Secondary school pupils showcased their creativity and passion for sustainable travel at a lively pitch event held at Oxfordshire County Council’s County Hall in Oxford on 19 March.

As part of the county council’s travel champions programme, students from Fitzharrys School in Abingdon and The Warriner School in Banbury pitched their active travel campaigns to a panel of judges, competing for £200 to help bring their ideas to life.

The judging panel of Councillor Andrew Gant and Councillor Emily Kerr representing the county and city councils respectively, and Ellie Clarke‑Jacques, from Active Oxfordshire, offered feedback and encouragement.

Students from The Warriner School, a rural school where many pupils travel by bus or car, focused their campaign on promoting respectful travel and car sharing. Meanwhile, pupils from Fitzharrys School set out to encourage more pupils to walk to school, boosting physical activity and improving local air quality. Both teams impressed the judges and were named joint winners, each receiving £200 to help deliver their campaigns.

Cllr Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It was wonderful to hear the brilliant ideas and fresh perspectives the teams brought for ways their schools can engage their communities and inspire more sustainable travel. I am really looking forward to seeing their ideas take shape as they build their plans.”

Students described the experience of presenting in the council chamber as “inspiring” and “educational”, calling it a “good experience [we] were fortunate and proud to have.”

Following the event, the pupils will take part in a further session focused on marketing, before delivering and evaluating their campaigns and contributing to their school travel plans.

_{Image shows the winning student teams from Fitzharrys and Warriner schools with Councillor Emily Kerr - Oxfordshire County Council Active Travel Champion, and Oxford City Council; Councillor Andrew Gant - Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Transport Management; and Ellie Clarke-Jacques from Active Oxfordshire.}

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.
 

Starting later this month, Go Electric Oxfordshire events are happening in every district to allow residents to learn about EVs and explore the wide range of vehicles and charging solutions that are currently available.

The events are open to all and are organised in partnership between Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire’s city and district councils, with support from Let’s Experience Electric.

Councillor Ben Higgins, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Economy and Innovation, said: “These fabulous, free events are part of our overall programme to provide a confidence boost to drivers looking to switch to EV and build on our leadership in this field.

“Alongside hugely expanding Oxfordshire’s public EV charging network, we also want residents to simply feel better informed and more familiar with the types of electric vehicles that more of us will be driving in the near future.”

The series kicks off on Saturday 21 March at the Woolgate Centre in Witney from 10am - 3pm. To register your interest visit the Eventbrite website.

Attendees can test drive models from a range of local dealerships, receive tips from experts and explore options such as car clubs and leasing. There will also be e-bikes to try and lots of practical information on things like renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Councillor Andrew Prosser, West Oxfordshire District Council’s Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, said: “I’m thrilled to see a large scale event like this coming to Witney and helping give our residents real world experiences with electric vehicles.

“I’d encourage West Oxfordshire residents to visit and discover how it feels to drive an EV and explore the various ways it might be more viable than you think to make the switch.”

Free EV test drives will be available across a wide range of vehicles of all shapes and sizes and to suit all budgets.

Attendees can also find out more about Oxfordshire’s plans to expand the public EV charging network and to explore other charging options such as charger sharing and cable channels.

Further events are planned for Abingdon, Banbury, Oxford and Didcot later this year. More information is available at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/goelectric

Funding for these events comes from a combination of Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) grant funding from the government and contributions from local car dealerships and other stallholders.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The five on-call firefighters, based in Abingdon, all live in the town and are close to the fire station. They share their story in the lead up to International Women’s Day, taking place on Sunday 8 March.

Emily Potter, firefighter in Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, and part of the all female crew, said: “For as long as I can remember we’ve had female on-call firefighters based in Abingdon, and across many of our other fire stations too. 

“What’s different now is that through a combination of training, availability and living locally, the five of us can crew a fire appliance together when needed.

