Car park petition

We have been asked by a number of residents in our ward and by shoppers living outside Headington where they can go to sign the petition opposing the “preferred option” to put housing development on the Headington Car Park

The following businesses are making available petition pages:

  • Jacobs & Field,
  • Monaco
  • The pet shop
  • Headington Homewares
  • Oxford Design
  • Holland & Barrett
  • Brambles,
  • Pen to Paper
  • Crown paper shop
  • Scott Fraser
  • the Richards surgery.

The petition will close on 5 September.

A number of residents have helped with the petition, including Jill Cummings and Stella Welford

Free electric blanket testing

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards are urging people to get their electric blankets tested free of charge ahead of the approaching colder months, after nearly 40% of blankets tested last year, failed.

How to book

Testing is by pre-booked appointment only, strictly on a first come, first served basis.

If you would like to get your electric blanket tested please contact the Electric Blanket Testing hotline on 01865 815607 or email trading.standards@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Old Road Campus report on-line

The planning application for Old Road Campus was accepted by the relevant Planning Committee, despite my concerns. It was then called in, with Ruth’s support, and so it now goes to Planning Review Committee on 31st August. The covering report from Planning officers is now on-line — and, for anyone who knows or cares about the area, it makes depressing reading. No increase in financial contributions acceptable, no condition allowed to ensure it is not open until more residents’ parking zones are in place, no further work to improve screening. It seems like positions are becoming entrenched: the University, presumably advised by the planners, on one side, and the local community on the other. Not what we wanted to see.

Notes/Action Points from Ward Focus Meeting

64 residents attended as well as City Cllrs Ruth Wilkinson and David Rundle, and County Councillor Altaf Khan and (from 7:15pm) Roy Darke.

The Bursar from Headington School gave a short welcome and presentation on the School’s plans

Reports back from our last meeting:

  • David‘s meeting with the Director of Estates at the JR will be scheduled on the latter’s return  from holiday
  • The permission for the Manor Ground development is nearing completion
  • Altaf has ensured that a county officer makes a site visit to the bus gate on 17 August  to make safety recommendations
  • Ruth has investigated issues relating to bus passes and language school students; she has contacted bus companies, language schools and the City officers and is pooling her list of language school contacts with other agencies. Several residents made informed contributions re the lapsed Language Schools Forum

The new system of Ward Member Budgets was introduced. It was explained that David and Ruth would be pooling their budgets (ie £3,000 in total) to use on improvements in Headington. Residents suggested small projects on which David and Ruth’s ward budget could be spent:

  • Ramp access to All Saints Church Hall
  • DIY traffic calming and speed indication devices
  • Painting of lamp posts in Old Headington (NB this is in hand)
  • More 20 MPH roundels painted on roads
  • Grant towards heating system in All Saints Church
  • Education for cyclists
  • Watering of small trees in London Road
  • Equipment for youth and community groups
  • Grit bin for St Andrew’s Lane in conservation area-friendly colour
  • More bins
  • Road sign for approach road to JR (NB this may be funded from alternative sources)
  • Christmas lights (NB this will be funded by Headington Business Association this year)

David and Ruth invite more suggestions and ideas – it was explained that decisions on what will be proposed will be made at the next Ward Focus meeting on 18 October

Rob Lloyd-Sweet clarified the status of the Old Headington Conservation Area appraisal. Decisions on whether to permit planning applications in the conservation area will be made with reference to this document. It was made clear that any Action Plan developing from the Conservation Area Appraisal could be led by the community but would be best done through partnership working. Continuing concern over Ruskin’s proposals for the Fields was expressed.

ACTION POINTS FROM THE MEETING:

  • David: to discuss with Headington School traffic issues including parking on Latimer Rd, the development of buses from Thornhill and the lack of buses on Headley Way
  • Roy: next area forum on public transport should include issues related to cycling
  • Ruth: to check which emergency and non-emergency vehicles are allowed to access the JR via the Osler Road gate with the Transport Manager
  • Ruth, David and Altaf: committed to continue to campaign against the development of Headington Car Park
  • David: to investigate with Building Control the issue of utilities failing to tidy up properly after their works
  • Ruth: to attend a multi-agency meeting between city officers, TV Police, bus companies and language schools in September on behalf of Headington Neighbourhood Action Group
  • Altaf: to continue to pursue the issue of the bus gate at Osler Rd / London Rd
  • Ruth: to clarify at the next Neighbourhood Action Group why PCSOs patrol in pairs

