Shock announcement: Oxford in Bloom to fold?

The city council has announced that Oxford in Bloom may fold after a lack of competition entries this year.  There have been fewer than 100 registered entries and without a significant increase in numbers the competition may not continue.  Over recent years the numbers of entrants has dropped, and Oxford City Council is urging people to show their commitment to next year’s competition.

To help retain the competition for 2012 and beyond, register your interest or support by contacting Oxford City Councils Parks & Open Spaces team on 01865 252240 or email parks@oxford.gov.uk

The Oxford in Bloom competition is open to all people in the city and the categories include most florally attractive gardens, containers, commercial properties as well as the junior oxford in bloom, for individuals or schools and community groups.

Trophies are awarded in each category, and prizes valuing £100, £50 and £25 are handed out to the top three winners in each residential and community group categories.  Certificates of merits are presented to all entrants who attain marks over 65 points. Business Headington & Partners entered for the first time this year with their hanging baskets along the London Road and collected a bronze award for their efforts. The group raised money from local businesses to fund the project.

Car park update

In response to all those of you who are anxious about the future of the Headington Car Park, the Sites and Housing document (which includes proposals on this) is due to be discussed at Council on 19th December, as this is the stage where full Council needs to decide on draft policies which will be consulted on and then submitted for examination.  It is going straight to Council rather than to CEB beforehand, so the papers should be available approximately one week before the 19th.

Update on Old Road works

The final road markings for the Old Road/The Slade/Windmill Road junction are still to be completed, including cycle symbols.  They haven’t been completed yet because of additional loop cutting which has been required.

The trench across Rock Edge is a temporary reinstatement (for the new traffic signal duct) – the sub-contractor will put in a permanent reinstatement.

The grass verge on Old Road (east)  will be temporarily fenced off at the top and bottom of the new cutting slope to allow the topsoil and grass seed to establish itself.

Meeting with Oxford Brookes

Ruth attended a meeting of councillors with Oxford Brookes University staff on Monday evening.

Items discussed included the deployment of the six student community wardens, and updates on student accommodation and campus development.

The completion date for the Dorset House development is early August 2012. Ruth raised issues including cycling education, visits to the lonely elderly by Brookes student volunteers, and making sure communication channels with student tenants are effective when we facilitate meetings about construction access  to development sites near where they live.

Do let us know if you require any more details – happy to fill you in!

New non-emergency Police number

The Thames Valley Police new non-emergency number 101 goes live today 14th November 2011. This will replace the 0845 8 505 505 number in time.

Both numbers will run side by side until the end of March, but if demand for the 0845 8 505 505 number drops it may be discontinued earlier.
Calls to 101 (from both landlines and mobile networks) cost 15 pence per call, no matter what time of day the call is made, or the duration of the call.

Everyone calling the police for non-emergency matters will now know exactly how much a call will cost them, and can be assured of equal access whether they are on a pay-as-you-go mobile or a home landline.