Buildings in Headington and Oxford to get free public WiFi

Many free to access buildings in Oxford will be transformed into free WiFi hotspots by April 2015. As part of the Coalition Government’s plans to see over 1,000 public buildings in cities across the UK offering free WiFi, residents and visitors in Oxford will be able to connect at locations such as, community centres, museums, libraries and Park and Ride sites across the city. Here are some of the places you’ll be able to use it:

  • Asian Cultural Centre
  • Barton Neighbourhood Centre
  • Headington Community Centre
  • Risinghurst Community Centre
  • Headington Library
  • Thornhill Park and Ride
  • Town Hall
  • Oxford History Centre
  • Modern Art Oxford (subject to contract)
  • Visitor Information Centre
  • Ashmolean Museum
  • Pitt Rivers Museum
  • Museum of Natural History
  • Museum of the History of Science

Please note that proposed locations are subject to change and relevant planning permissions being obtained.

Plans for proposed student accommodation at the junction of Latimer Road and London Road

Lots of people turned up to view the plans for the proposed students housing and new dwellings yesterday. It’s clear that the plans are still in process following some pre-application advice to provide alternative access to the four private properties on the site, and reappraise among other things whether some flats should be at basement level. The bulk of the development appears to be four storeys high but there is still the possibility that one section may go higher.

The main concern that came up was about sewage capability and the need to get advice from Thames Water because there are already existing problems in the area.

The timescale for the developers is still to get a full application in by December to try and hit a completion deadline of August/September 2016

Another side issue is whether the bus stop outside Dorset House might be moved further down the London Road outside this planned development to give more space for seating and bins away from the busy pedestrian crossing area

Frontier Estates have also been active in the area of Headington between Windmill Road and Kennett Road.

If you missed seeing the presentation, or you’d like an update on Frontier Estates’ plans for development in Headington, you’ll have the opportunity to ask their rep directly at next week’s Headington Ward Focus Meeting. This is on Tuesday 28 October at St Antony of Padua Hall, Headley Way, and David Morris from Frontier will be speaking at 6pm sharp.

Thames Valley Police are also sending a speaker to the meeting who will report back on operations to stop cyclists on pavements in the central shopping area.

Latest police stats for cycling on pavements

Here are the latest figures we have received from our neighbourhood police following operations to stop cyclists riding on pavements.

05/08/14        09:30 – 10:00

2 x cyclists stopped            2 x teenagers

 

06/08/2014   15:15 – 16:00

3 x cyclists not stopped   4 x adults

6 x cyclists stopped        2 x children

 

07/08/14        09:15 – 10:15

2 x cyclists not stopped    4 x cyclists stopped           2 x children

17 x already walking on pavement      3 x adults     3 x cycling through red light

 

08/08/14        16:00 – 16:45

3 x cyclists stopped           9 x cyclists not stopped    2 x children

30 x already walking on pavement     1 x adult       5 x cycling through red light

 

18/08/14        14:45 – 15:05

3 x cyclists stopped           3 x adults                             2 x cyclists not stopped

11 x already walking on pavement     1 x cycling through red light

Headington Singers perform Carmina Burana at the Town Hall

All profits from this exciting concert will go towards the British Heart Foundation and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Both charities sponsor significant research programmes in Oxford.

Date: Saturday 8 November at 7.30pm

Venue: Oxford Town Hall

 

PROGRAMME

 

  • Carmina Burana – Carl Orff;
  • The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra – Benjamin Britten; and
  • the premiere of local composer Jill Elliot’s Tingewick, a special commission in honour of Nicholas Tingewick, one of the earliest teachers of medicine in Oxford.

 

Performers: The Radcliffe Orchestra; Headington Singers; East Oxford Community and Youth Choirs; and Oxford Collutorium will join forces for this sparkling evening of music.

Tickets can be bought at the Oxford Playhouse (01865 305305 or www.ticketsoxford.com ) or on the door if we’re not sold out. They cost £18 / £15 concessions (children under 10 free) and the price includes a drink at the interval.

North East Area Forum 

The next North East Area Forum will be on Wednesday 22 October from 6.00pm at the Gibbs Building, Oxford Brookes University. This is not to be confused with the popular Headington Ward Focus meeting to be held on 28 October.

This Forum will begin with a Planning Surgery from 6.00pm to 6.30pm for a chance to raise your planning queries followed by the main discussion looking at the issue of Traffic and Transport in the North East area.  Topics to cover include crossings, congestion and cycling provision. The meeting will conclude at 8.00pm.

Planning application called into Committee

The following planning application has been called in for deliberation at East Area Committee

153 Headley Way Headington Oxford OX3 7SS

Ref. No: 14/02628/FUL | Received: Thu 18 Sep 2014 | Validated: Fri 19 Sep 2014 | Status: Pending Consideration

Westgate planning application out for comment

Here is the Westgate development reserved matters planning application

14/02402/RES   COMMITTEE

Demolition of southern part of Westgate Centre, 1-14 Abbey Place and multi-storey car park, retention of library, refurbishment of remainder of the existing Westgate Centre and construction of a retail-led mixed use development together providing A1 (retail), A2 (finance and professional services) and/or A3  (restaurants and cafes) and/or A4 (public house, etc.) and/or A5 (hot food takeaways) uses, C3 (residential) use and D2 (assembly and leisure) uses, public toilets, associated car and cycle parking, shopmobility facility, servicing and access arrangements together with alterations to the public highway (Reserved matters of outline planning permission 13/02557/OUT seeking permission for details of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale).

Applications can viewed on the planning pages of the City Council’s website. Representations should be submitted in writing to Planning Control & Conservation, St Aldate’s Chambers, 109-113 St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1DS or website or email planning@oxford.gov.uk by 20th November 2014.