"We’ve worked incredibly hard to gain the necessary skills so we can respond together as an all female crew. Our commitment shows just how capable and determined we are and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved together.

“It’s been an empowering experience, a journey of camaraderie, supported by our chief fire officer and colleagues at the station, and I hope it encourages more women to see firefighting as a career for them.”

Overall, Abingdon Fire Station has 17 on-call firefighters, 12 males and five females. They work alongside 12 full-time crew members, ten males and two females.

On-call firefighters participate in a wide range of activities in their local area, from responding to emergency calls to providing prevention advice to help keep residents safe and, ultimately, to save lives.

As on-call firefighters, the five all female crew have other jobs outside of the service but make themselves available at certain times to respond to emergency calls. When this happens, they will quickly make their way to their fire station from home, work or wherever they happen to be, all aided by living locally.

On-call firefighters are offered a flexible shift pattern to fit around their studies, work and family commitments, to attract a wide range of people to the service.

Emily is currently working as an engineer. She has been an on-call firefighter for over seven years. Her fellow crew members are Anastasia Osborne, Kayleigh Williams, Maria Alegria and Karen Bellcourt.

Maria, an on-call firefighter for nearly four years, works at London Oxford Airport, while Kayleigh, a mum of two, is a photographer who has been an on-call firefighter for three years.

Anastasia has been an on-call firefighter for nearly two years, and is employed as a firefighter at RAF Brize Norton.

Karen, a mum of three and an on-call firefighter for over four years, also works as a student health and safety adviser at Abingdon and Witney College.

Karen said: “Being able to respond from my primary employment, close to the fire station, makes being an on-call firefighter achievable for me, and the flexibility and support of my employer is brilliant.

“Working alongside my female colleagues as part of the wider Abingdon crew is both an honour and a privilege. Through supporting our community and one another, we live the spirit of ‘give to gain,’ proving that when we step forward and give, we all grow stronger together.”

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “As we mark International Women’s Day, it’s especially important to recognise the dedication of the Abingdon crew and our commitment to equal opportunities across our fire and rescue service. We now have 56 female operational firefighters in Oxfordshire.

“We’ve come a long way since our first all female fire crew over 20 years ago in Faringdon and I remember thinking back then that we’d achieve it again. Now we have at Abingdon.

“Here in Oxfordshire, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation, welcoming applications from everyone with the right attributes. If you’ve got what it takes to be a firefighter we’d love to hear from you.

“Our crew at Abingdon Fire Station is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when we embrace diversity and promote inclusivity.”

Rebecca Rimmer, Watch Manager at Faringdon Fire Station, reflects on being part of the first all female crew in Faringdon two decades ago: “I have gained so much from my career in the fire service. It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many positive ways and allowed me to gain skills that I’ve applied in all aspects of my life, even in my most important job of being a mum to my two children.

“Twenty years ago, being in that groundbreaking all female crew based at Faringdon felt like breaking through a glass ceiling. We had to go that extra mile to prove we were just as capable as the men in dealing with the daily physical and mental challenges the role entails.

“It’s taken longer than I expected to see another all female crew in place, but we’ve got there and now I hope the Abingdon team will inspire more women to consider a role as an on-call firefighter where a flexible work pattern can be put in place to work around family commitments, career or studies, or indeed a full-time firefighter.”

Attributes and requirements needed by on-call firefighters include:

• a strong desire to support the local community
• enthusiasm for working as part of a team
• a reasonable level of fitness
• living or working within a close distance to the local fire station (approximately five minutes).

Further information about becoming an on-call firefighter is available by emailing fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk or from Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service will be launching its next recruitment campaign for whole‑time firefighters shortly, welcoming applications from individuals interested in joining the service in a full‑time capacity.

Your Oxfordshire

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

An appeal has been issued for volunteers to help their communities understand flood risks and responsibilities by becoming flood wardens.

Oxfordshire County Council has extended its flood warden scheme to cover the whole county following successful pilot projects in Witney, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Abingdon and Sunningwell.

