Osler Road (lower) will be closed on Mon 23 June

The City Council has advised us that remedial work will take place next Monday in Osler Road.

Unfortunately there is some remedial work to be undertaken. Firstly we would like to stress that this cost is being covered 100% by the material supplier for this job and not by Oxford City Council. Some of the surface laid between St Andrew’s Road and the Croft does not meet specification and requires relaying. This has been scheduled for next Monday 23rd of June and should be completed in one day. This will require Osler Road being closed for one day between St Andrew’s Road and the JR. Access and egress from the London Road will be possible.

We have emailed Old Headington residents to let them know.

Disappointing news on 20 MPH roundels

20MPH roundel

Some disappointing news from the County Council for those of us who have been trying to introduce 20 MPH roundels on residential roads. The latest advice is as follows:

In general we only use enhanced signing, such as the 20mph road markings, to highlight areas with particular issues. Typically these would be where there was a bad accident record, high pedestrian movements or other significant hazards other than a simple non compliance with the speed limit, which would be a matter for the police to enforce. Consequently we have to be careful not to make these markings too commonplace otherwise they simply become part of the everyday street-scene, loose their impact and cease to be effective.

In early 2013 we received a number of requests for 20mph markings at various locations around the City. Before taking a decision on any widespread implementation we felt it necessary to trial the markings at two locations. Wharton Road we selected as one of these since we had received concerns about “rat running” and its close proximity to the two nearby primary schools. The result of the trial was that the 20mph markings had a very marginal effect on speeds at both locations. Consequently, as these do not seem particularly cost effective, we do not propose to provide any more at present.

Even though these roundels cost only around £75 to put in, and money can be identified for this, their introduction is blocked by the County Council, and we share residents’ frustration. We are continuing to fight for this policy to be reviewed at County Hall.

Begging on the streets of Oxford

Oxford City Council and partner organisations are asking visitors to the city not to give money to people who beg. Instead, they encourage those who want to help to make donations to the Oxford Homeless Medical Fund. This fund supports a health service dedicated to homeless people in Oxford.

Please click on the link below for a copy of their advice leaflet

OCC – anti begging campaign leaflet

Jon Whitely talk on Turner of Oxford

Jon Whitely, honorary curator at the Ashmolean’s Western Art department, will be coming to the Museum of Oxford to talk about Turner of Oxford.

William Turner of Oxford was well known for his watercolour landscapes often depicting the countryside around Oxford.

Jon Whitely is one of Oxford’s most esteemed experts in the area and has been at the Ashmolean Museum working as a curator in the Western Art Department for the last three decades. He has also been given an honorary curatorship because of his knowledge, skill and devotion to the area.

The event will include a talk and viewing of Oxford City Council’s collection of Turner of Oxford paintings.

You can get your tickets by calling the Town Hall gift shop on 01865 252 334 or visit the shop in the Town Hall.

The event takes place in the Town Hall on behalf of the Museum of Oxford on Saturday 7 June at 3pm.