The future of Headington Library

As you will all have seen, a statement was issued by the Leader of the County Council last week to this effect

I want to reassure people that the County Council is looking at all options and has an open mind about the outcome of the consultation

I want the Council to work hand-in-hand with local communities to find a way to keep libraries open in Oxfordshire and to forge ahead with creating a modern library service that is comprehensive and efficient.

I want to see libraries remain open but this can only happen if, in some places, volunteers step forward to help to run them. We have seen how effective a Friends Group can be and believe they should form an essential component of every library service provided by the Council. In the coming year I want to work with every community that does not yet have one to establish a Library Friends Group to work with our staff to agree the best way forward for that library.

In those places where the Council cannot afford to provide a full library service, I want the Council to give ongoing access to important local library facilities. More specifically, I believe we should continue to provide free access to a suitable library building, to our book stock; to the library stock management system and the expertise of qualified librarians. 

 
I have already announced that an additional late government grant has enabled us to put a little more money back into the service, giving the opportunity to rethink our strategy and to take longer over consultation.  As part of the consultation, I want the County Council to have a dialogue with local people library-by-library.  The consultation into the future of the library service will begin in mid-May. The consultation will run until the end of September to give plenty of time to hear people’s views and to consider options.  However, we still need to make some savings.

No decisions have been taken. Officers are working hard to rethink the process, complete the needs assessment and put together a consultation document. 

The tone of the statement is different to what we have become accustomed to, but there is little to cheer the patrons of Bury Knowle Library here, other than to delay the start of the consultation period. It is still a question of “Wait and See!” while the county officers re-assess their data and consider other options.

Meanwhile credit is due to the Save Oxfordshire Libraries campaign, of which Save Headington Library Group is a member; by sticking together, we have accomplished much in persuading the county to have a re-think on a much loved and well-used service.

Free 6 a side football tournament!

The OX Cup is a free six-a-side football tournament and community event taking place on Saturday 14th May and Sunday 15th May 2011 at Cowley Marsh Park, Oxford.

Your community policing team is looking for people aged 12 to 25 to play in the tournament.

If you are interested in taking part in the event, or would like more details, please call PC Godden on 07813040780, or email communityfootballevent@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

NAG news – neighbourhood priorities

After extensive surveying in and around Headington, the neighbourhood team has identified three priorities:

  • Littering
  • Antisocial behaviour
  • Parking issues

A problem-solving session will be held at the next meeting (Wed 13 April at 18.00, at the Baptist Hall Old High Street) to inform our action plans for the summer.

There is a new neighbourhood inspector for the area called Insp Marc Tarbit, and we are also able to call on support from Oxford City Council Street Wardens who are now deployed across the City.

We also discussed a range of issues including the reliability of road accident statistics, the safety audit of London Road following the redevelopments, the Highfield traffic scheme proposals, and the behaviour of summer school and language school students in parks.

PCSOs have been issuing fixed penalty notices to people caught cycling on pavements in Lonson Road

If you would like to get involved in the Headington Neighbourhood Action Group and come to our meetings, please contact either David or Ruth. If you have a concern about any matter relating to your neighbourhood, please let us know

Do your bit for climate change!

The World Wildlife Fund, who organise Earth Hour, ask households, businesses and organisations around the world to turn their lights out for one hour to raise awareness of climate change.
 
Last year Oxford City Council took part in the event by switching off all non-essential lights and equipment over the weekend of Earth Hour and managed to reduce electricity use by nine per cent across our five main sites, representing a saving of 1,577kwh.
 
Over the weekend of Friday 25 March to Sunday 27 March the City Council will be switching off all non-essential lights and equipment in its offices and encouraging staff to take part at home by switching off their lights for the Earth Hour between 8.30pm to 9.30pm on Saturday 26 March.

Will you do your bit for climate change in Headington?

An end to planning decisions made locally?

David and I are inviting you to take part in the City Council consultation on changes to the decision-making process. I am worried about the proposed changes because they do not appear to be thought through properly. Please bear with me  as I  explain why.

Currently the North- East Area Committee meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month to hear the views of residents at open session, to debate local issues like traffic schemes and the London Road development and crime figures and the Library, and to make decisions on planning applications in the local area.

It is proposed to replace these area committees with quarterly area forums but it is not clear what these will do, where they will be held, who will attend them and what they are for. We have asked for information on whether these forums will have ‘teeth’, whether they will be resourced, whether they will be promoted, and indeed whether they will be held at all in some regeneration areas, but no information has been forthcoming.

It would appear that part of the proposed Ward member budgets will be spent on hiring venues for the area forums and promoting them.

If these proposals are successful, decision-making on planning applications will cease to be done in this area by local councillors who have good local knowledge and  an understanding of local issues, and will instead be made by “politically balanced” centralised planning committees at the Town Hall. This is hardly a localist agenda!

We have been unable to find any evidence that these changes would make savings for council tax payers. It would appear that these proposals are motivated entirely for party political reasons and to weaken the power of back-bench councillors

We would also alert you to the fact that the City Council will no longer write to residents who live near properties for which planning applications have been submitted –consultation will be done electronically except for site notices and lists in libraries which may or may not be closed as a result of County Council cuts. Our Group submitted a budget amendment to stop this from happening as we are concerned that many people are not able to access data electronically.