There is no set number of hours required, and flood wardens can volunteer according to their own schedule.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “Flood wardens are our eyes and ears on the ground and report things liked blocked ditches and drains so that we can resolve these issues before a flood event can occur. As extreme weather becomes a more common occurrence, their role becomes so much more important.

“We are so grateful to all the county’s volunteers, whose hard work and local knowledge does so much to keep their communities safe. I would like to thank our existing flood wardens for their efforts and invite more people to join them in improving the situation in the places where they live.”

Flood wardens are members of the local community. They can be individuals, representatives of the parish council or existing community resilience volunteers, highway wardens or police volunteers.

William Wareing, Chairman and Trustee of the Witney Flood Group, has been a flood warden since April 2023 and is the coordinator of the town’s seven-strong flood wardens group.

Mr Wareing said: “My home was flooded in 2007 and 2020. Although I have since moved to a safer location, I feel passionate about making a difference to others who are unable to move out of the high flood risk zone.

“I wanted us to establish a flood warden community through our involvement in the joint risk management agencies’ working party that formed after the 2020 floods. This is very closely tied with our charity, the Witney Flood Group, which was also formed after the 2020 floods, to help us build a community, support and educate, and make a difference to the conditions locally.

“Ultimately the flood wardens project is another piece of the puzzle in the solutions we seek to reduce the risk of flooding in the area.”

The council will support flood wardens in their role and provide the necessary training. All flood wardens undergo an informal one-hour call prior to signing the agreement to help them understand the role in more detail.

Mr Wareing added: “We engage with the community, report issues to the responsible authorities and create community emergency flood plans and keep in touch with each other and support each other. My role involves coordinating our wardens, increasing their knowledge and expertise, and making sure that specific high risk locations are the priority, and making them known to the community.

“Our flood wardens attend public events, learn about river management, hold conversations with both the responsible authorities and our residents and business owners. We held two public events in September, conducted a full survey of the River Windrush with evidence of photos, locations and identified any poor levels of maintenance we want to see improved.

“We plan to engage directly with riparian landowners next to encourage them to improve maintenance standards on land they own adjacent to a watercourse. We can also help them directly with light maintenance work and are set up for that now.

“Becoming a flood warden is about building a community, helping each other, representing and supporting those less fortunate or able to, and raising awareness of the flood risk issues we face across Oxfordshire,” he said.

“In our experience so far, people at risk of flooding are the strongest contenders for becoming flood wardens, as well as those with experience or interest in the subject.”

Anyone wanting to become a flood warden can read more and sign up through the county council’s Oxfordshire flood toolkit.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Mr Grzegorz Seczkowski, 41, from Abingdon, who traded as GNA Car Sales Ltd, was found to have lowered the mileage on six vans prior to selling them to unsuspecting customers.

He bought vans at auction and clocked them before selling them through the AutoTrader website and from his forecourt. By selling the vans with reduced mileage he made an additional profit over their true worth of £20,000.

A key element of the scam involved Mr Seczkowski buying high‑mileage former fleet or rental vehicles that were under three years old – meaning they had not yet undergone an MOT and their mileage was not centrally recorded.

This enabled him to roll back the vehicles’ mileage to just above their last service records, despite them having been driven up to 22,000 additional miles, allowing him to market them as low mileage vehicles with maintained service histories.

At a hearing at Oxford Crown Court on 3 February 2026, Mr Seczkowski was sentenced to 18 months custody, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay £2,529 in compensation to his customers and £5,000 towards the council’s costs.

GNA Car Sales Ltd was also fined £2,000 and both Mr Seczkowski and GNA Car Sales Ltd will have to pay a victim surcharge. A deprivation order in respect of a clocked van seized by trading standards as part of the investigation was also made.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety said, said: “Vehicle clocking misleads customers making a significant financial decision, with false claims leaving them frustrated, out of pocket and potentially even in danger. These vans were being sold to people who rely on them to earn a living, so breakdowns or high repair bills can have a significant impact on their lives.

