Two planning applications in the Headington area this week — as always, click the links for information and to comment.

• Oxford Brookes submits a formal application to build the Clive Booth Student Village
• An HMO application at 225 London Road

See also: our candidates in Headington and Quarry & Risinghurst wards

This May 6th Oxford will elect its county and city councillors, as well as the Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner.

Roz Smith is an experienced county councillor, who is running again this year in Headington & Quarry county division, which overlaps the Headington Hill & Northway (HHN) ward. Jo Steele and Pippa Hitchcock are our candidates for the city council: after the Lib Dem vote share more than doubled at the last election (2018) taking the party into second place, they are hoping to build on that success and join the Lib Dem team on the City Council.

If elected, we will work to green Headington and Northway, invest in walking, cycling and buses, provide a local voice on planning, closely involve all residents in transport decisions including LTNs (low-traffic neighbourhoods), and tackle Oxford’s spiralling housing costs.

The only other realistic choice here is Labour (the Conservatives don’t have a single Oxford City Councillor, and the Greens only have two, making the Liberal Democrats the principle opposition). We think voting Labour would be a poor choice, because they have failed to carefully listen and consult, particularly on LTNs, they have undermined our Park & Ride sites by permitting the Westgate to provide cheap central parking leading to frequent gridlock, and the Labour leadership catastrophically failed to stand up for our EU citizens amidst the Brexit fiasco.

Brief biographies of our candidates:

Roz Smith (candidate for Headington & Quarry county division) was born in Oxfordshire and has lived here for most of her life. She was first elected as a councillor in 2005. She is active as a trustee for several local charities and as a school governor. She campaigns on local green issues and wants to use her extensive council experience for the benefit of Headington and Northway residents.

Jo Steele (candidate for Headington Hill & Northway city ward) is a local volunteer and campaigner. She is deeply concerned about issues around current road developments, in particular Access to Headington and the impact on Cherwell Drive. She also campaigns to protect the rights of EU27 citizens living and working in Oxford. She is an active member of Oxford for Europe.

Pippa Hitchcock (candidate for Headington Hill & Northway city ward) is a new recruit to our team who worked in university administration for many years, but is now better known in Headington as the landlady of The Butchers Arms. She has lived in Cowley and Headington since arriving in Oxford 20 years ago, and loves being part of the community.

See also: our candidates in Headington and Headington Hill & Northway wards

This May 6th Oxford will elect its county and city councillors, as well as the Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner.

Roz Smith is an experienced councillor, both at city and county levels, who is running again this year. Andrew Steele is a local volunteer who is running to join Roz on the City Council.

If re-elected, we will work to green Headington and Risinghurst, invest in walking, cycling and buses, provide a local voice on planning, closely involve all residents in transport decisions including LTNs (low-traffic neighbourhoods), and tackle Oxford’s spiralling housing costs.

The only other realistic choice here is Labour (the Conservatives only got 10% of the Quarry & Risinghurst ward vote last time (2018), and the Greens only got 7%). We think voting Labour would be a poor choice, because they have failed to carefully listen and consult, particularly on LTNs, they have undermined our Park & Ride sites by permitting the Westgate to provide cheap central parking leading to frequent gridlock, and they have failed to deliver a safe crossing for the A40 between Risinghurst and Barton, which residents on both sides badly need.

Brief biographies of our candidates:

Roz Smith (candidate for Headington & Quarry county division and Quarry & Risinghurst city ward) was born in Oxfordshire and has lived here for most of her life. She was first elected as a councillor in 2005. She is active as a trustee for several local charities and as a school governor. She campaigns on local green issues and wants to use her extensive council experience for the benefit of Quarry and Risinghurst residents.

Andrew Steele (candidate for Quarry & Risinghurst ward) has lived in Oxford since 1997. He takes a particular interest in addressing Oxford’s longstanding affordable housing issue, and believes it is important to listen to residents first, then to champion the key issues for the community. Outside of politics he supports the Oxford Preservation Trust and the Pitt Rivers Museum.

See also: our candidates in Headington Hill & Northway and Quarry & Risinghurst wards

This May 6th Oxford will elect its county and city councillors, as well as the Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner.

Roz Smith and Altaf-Khan and both experienced councillors who are running again this year. Stef Garden is stepping down due to moving away from Oxford, and Chris Smowton is running for her seat.

If elected, we will work to green Headington, invest in walking, cycling and buses, provide a local voice on planning, closely involve all residents in transport decisions including LTNs (low-traffic neighbourhoods), and tackle Oxford’s spiralling housing costs.

The only other realistic choice here is Labour (the Conservatives only got 6% of the Headington ward vote last time (2018), and the Greens only got 5%). We think voting Labour would be a poor choice, because they have failed to carefully listen and consult, particularly on LTNs, they have undermined our Park & Ride sites by permitting the Westgate to provide cheap central parking leading to frequent gridlock, and they have failed to deliver a safe crossing for the A40 between Risinghurst and Barton, which residents on both sides badly need.

Brief biographies of our candidates:

Roz Smith (for Headington & Quarry county division): Roz was born in Oxfordshire and has lived here for most of her life. She was first elected as a councillor in 2005. She is active as a trustee for several local charities and as a school governor. She campaigns on local green issues and wants to use her extensive council experience for the benefit of Headington residents.

Altaf-Khan (for Headington ward): Altaf has lived and worked in OX3 for more than two decades and is very familiar with the area, the people and local issues. He was first elected as an County councillor in 2005 for Headington & Marston Division. He has been Lord Mayor and served on scrutiny and planning committees. He always speaks up for our area.

Chris Smowton (for Headington ward): Dr Smowton is a local volunteer and campaigner who first ran for election in 2016. He is running for the seat currently held by Stef Garden, who is unable to continue serving as a councillor as she is moving away from Oxford. He works as a software engineer and intends to bring that problem-solving mindset to politics.

If you have questions for our candidates or anything else you’d like to say, you can get in touch any time: headington@oxonlibdems.uk

Four applications in the Headington area this week:

• An extension at 79 Staunton Road
• A loft conversion with window alterations at 4 St Andrew’s Road
• A change of use at 1A Alesworth Grove
• An extension at 5 John Buchan Road

Three applications within the broader Headington area this week:

• An extension at 10 St Anne’s Road
• An extension at 12 Forest Road
• A request to reclassify as an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) at 107 Copse Lane

Four applications in Headington ward this week:

• Building a porch at 10 Margaret Road
• Amending an extension plan at 6 Staunton Road
• Permission to show illuminated signs at 116-120 London Road
• An extension at 117 Staunton Road

Two applications in Headington Ward this week:

• An application to turn a house into an HMO on Headley Way
• An application to alter to the Nuffield Centre

We have received notification that the JR Hospital intends to land emergency helicopters at the South-East corner of their site (adjacent to Osler Road) for the next two years, due to works to upgrade their existing helipad, which is across the car park from Ambleside Road.

They advise typical traffic is 13 landings per month (so around three a week), and that after-midnight landings happen but are rare, with three in the last year.

• Replacing a conservatory with an extension; addition of solar panels at 10 Bickerton Rd
• A new build at 20a Osler Rd