NHS cuts – coming soon!

David and I support the stand local Oxford East Liberal Democrats candidate Steve Goddard is taking against the massive £240m NHS cuts in Oxford.

Steve said:

Reports that NHS Oxfordshire would have to find £240m of savings over the next three years are proving to be true. This morning it is reported that this year the health service in Oxford will have to find £45m of savings. For all Labour’s talk about protecting the NHS and attacks on other parties for being honest about the deficit, we can clearly see now what they are going to do – cut frontline services. Patient care will be hit as hospitals are being told to admit fewer patients, for less time. Patient care and jobs are at risk because of Labour’s boom and bust approach to public services. These Labour cuts need to be stopped.

Labour’s refusal to name specific deficit reduction measures, unlike the Liberal Democrats, is clearly leading to a situation where panic is setting in and vital services are slashed. Why they have spent time attacking sensible proposals to cut costs, like scrapping ID cards and Trident, instead of clearly planning how to tackle the financial problems from the recession that they have presided over is beyond belief. For Labour in Oxford East politics has taken precedence over protecting key services. That is unforgivable.

Residents can sign Steve’s petition against the cuts here

Vince Cable wins Chancellors’ debate!

Vince Cable [Photo: LDD Pics]

 

The first ever TV debate between the three candidates to be the next Chancellor has seen Lib Dem Vince Cable win a clear victory. In a Channel 4 on-line poll carried out immediately after the debate, Vince out-polled both Alistair Darling and George Osborne.

The Channel 4 vote results place Vince Cable as clearly ahead of both the Labour and Conservative contenders:

  • 36% Vince Cable

  • 32% Alistair Darling

  • 32% George Osborne

BBC Commentator Nick Robinson said on the 10 o’clock news that “it was Vince Cable who generated the most applause.”

A separate Yougov / Channel 4 poll carried out on the eve of tonight’s “Ask The Chancellors” debate on asked voters of all parties which of the three men would be best for the job. 26 per cent picked Mr Cable, against 17 per cent for the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, with just 12 per cent opting for the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne. You can read more here

The Guardian’s “Wiintour and Watt” blog said that “The consensus tonight, at Westminster and in the Twittersphere, is that ‘King Vince’ was the runaway winner of the first major televised debate of the general election campaign.”

You can watch Vince Cable‘s closing statement again online

You can join the Liberal Democrats at www.libdems.org.uk/join_us.aspx

Budding scientist in the family?

BROOKES SCIENCE BAZAAR Saturday 20 March

Cost: Free

Brookes Science bazaar is back with a host of new hands-on activities and one or two of last year’s favourites! * Become a certified micro-astronaut and take a journey to the micro-cosmos (age 5+) * Get a whiff of some smelly science (age 5+) * It all adds up to fun- try the Funmaths Roadshow (age 5+) * Fabulous fruits – learn more about a favourite food group (age 5+) * Get a fly’s eye view with our special glasses (age 5+) * Garlic in your porridge? Fish with green tea –discover the science behind functional food with added health benefits * Habitats and lifecycles – how can some animals live in extreme conditions? (age 5+) * Rocket car derby – design, build and test your won rocket car (age 8+). Places for this workshop are very limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. * Cook up some healthy food and learn what makes for a healthy diet (age 8+) * Speedy dinosaurs – discover how the way we walk can reveal more about the speed of these creatures (age 8+) * Create stories in a virtual world – write your own computer programs with 3D characters (age 8+) Plus much more ………. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Please be aware that children under 8 will not be permitted in workshops designated 8+.

For further information, please phone 01865 483129. Booking on the day is required for some sessions. 

Are you on the voters’ register?

Don’t forget to join the register if you are new to the area, or you may lose your chance to vote for a fairer Britain!

Visit www.oxford.gov.uk/elections to download a form,

or to get more election information

Collect a form from the front desk at the Town Hall
Call the Elections Helpline 01865 252987.

The deadline for registering to vote or to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 20 April.  Postal votes will be sent out from Friday 23 April and should be returned before the close of polling.

VOTE LIB DEM FOR A FAIRER BRITAIN

  •  Fair taxes.
  • A new, fair start for all children at school.
  • A rebalanced, fair and green economy
  • And clean, open, fair politics.