Future Issues: community-led planning ; Old Road Campus (including Park Hospital development)

Date of next Ward Focus meeting: Tuesday 18 October 6.00-8.00 pm (venue to be arranged, discussions on-going with the NOC)

Second Headington Ward Focus Meeting

A big thank you to all who came along to the second Ward Focus Meeting on Tuesday. Despite it being the middle of the summer break and there were several people who we knew could not attend, it was good to see nearly seventy residents present. We were kindly hosted by Headington School, whose bursar briefly described the school’s plans for improving its facilities (without, he emphasised, any plans to increase numbers). We were also pleased to have Rob Lloyd-Sweet, Conservation Officer at Oxford City Council, who talked about the next steps for the now-adopted Old Headington Conservation Appraisal. Plus we reported back on actions Ruth, Altaf and myself have taken on your behalf since the last meeting, as well as having a wide-ranging discussion on new issues that local residents want raised.

One of the key issues discussed was how to use the new ‘Ward Member Budgets’ that are now available — £1.5k per City Councillor, so with Ruth and I pooling together, £3k for Headington Ward. This was a start of a dialogue and we will post shortly more information.

We will also post later this week the action points from the meeting.

The next meeting will be on 18th October. As you know, the plan is to hold these meetings in the months when there is not a North East Area Forum. Those Forums — the informal and infrequent replacement for Area Committees — are supposed to be every three months but the second one has slipped back from September to October. So, if you are wondering why there’s no meeting in September, that’s why! The Area Forum is presently planned for 12th October.

We hope to see you on 18th October but, in the meantime, if you have any issues, please drop us a line!

What matters to you at the JR

There is an open meeting on 19 October to give members of the public an opportunity to comment on hospital services

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals: tell us what matters to you
Wednesday 19 October 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Tea and coffee available from 6.00pm
Lecture Room, George Pickering Education Centre
Level 3, John Radcliffe Hospital
Following a very successful engagement event on 11 April 2011 to discuss the quality of our service, the Trust is holding a follow up event for patients, clinicians and other people who kindly gave us their time to give us their views. We would like to invite you to come and help us make sure that your experiences in our hospitals are even better.
Please contact Laura Carpenter to register. Limited places available.
Email: laura.carpenter@orh.nhs.uk

It’s Not Just A Walk In The Park 2011

The Oxford Radcliffe Trust Fundraising Unit are now advertising this year’s sponsored walk. Last year over 300 people took part in the event, raising more than £23,000 for the Oxford Cancer and Heart Centres.
This year will be the fourth event — it’s a 3mile sponsored walk for all ages and abilities around Oxford University Parks and is on Sunday 30 October at 10.30am.  Here’s a link:

Information from the Police

The Police have produced this latest press release for circulation:

Sent on behalf of Chief Inspector Ces Agger- Deputy Area Commander for Oxford City

Oxford Local Police Area- 11/08/11

Thames Valley Police can confirm there was no reported disorder in Oxford overnight. Investigations into offences from the previous days are being progressed. The suspect for the McDonald’s arson has been bailed for that offence while a full investigation takes place.

Police officers, the community response team and youth workers carried out patrols of the city centre and residential areas, and once again, police numbers were swelled significantly by the Special Constabulary (Volunteer Police).

Amongst the many incidents they dealt with was finding and saving a person who was trying to harm them self. We are very grateful to them and their employers for giving their time to help make Oxford safer.

Additional officers patrolled around the football stadium for the Oxford game yesterday evening against Cardiff City, ensuring fans were able to enjoy the match and disperse safely afterwards.

The police operation will continue today and overnight with foot, bike and vehicle patrols to deter trouble, respond to any problems and offer reassurance to out communities.

The support from local communities continues and people are remaining calm and businesses are responding to our advice – http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/newsevents-news-item.htm?id=186381

We are grateful to the many people who have come forward with information. If you have any information about any of the incidents in the Oxford area over the past few days, you can contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505.

If you don’t want to leave your name or details, you can speak to the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Follow Oxford Local Police Area on twitter www.twitter.com/tvp_oxford