“Dishonest trading of this kind undermines people’s confidence when buying a second hand vehicle, making the process more stressful and creating unnecessary difficulties for legitimate traders.

“Our trading standards team is here to protect Oxfordshire residents from rogue traders like Mr Seczkowski and will take similar action against anyone found to be engaging in offending of this nature.”

Davina Walkin, Trading Standards Operations Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, said: "We are extremely grateful to those organisations that supported us in this case.

"Anyone purchasing a second hand vehicle can check the mileage recorded during each MOT test for free on the GOV.UK website. If a vehicle regularly covers a significant number of miles each year and then suddenly shows only a very small increase, this can indicate that the vehicle has been clocked. Unless the seller can provide a clear explanation for the reduced mileage, we would recommend caution.

“There are also companies that, for a fee, will check a vehicle for mileage discrepancies, undeclared accidents or insurance claims, or whether it has been stolen. These can be useful tools when researching a vehicle’s history before buying.”

Residents with concerns about similar activity can report it using the national consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The grants, ranging from £100 to £1,700, will be used by organisations across the county to fund measures including rainwater harvesting, allotment improvements and flood advice.

The community resilience small grants programme, administered by Community Action Groups Oxfordshire (CAG) and funded by £12,000 from Oxfordshire County Council, supports local events and activities which address or raise awareness of climate adaptation.

Katherine Chesson, Director of CAG Oxfordshire, said: “Community groups are at the heart of ensuring that Oxfordshire's residents are resilient to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events.

“From rainwater harvesting at community gardens to raising awareness of local emergency plans, we're proud to support these fantastic groups to deliver locally led resilience work.”

Since 2007, Oxfordshire has experienced 20 significant flood events, 12 named storms, eight cold snaps, four major heatwaves and three periods of drought.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “We know that one of the best ways to mitigate against the impact of these increased incidents of extreme weather is to support activities and events that empower local groups to act.

“We received a great field of applications and we are delighted to be able to fund an exciting range of projects. We hope these grants will help some amazing organisations create new connections and raise awareness in order to support new people, local businesses and organisations to take climate action.”

The recipients are:

• Banbury Community Action Group: It will hold a film night and workshop to raise awareness of the need for community resilience and climate adaptation measures.
• Bridge Street Community Garden, Banbury: Funds will be used to upgrade the rainwater harvesting system at the garden to make the site more resilient to climate change.
• Bioabundance, Wallingford: Recognising the potential impacts of food shortages, the group will improve two allotment sites, which were set up to create a citizen network that could rise to support residents in time of crisis.
• Greener Henley: It will deliver a local resilience briefing for the town, tailored to local risks and resilience.
• Hendreds Environment Group: Funding will support the design, printing and distribution of leaflets to communicate the local emergency plan to the community and to educate residents on how they can become more self-reliant and prepare in advance in the event of an emergency.
• Her Land, South Oxfordshire: The group will deliver a workshop on the impact of droughts and flooding and outlining solutions such as rainwater harvesting. It will also install a rainwater harvesting system to better protect its site against extreme weather events.
• One Planet Abingdon: The group will engage with the community to raise awareness of Abingdon’s emergency plan workshop sessions and help residents create personal emergency plans.
• Steventon Parish Council: As a flood response group, it wants to provide every home with a flood education booklet describing what help can be provided within the village and from outside agencies.
• Stonehill Community Garden, Vale of White Horse: Its grant will support expanded rainwater harvesting to better protect the garden against future droughts, thereby improving the biodiversity of the site.
• Sustainable Didcot: Funding will support a month of themed climate resilience events, focused predominantly on water, as drought and flood are the biggest risks Didcot faces due to climate change.
• Transition Lighthouse Empowerment Space, Oxford: The group will purchase and install a yurt for shade at the Wellbeing Community Garden in Sandy Lane, to serve communities who face barriers in accessing and connecting to nature rich spaces. 