Options for Old Road cycling and walking

I attended a meeting last night at which the County’s transport planning officers set out some options for improvements to Old Road. There is £90K developer funding available to make improvements for cyclists and pedestrians, and it may be possible to obtain some extra funding in a bid to Sustrans for some of options 2 and 3. The planners are talking to representatives from all different agencies and groups including those representing cyclists and pedestrians, and local residents’ groups. Further consultation will follow later.

I thought I would outline some of the suggested options here. An overall aim is to encourage people back onto their bikes by enabling them to feel confident and safe when cycling to school and work.

Option 1

  • Install zebra crossing between Bickerton Rd/Stapleton Rd across Old Road
  • Install dropped kerb outside Old Rd cycle/pedestrian entrance
  • Shared use cycle path from Old Rd entrance to the NOC to Windmill Rd junction
  • Off-carriageway shared use cycle path in eastern part of Old Road
  • Short section of cycle by-pass leading to northbound Windmill Rd cycle lane
  • Remove centre line in Old Road except for Windmill Rd and Gipsy Lane junctions
  • Upgrade crossing facilities at Windmill Rd/Slade/Old Rd junction
  • Advisory cycle lane on Old Rd westbound from the Slade to Roosevelt Drive

Option 2

  • Cycle by-pass at Gipsy Lane lights leading to a shared use path to Finch Close
  • Entry treatment at Valentia Road to give priority to pedestrians and cyclists
  • Shared use pavement off-carriageway between NOC entrance and Windmill Rd
  • Advisory cycle lane (see last point in option 1)

Option 3

  • Cycle by-pass (see top bullet point in option 2)
  • Off-carriageway shared use path Gipsy Lane to Windmill Road (west-east)
  • Side road entry treatements on all side roads from Gipsy Lane to Windmill Road
  • Footway delineation lines at NOC entrance to formalise junction
  • Improvements to Old Road/Windmill Road junction(see options 1 and 2 above)
  • Advisory cycle lane (see last point in option 1)

Other points that were raised included: should this not be linked in with a longer term transport plan?, would it be better to spend all the money on the single most dangerous part of Old Road?, should we look at a cycle by-pass from the Slade into Old Road?, how do we reconcile the differences in height between cyclists on a higher shared path and motorists below? would it be better to hang onto the money and wait till a later funding source becomes available?

Which option do you prefer? Please click the comments box below the subject line and let us know your views.

Thank you to our Headington OxClean stars!

kennett-road.jpg

This was the sight in Kennett Road which faced the intrepid OxClean helpers from New Headington Residents’ Association on Saturday morning! Mary, Cicely, Stella, Kate, Helena, Stephanie and I clearly had a great deal of work to do!  Much of the rubbish was recyclable and we managed to find out that there had been a communications breakdown between one of the local shops and its refuse collection company, and hopefully we have been able to help sort this out

Friends of Bury Knowle Park turned up for their litter pick but in fact found very little to collect in the Park – the Park Rangers are clearly keeping the Park very clean and tidy. Thanks to Rosemary and Jill and Frank for helping out.

In the afternoon helpers from the Central and North Headington Resident’ Association in Sandfield Road did a sterling job to finish clearing Cuckoo Lane and help clear some of the rubbish from the JR site – we were pleasantly surprised that the Headington Hill end of the lane had already been cleared by helpers from Brookes. Many thanks to all, including Karen the organiser, Topsy, Michael, Hans, and Steve Goddard and the other delightful lady pictured here!

cnhra-cuckoo-lane.jpg

 

Councillors get new licensing powers

A change in the law now means that ward councillors may call for reviews of existing licences on one or more of four grounds. These are:

  1. the prevention of crime and disorder
  2. the prevention of public nuisance
  3. public safety
  4. the protection of children from harm

If you have actual evidence as well as real concerns about nuisance or safety issues arising from any alcohol or entertainment licensed establishment within the Headington Ward – please get in touch with David and me, also the Neighbourhood team on 0845 850 5505 and your local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator. It’s best to document dates and times of disturbances if you can as this will inform the licensing panel if the case comes to review.