Latest news on the sewage spill

There is a blocked sewer on the junction of Brookside and London Road, and we have contacted Thames Water to get this sorted out as quickly as possible. Thames Water is ready to start digging down to clear the blockage but must wait for a start date from the County Council.

The earliest start date given by the County Council is next Monday 21 April.

Meanwhile we have asked the City Council if the road surface can be washed and this is scheduled to be done on Good Friday

May morning

May Morning in Oxford’s historic centre is a traditional celebration of the coming of Spring with dancing, singing and revelry of many different types – some going back into history and some with a more modern character.

Celebrations start at 6am with the choristers of Magdalen College choir singing the Hymnus Eucharisticus from the Great Tower. The Hymnus Eucharisticus was composed in the 17th century by a Fellow of Magdalen and has been sung every year from the Great Tower on May Morning at this early hour as the sun comes up. The bells then ring out over the city for approximately 20 minutes.

This year Magdalen Bridge will be open to pedestrians and closed to traffic from 3am until 9am to enable everyone to enjoy the singing in comfort and safety. The bridge will re-open to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so.

There will also be May Morning events and activities taking place across the city including Morris Men dancing in Radcliffe Square, Catte Street and Broad Street.

Many bars and restaurants across the city will open for breakfasts.

It’s that time again – Oxford in Bloom

The Oxford in Bloom competition is free to enter and is open to everyone who lives and works in the city.  You can enter your own garden, balcony or planter, or get together to enter your communal area.

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Categories include best kept gardens, beautiful containers, balconies or commercial and community displays as well as junior Oxford in Bloom and gardening for the disabled.

Prizes are awarded to the top three in each category, and range from £25 to £100 and include a certificate and trophy to the winner.

You can enter online here, or application forms are available from council offices, Templars Square shopping centre, Isis Creative Framing and the City Council’s customer centres..

Businesses and community groups can benefit from the council supplying hanging baskets, planters and window boxes for a fee.

Closing date for entries is Sunday 29 June for schools and nurseries and Sunday 6 July for all other categories.

Judging will be from 21 July

 

Headington Tesco seeks sale of alcohol licence

14/00850/PREM

Application for a New Premises Licence: The application is for the retail sale of alcohol (off sales only) Saturday to Sunday 06.00 hrs to 23.00 hrs.

Tesco Stores, 83A-85 London Road

The closing date for comments is 15 April 2014. All comments on this application should be sent in writing to:

The Licensing Authority, Oxford City Council St Aldates Chambers, 109 St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DS,

or by email to: licensing@oxford.gov.uk

Launch of Coalition Govt. superfast broadband scheme in Oxford

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has funded a £3.1million scheme which enables Oxford City Council to offer eligible small and medium sized businesses a voucher of between £250 – £3,000, towards superfast broadband installation costs.

The broadband connection voucher scheme is funded by government and administered by local authorities.

There are over 150 suppliers on board, including many local suppliers. Applying for a voucher is simple and can be easily done online. By using the postcode checker a business can check that it is eligible to apply, then simply obtain two quotes from the list of approved suppliers and submit the application.

Superfast Broadband brings many benefits to small and medium sized businesses such as increased work efficiency, saving time and resources and reducing the need to travel. Go online for details on how to apply and the full list of business benefits.