Walk a Marathon in Bury Knowle Park!

Join in with one of our Oxford Health Walk groups this spring and challenge yourself to walk a certain distance before the end of the Olympics!

Choose 10km, Half Marathon or a Full Marathon!

Our walk leaders will tell you how far you have covered on each walk and record cards will be provided to every walker.

Prizes to be won for every category!

Never thought you could  complete a Marathon –  you can with us!Walks leave promptly so please arrive on time and wear suitable footwear.

Bury Knowle Park

Fridays, 10am

Meet outside library.

  • Walks will not go ahead if there is heavy rain, ice or snow.
For more information please contact Vicki, GO Active Coordinator on
01865 252720 or vgalvin@oxford.gov.uk

 

Local Sustainable Transport Fund – a summary

We are being asked lots of questions about what the LSTF is. There is more guidance on the County Council website, but here is a brief summary.

The £5m bid for the project entitled Supporting Employment  Growth and Accessing Higher Education and Healthcare in Oxford was successful.  The majority of this funding is revenue but supported by £2.8million of capital from the County Council and Developer contributions.  The funding covers the period from now until the end of 2014/15.  The principal objective is to deliver better access to employment and health facilities in the Headington area through development of Park & Ride, and focuses on the expansion of Thornhill Park & Ride (to around 1,400 spaces) which has planning permission.  This extension will be complemented by:

*        innovative new bus services (using low carbon vehicles) linking P&R (including Water Eaton as well as Thornhill) to the hospitals, Brookes and Oxford University Headington campuses including Bus Stop upgrades to Premium Route standard; 

*        new bus priority along the London Road, to complete this project;

*        measures to encourage walking and cycling for  trips to local destinations from Thornhill (including a proposed cycle hub / hire scheme);

*        a comprehensive ‘Travel Choices’ project including working with key employers.

The  construction of the Thornhill extension was initially scheduled for June 2012 with completion by February 2013 – but timing was dependent on negotiations with landowner (Shotover) impacting on environmental works.  Selective charging of long stay users (principally London bound) of the site was proposed from April 2012 and would need to take into account the need to encourage hospital use and to cater for shift patterns.

Outline design is starting on the London Road bus lane which will look at options for extending bus priority on this corridor in both directions.  This may offer opportunities to improve the efficiency of operation of Headington Roundabout by reducing queues tailing back to it.  Public consultation on options is initially programmed for Spring 2012 with construction in May 2013, although there may be opportunities to bring this forward.

The other elements in the programme are currently at the scoping or preliminary stage:  bus stop upgrades, new bus services on the completion of the scheme, and cycle and pedestrian measures.  The travel choices project has started with travel surveys in early 2012 followed by personalised and workplace travel planning activities in early 2013.

Proposals for Sandfield Road Park spark controversy!

 The plan for proposed improvements to the play area in Sandfield Road park have been released, and David and I have contacted local residents for their views.

The new basket swing and double swings have already been installed. Other improvements include

  • improved goalmouth
  • new zip wire/cableway
  • new jungle swing (tractor tyre swing, not a rope swing a la Tarzan!)
  • new skate learner steps and concrete wheels path for scooters, bikes and roller skates
  • potential seating (tree trunk)

Click on the link to see the planned Skate steps and concrete paving[1]

But the item that is proving most controversial is the potential removal of fencing around the play area for the youngest children. The reason given for this is that it would open up the play area to the wider park and enable children to easily access all areas. But it appears that the motivation for this move may be financial.

The plans are too complex to upload to this site. We have leafleted folk in Staunton Road and most of Sandfield Road with copies and will email residents living in the rest of Sandfield Road, Headley Way, Woodlands Road, Woodlands Close and Beech Road who are on our e-list. The proposal to remove the fencing is subject to consultation and some of the nearest houses will be leafleted about this in due course – meanwhile David and I have already received a number of phone calls and emails from residents, all of whom are opposed to this option.

If you would like us to send you a copy of the plan please get in touch, or you are welcome to leave your comments on this site (see Contact Us! above). If you wish to join our mailing list for all such local issues, please let us know.

New Headington residents clean up!

New Headington residents clean up!

New Headington residents clean up!

Once more, New Headington Residents’ Association tackled the usual problem area in Kennett Road on Saturday at one of the Civic Society sponsored OxClean events. Well done to Mary, Kate, Charles, Wiltrid and Helena who all worked really hard to clear that patch of ground at the foot of the steps leading to flats at 104 London Road (opposite the Iceland loading yard)

It was useful for me as I learned from a neighbour that there is sometimes a rough sleeper in that area – if you see him, please contact David or me so that we can make sure he knows how to get accommodation and food.

Thanks to Helena for this less than charismatic photo of yours truly!

Headington Councillor Ruth Wilkinson weeds for OxClean!

Ruth helps with the weeding in Kennett Road! Photo: H Ayyub

Summer Schools for Disadvantaged Children in Oxfordshire

The £50m summer schools fund announced by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg last September is now open for applications. It is designed to help up to 100,000 of the most disadvantaged pupils with the transition from primary to secondary school. In Oxfordshire, there around 8,591 children eligible for this fund.

Head teachers will be able to design and run summer schools, targeting pupils who will benefit the most. The funding could be used for activities such as:

  • Transitional activities to help familiarise pupils with their new environment. Activities could include meeting teachers, having a tour of the school or learning more about their new curriculum.
  • Additional intensive support in English and mathematics to enable pupils who need it to make progress in these key areas before they start the secondary curriculum, both as catch up and preparation for the new term.
  • Wider enrichment activities such as arts, music and sports activities, trips to theatres and museums, visits to local higher education institutions and employers etc.

Ofsted research shows performance can take a significant dip when pupils transfer from primary to secondary schools, especially among those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

From today, secondary schools can sign up for £500 for every disadvantaged pupil taking part in a two-week summer school. The money applies to all pupils transferring in to Year 7 who are on Free School Meals or have been in care for six months or more.

The Government has allocated £1.25 billion additional funding in 2012/13 for disadvantaged children through the Pupil Premium, and has pledged to increase this to £2.5 billion by 2014-15.

Walk a Marathon Challenge!

 Walk a Marathon Challenge with Oxford Health Walks


Celebrate 2012 by walking a marathon before the end of the Olympics!  The challenge starts in March, but you can join in at any time.
Walks available are:
Hinksey Park, Wednesdays, 10am
Bury Knowle Park, Fridays, 10am
Prizes to be won for each category!

 ALSO RESTARTING MONDAY 26 MARCH

Zumba Class 

Mondays, 12.10 – 12.50pm

Oxford Town Hall

£3 pay as you go

Want more information on these and other activities? Click on the GO ACTIVE! website

New website for carers

Every year more than two million people in the UK become carers.

One in every eight adults in the UK is a carer.

Many people who look after family, friends or relatives, would not recognise themselves as a ‘carer’.

You may be taking on a caring role for the first time and don’t know what to expect.

For information, advice, support, call Oxfordshire Carers on 0845 050 7666 or check out their new website

Yellow lines are removed after public protest!

Those yellow lines are coming out today!

After great teamwork by residents and Ruth, and lots of press coverage (see earlier blogs), the County Council has issued an apology and are removing the double yellow lines form around the entry treatments in Latimer Road, Stapleton Road and Bickerton Road today.

The Oxford Mail reports that the OCC spokesman said: “We would also like to say sorry for causing this confusion and can only reiterate that the initial work was carried out with the best of intentions”

Residents in the area report that the lines are already being removed