Up and coming events in Oxford

  • Tuesday 4 July, Oxfordshire School Games, Horspath Sports Ground, 10am to 4pm. Annual programme of sport competition for young people in Oxfordshire. www.oxspa.co.uk
  • Saturday 8 July, West Oxford Fun Day, Botley Park, 1pm to 5 pm. Annual community Fun Day organised by West Oxford Community Association with a music stage, fun games for all ages, circus skills, gurning, food and drink stalls, and a range of community information and consultation stalls. www.woca.org.uk
  • Saturday 8 July, Leys Festival and Horticultural Show, Blackbird Leys Park, 12pm to 4pm. Annual community festival with activities for the whole family to try out, a static classic car display and performances. The horticultural show will display home grown vegetables, fruit and planters, as well as homemade foods from school pupils and residents across the Leys to be entered into competition. http://leysfestival.weebly.com/
  • Sunday 9 July, Cancer Research UK Race for Life 5k and 10k, University Parks and city centre, 10am to 2pm. Annual 5k and 10k fundraising event for Cancer Research UK. www.raceforlife.org
  • Saturday 15 July, Headington Fun Day, Bury Knowle Park, 2pm to 5 pm. Free annual fun day for the community of Headington with games, activities, food and beverages, music and fun. www.headingtonchurches.org.uk
  • Saturday 15 July, Dancin’ on the Green, Gloucester Green, 12.15pm to 4.30pm. Dancin’ Oxford will present an afternoon of professional and community dance performances by way of celebration of dance, right in the heart of the city.www.dancinoxford.co.uk
  • Sunday 16 July, Love Oxford, Broad Street, 10am to 1.30pm. An open air Christian church service, bringing together over 25 church communities across Oxford.
  • Sunday 16 July, Marston Neighbourhood Church Summer BBQ, Milham Ford Nature Park, 4pm to 6pm. Annual community BBQ run by the local church with food, gospel talk and some organised games. http://themnc.org/
  • Saturday 22 July, Run the Oxford Parks by Thames Valley Orienteering Club, Headington Hill Park, 9am to 2pm. Part of a series of Saturday orienteering events based in and around Oxford, and organised by Thames Valley Orienteering Club. www.tvoc.org.uk
  • Saturday 22 July, Oxford Rathayatra, Broad Street, 12pm to 4.30pm. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ biggest street festival with stage performances, chanting, free vegetarian food, exhibits, spiritual literature, meditation, and a short procession around the city centre.
  • Saturday 22 July, Film under the Stars, Hinksey Park, 9.20pm to 11pm. Outdoor screening of a family film. www.filmoxford.org

Ward Focus Meeting is on Tuesday 25th July at 6pm in New Headington

The next public meeting for residents who live in Headington Ward will be on

Tuesday 25th July

All Saints Church House, New High Street, OX3 7AL

from 6:00-7:30 pm

We have invited the Police and Crime Commissioner to speak.

Hot topics:

Do we need a new community facility building in Headington? Where could it go?

What sort of development would be acceptable on Ruskin Fields?

and lots, lots more…

Ward Focus meetings are run on a drop in and out basis and are free of charge. There is an open session where residents can raise issues of concern. There’s no need to book.

If you would like to contact your Lib Dem city councillors for advice on any issue please contact

PLEASE NOTE – THE NEXT WARD FOCUS MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER, VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED

Our next Ward Focus leaflet will be published on Friday 14th July, and the following leaflet will be published on Friday 15th September – this is to give our hard-working supporters and volunteer deliverers a well-earned summer break!

Latest planning application – 29 Old High Street

The owner of 29 Old High Street has submitted a fresh planning application. Details below.

17/01686/FUL | Partial demolition of existing house and demolition of existing garages and outbuildings. Erection of two storey side and rear extension. Provision of new access, car parking and turning area. Rebuilding of stone boundary wall fronting Old High Street. | 29 Old High Street Oxford Oxfordshire OX3 9HP

You can find more details here

Everyone wants to see this well-situated property returned to a habitable state. Closing date for comments is 3rd August

Local Plans – Cherwell District Council plans for Oxford’s unmet housing needs

The consultation period for the Partial Review of the Cherwell Local Plan (Oxford’s Unmet Housing Needs) will run from 17th July to 29th August, so runs concurrently with Oxford’s Local Plan Options Review consultation period.