If you would like to keep the area committees as they are now, please comment under Q6

The consultation website is  here

If you know of anyone without internet access who would like a paper copy of the consultation form, please let us know their name and address and we will make sure they get one. The consultation ends on 25 March.

Proposed traffic scheme for Highfield & Old Rd

The final decision on whether traffic proposals will go ahead for the Highfield and Old Road areas will take place on Thursday at County Hall.  Officers are recommending the same scheme that went out for consultation in December/January.

The main features of the proposed scheme are junction improvements on Old Road/The Slade/Windmill Road and Old Road/Gipsy Lane junctions, cycle facilities on Old Road coupled with removal of the centre line, and a zebra crossing near to Stapleton Road. Raised entry treatments are proposed on the side road junctions of Old Road and London Road, with a narrow raised table at the junction of Lime Walk and All Saints Road.

For more plans and details of the scheme please click here.

It is hardly surprising that the County only received 41 feedback responses to the proposals document in its consultation from December to January. The response of residents from the Highfield area was very muted; disappointment was expressed by a large number of people who  could not understand why the funding for improvements had been reduced significantly from the scheme that had been previously proposed, or how the new proposed scheme would tackle the key issue of speeding. They also felt that the the proposed expansion of the University’s Old Road site would impact on the current situation. Talks are on-going with the University on how developer money for the new development could be spent on improving cycle routes along Old Road, so this decision is being made at an awkward time.

If you have issues you want councillors to raise on your behalf at the meeting on Thursday please email Ruth on ruth.wilkinson@oxfordlibdems.org.uk

Members of the public are allowed to petition, please contact graham.warrington@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 815321 if you wish to speak.

How can I adopt a tree?

This is a question that David and I have been asked many times in the past. At last a new scheme has been introduced that will enable you to do this! Here is advice on the scheme from the City Council.

As part of National Tree Week, Oxford City Council is offering residents, businesses, schools and community groups the opportunity to adopt a tree. Other trees have been planted in our parks in remembrance of loved ones.
There are three options available, from watering and looking after an existing tree outside your property to purchasing and watering new trees in one of our parks.
National Tree Week is held from Monday 7 to Sunday 13 March and is organised by The Tree Council. They were founded in 1974 and launched National Tree Week in 1975.

There are three options available in the adopt a tree project, from watering and looking after an existing tree outside your property to purchasing and watering new trees in one of our parks.
Our parks service will discuss potential locations and species of tree, purchase your tree – average height 6-10ft, plant and stake your tree and provide you with some basic information on how to look after your tree
Once planted we would like you to help look after the tree by, maintaining and caring for the tree, watering and weeding, report any damage or unsafe trees.
Information and application forms are available from Oxford City Council’s Parks Service on 01865 252240, email parks@oxford.gov.uk or visit the website 

Osler Road street surgery: work in progress

Thanks to all of you to turned out for Saturday’s street surgery at relatively short notice, it was great to see so many people there!

Here are some of the issues that were raised – we are working to resolve these and will try to keep residents posted of progress

Osler Road

Danger to pedestrians crossing at Cuckoo Lane
JR Osler Rd entrance used as rat run by private vehicles as barrier locked open
Parking tickets served on contracters’ cars from The Croft parked in Osler Rd where single yellow is unenforceable
RH buses idling ( a criminal offence?)
X23 still not re-routed
Speed limit not observed – residents will man speed cameras as required
Grass verge non existent due buses and cars on pavements
RH bus drivers claim they cannot reverse
Dangerous driving by  bus driver Thurs early pm blocking road
Not in service buses exiting via Osler Rd
Danger to nursery children from oncoming traffic
Near misses and accidents from bus light in London Rd
Concern about future use of BKH and grounds

JR smokers in Osler Rd

Osler Rd residents want to carry out speed surveys themselves, I will organise with NAG and Ben

The Croft
Contractors’ cars disappeared for one day only then reappeared in residents’ parking slots
Contractors’ cars booked for parking in Osler Rd when they shouldn’t have been

Old High St
Timescale for tree work near Cuckoo Lane

Parking in Osler Road plus Biffa bins

Stephen Rd

Worried about planning disappearing from area committees

Future of Bury Knowle Library

Horwood Close

Planning issues

Next street surgery: Osler Road on Saturday

Ruth is holding a street surgery on Saturday 5 March from 3-5 pm at the corner of Cuckoo Lane and Osler Road.

Do come along and tell me about any issues or concerns you may have.

If you would like to discuss your concerns with your ward councillor at a separate time or place, please drop us a line.

Issues we are currently dealing with in the area include traffic congestion, planning concerns, the proposed library cuts and the abolition of area committees

Hope to see you there!

Part of Cuckoo Lane closing for 10 weeks

As from next Monday 7th March, Cuckoo Lane is to be closed for 10 weeks for work to be done on reconstructing the wall to the garage nearest Osler Road.

It is on the authority of Oxfordshire Council who are the highways authority.

The diversion applies to pedestrians and is for that part of Cuckoo Lane between Osler Road and Stephen Road.  Pedestrians are asked to use The Croft as a diversion.

David and I are asking whether the closure period needs to be this long, bearing in mind how many pedestrians, JR employees and joggers use the lane. It’s a key walkway too for people visiting the hospital and GP surgery. We will keep you posted.