garden spade
• large garden fork

If you can help, please email David or me - ruth.wilkinson@oxfordlibdems.org.uk or david.rundle@oxfordlibdems.org.uk

Many thanks!

News on the planning front this week is that one permission has been given for a property in Lime Walk.  Please click on Planning decisions in the central orange toolbar for details

There is a new travel  line called Oxtail (the Oxfordshire Travel Advice Line) which provides free impartial journey planning and advice for people over 65 and those with a high level of support needs. Please call them to see where they can help in planning your journey.

Tel: 01865 323738 or email: oxtail@oxfordshire.gov.uk 

This service is offered from 9-5 on weekdays

Various residents have contacted us about the new HMO licensing arrangements, specifically in regard to the number of HMOs in each area of the ward.  As I’m sure you know, there is an acute shortage of affordable housing in Oxford, so it’s important that rented accommodation is available in the city, and that it is of good standard.

There is a policy for HMOs in the Local Plan, however when the policy was written, C4 HMOs (6 and under residents) were not considered HMOs and therefore there is currently uncertainty as whether our restrictive policy can be applied to C4 HMOs. The restriction is to limit HMOs to 25% of properties in a road.

There is no definitive list of HMOs and C4 HMOs so the council is unable to say with certainty yet how many HMOs there are in any given street.  A list is being compiled of applications for C4 HMO licences and there is already one for existing licensed HMOs, but there are many more yet to be identified and logged.

The Lib Dem group is keen to ensure that all HMOs (of whatever kind) are inspected and licensed, (and deemed worthy of licensing!) so that we have a definitive list to inform further decision making on planning policies

We welcome the introduction by the Coalition government of the Lib Dems’ flagship pupil premium. To read more about it, you can find a detailed statement by Sarah Teather here.

NHS Oxfordshire are keen to hear the views and opinions of local people on a new model that is being proposed for counselling services in Oxfordshire.

Please  go to the following link to find out more about this consultation. The survey will close on 11th August.

If so, there’s a useful website you can look at here.

The team at the County can help with:

• writing the plan
• how to carry out “before & after” travel surveys
• how best to implement what the plan recommends.

They have practical experience of preparing travel plans for a number of the County’s own offices, as well as working with over 300 schools in the county to do so.
If you need further advice then contact the Travel Plans team at travelplans@oxfordshire.gov.uk or tel. 01865 814596.

There will be a preliminary phase of works starting on 26 July 2010 for 2 weeks to install the site offices and narrow lane traffic management. During this time there will be a requirement for the M40 junction 9 northbound exit slip road to be closed overnight. This will take place on the 6 and 7 August 2010 between 10pm and 5am. A clearly signed diversion route via M40 junction 10 will be in place.

This will then be followed by the main phase of work, which is scheduled to start on 9 August 2010, and will take roughly 5 months to complete.

The aim of this scheme is to increase capacity on the slip-roads and A34 in order to improve traffic flow, thereby reducing congestion at the junction.

Details of this scheme and further traffic management updates will be available on this website or by contacting the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000