The following public exhibitions will be held during the consultation period:

Wednesday 19 July 2017 – 4pm to 8pm

Shipton-on-Cherwell Village Hall, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Kidlington, OX5 1JP

Friday 21 July 2017 – 4pm to 8pm

Yarnton Village Hall, The Paddocks, Yarnton, Kidlington, OX5 1TE

Thursday 27 July 2017 – 4pm to 8pm

Woodstock Community Centre, 32 New Road, Woodstock, OX20 1PB

Tuesday 1 August 2017 – 3.30pm to 7.30pm

Cutteslowe Pavillion (next to the café), Cutteslowe Park, Oxford

Wednesday 2 August 2017 – 4pm to 8pm

Begbroke Village Hall, 3 Begbroke Lane, Begbroke, Kidlington OX5 1RN

Thursday 17 August 2017 – 4pm to 8pm

Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 1AB

 

Headley Way phase of Access to Headington works delayed

Here is the press release we have received from construction firm Skanska

The next phase of Access to Headington, which had been due to start on 24 July, has been postponed until the new year.

Following continued discussions and alterations to the traffic management for Thames Water’s urgent sewer works on St Clements the county council has decided the overall disruption for traffic would be unacceptable.

County Councillor Yvonne Constance, cabinet member for Environment, said: “The Thames Water work must be done now as we could otherwise be in a situation where the sewers collapse and an emergency road closure is needed – that would be the worst possible situation.

“We have kept in constant contact with Thames Water and have worked closely with them to reduce the length of time their work will take as well as the impact on traffic.


“The traffic management for Thames Water’s work has been repeatedly discussed and refined and the impacts considered across a wider area. Our team have concluded that traffic re-directed from, or seeking to avoid, the St Clements work will hit the Access to Headington work resulting in congestion and pushing traffic from one set of roadworks to another.

“For that reason we have decided, as our work is more flexible, that we will move the Headley Way/Cherwell Drive phase to the new year.”

The Access to Headington project team will be investigating other phases of the programme that could start this year that will not be as badly affected by redirected traffic from the Thames Water works.

We are hoping this may give us more time to negotiate improvements in the intended scheme with the County Council

Temporary road closure: Latimer Road next Saturday and Sunday

We have received this notice from the County Council

Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice – S14 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Temporary Road/Bridleway/Footpath Closure – at:

Oxford – Latimer Road, Headington – Adjacent to the junction with A420 London Road – Outside the Winvic site 

A request has been received from Nationwide Traffic Solutions for a temporary road closure to apply to a length of Latimer Road, Headington, Oxford for a crane operation to remove a tower crane from the Winvic site.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate on:

15 & 16 July 2017 – 6am to 10pm each day

 Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works. Please note that access routes will depend on exactly where the works vehicles are at any time and may need to be negotiated with the gang on site as necessary.

A copy of the drawing showing the extent of the closure and also the alternative routes for traffic is attached.

 

Latest planning decisions in Headington Ward

The following applications have been given delegated consent

16/00689/FUL

Erection of a single storey rear extension. Formation of 1No rear dormer window and insertion of rooflights in association with loft conversion. Conversion of garage into habitable space. Replacement of porch. Replacement of windows and doors (Amended Description)
13A Sandfield Road Oxford

17/00806/FUL

Change of use of first floor dance studio to 1 x 1-bed apartment (Use Class C3).

Suite B First Floor 112 London Road

17/00854/ADV

Display of 1no. internally-illuminated projecting sign, 2no. non-illuminated freestanding signs, 1no. set of internally-illuminated fascia and 1no. non-illuminated fascia.

Beech House 36 – 40 London Road

17/01071/FUL

Erection of a two-storey rear extension. Formation of 3No. dormer windows to south elevation. Insertion of 1No. window to east elevation, 1No. window to south elevation and 1No. window to north elevation. Formation of raised patio area at rear

Jaghori House 13 Osler Road

17/01092/FUL

Change of use of dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4).

70 Windmill Road Oxford

17/01133/FUL

Erection of single storey rear extension.

2 Sandfield Road Oxford

The following was refused on delegated authority

17/00893/CEU

Application to certify that the existing conversion of garage to provide habitable space is lawful.

41A Sandfield Road Oxford

 

 

Oxford Local Plan 2036 consultation now live

Members of the public are invited to take part in the consultation on the Preferred Options main document for the emerging Oxford Local Plan 2036.

The consultation is open from 30 June to 25 August, Oxford City Council states:

The Oxford Local Plan 2036 will become the main planning policy document for Oxford. The Local Plan is important because it will set out how we want our city to look and feel, guiding new developments to the right locations whilst protecting and improving the environment and people’s quality of life. 

Last summer we asked you what issues the new Local Plan should cover. We have listened to what local communities, businesses and other organisations told us and are now considering a range of policy options. The Preferred Options document gives you the chance to comment on our proposed approaches to a range of issues. The consultation period runs from 30th June 2017 until the 25th August 2017. 

On our website (www.oxford.gov.uk/localplan) we have published the main Preferred Options document, background papers and studies on key issues, and a draft sustainability appraisal. There is the opportunity to respond to the main document using our detailed questionnaire online, or to complete the shorter online questionnaire. If you prefer to respond in writing or email, please send to Planning Policy at the address above.

Paper copies of the main Preferred Options document and the draft Sustainability Appraisal are available to view in libraries and St Aldate’s Chambers. In St Aldate’s Chambers we also have paper copies of all the background papers and studies on the website. We also have a consultation leaflet and questionnaire available at libraries, leisure centres, community centres and the Town Hall. 

You can come and see us at events around the city during the consultation period:
Fri 4th August: Templars Square Shopping Centre 11-1.30
Sat 15th July: Headington Funday 2-5; Bury Knowle Park

We urge residents to take a look at the consultation document which is available online and at Bury Knowle Library. Headington residents may be particularly interested in the sections on affordable housing, key worker housing, student accommodation, the use of space in district centres, and sites earmarked for further development.

At a recent briefing to community groups, residents from across Oxford raised some interesting points and comments which included:

  • Is the city council working with planning authorities in neighbouring districts to solve housing crisis?
  • Why is the city council appearing to want a no car policy?
  • What is affordable housing? Should be for those earning c £26K
  • How do we stop private investors buying up all the new build properties?
  • Is there too much emphasis on growth?
  • Why hasn’t some land been allocated specifically for community-led housing groups?
  • Are you saying it’s ok to put up high rise buildings so long as air quality doesn’t get worse?
  • What do you mean by a “tall” building? There’s a 15 storey one proposed for Templars Square at EAPC next week
  • Height limit/constraint for buildings shouldn’t just be in the city centre – consistency and good design is needed
  • Does the consultation adequately take into account the thousands who work or study in Oxford but live elsewhere?
  • Won’t reorganization affect the local plan? More needed for cyclists.
  • See p175 – balance of use in district centres has changed from A1 to Class A so more cafes/fast food/restaurants in Headington and Summertown?
  • Could consent for developments include a condition for car clubs?
  • What can be done about Airbnb?
  • Classification of HMOs – an HMO owned, managed and run by the universities does not count as an HMO for the planning stats, but an HMO owned by a landlord and rented out does. Currently, a road almost full of HMOs containing students had an application to change a property from residential to HMO approved as it was the only private HMO in the street. Change of definition needed?
  • With the emphasis on creating purpose-built HMOs, will private landlords intensify build on their existing sites as this will bring them increased income?

The Local Plan preferred options will be a major topic for debate at the next Headington Ward Focus meeting on Tuesday 25 July from 6:00-7:30pm at All Saints Church House.