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

People can expect to receive a ‘warm welcome’ at Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries this winter, with the network offering a warm space and a hot drink for those who need it.

For the fourth year running, Oxfordshire libraries are partnering with the Warm Welcome Campaign, which supports a network of over 4,000 warm spaces across the UK.

The campaign seeks to open up more community spaces for free for those who may be feeling isolated, or whom need a warm place to stay during the colder months.

Oxfordshire’s libraries are also delivering a range of other support for residents including free cultural activities, advice sessions and signposting on helpful topics.

Simon Lay, Libraries Branch Network Operations Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We will be particularly focused on providing warmth, company and support to those affected by poverty and social isolation over the winter months.

“We’re continuing to see a rise in the number of people taking up the offer of a warm space and a hot drink. In Abingdon Library, for example, we are delighted to welcome back our regular visitors and welcome new faces.

“It’s a pleasure to see so many people enjoying the space we provide, reading newspapers, doing a jigsaw and connecting with others. Take up of the warm space offer has increased by 50 per cent, and the team are grateful that we are able to provide this hospitality.”

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Warm spaces such as our libraries provide a lifeline for many in our communities during the winter months. By offering a welcoming environment, a hot drink, and opportunities for connection, we’re not only helping people stay warm, but we’re also helping to tackle social isolation and support those facing hardship.

“This initiative is a clear reflection of our strategic priorities: we are committed to reducing inequalities, improving health and wellbeing, and building resilient, inclusive communities where everyone can thrive. Our libraries are at the heart of this effort, ensuring that every resident has access to the support and warmth they need this winter.”

As well as libraries, many other community buildings across the county also provide a warm space for those who need them. Find out more by visiting Warm Welcome’s website.

Find out about other ways to keep warm during the winter months, including financial help and more, by visiting the council’s dedicated webpage.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Organised by Tallulah Allmond, Team Leader in the Adult Social Care team at Oxfordshire County Council, the exhibition showcased a wide range of artwork and handmade crafts created by people supported across Oxfordshire’s CSS centres.

The event featured:

• Pottery creations from Abingdon and Witney CSS, crafted during sessions led by pottery tutor Kerry.
• Woodburning (pyrography) and mixed media artwork from Abingdon CSS.
• Paintings and drawings from Oxford CSS.
• Handmade crafts from Wantage CSS.

The exhibition was a collaborative effort, with staff and people supported by CSS playing key roles in running the event.

Attendees were warmly welcomed, and those supported by CSS managed the pottery and cake sale tables, served refreshments, and proudly spoke about their work. Many had created additional pottery items specifically for sale, which proved popular with visitors.

The event drew visitors from community support services across Oxfordshire, OCC staff based at the Abbey Centre, and members of the public.

Feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive.

Catherine Leeson, Team Leader at Oxford CSS, said: “It was so nice to be able to purchase some of the pottery items and I am very pleased with the little trinket dish which I bought.”

Lucille Vaughan, who attends Abingdon CSS, said: “The art exhibition was really good, and I felt proud to see my artwork on display. I met and talked to new people. I liked seeing all the other day centres’ work. A massive thank you to Tallulah for her hard work.”

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Events like this showcase the incredible creativity and community spirit within our support services. It’s inspiring to see people come together to celebrate talent, inclusion and the power of art to connect us.”

Looking ahead, CSS teams are gearing up for a festive Christmas Art and Craft Exhibition on 1 December. Handmade items will be available to purchase, with proceeds supporting CSS centres. The event will also feature an award ceremony for winners of the county-wide Christmas card competition.

Photos from the exhibition and further updates can be found on the Abingdon CSS Facebook page.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

People living in, working in and visiting Abingdon are invited to share their feedback on proposals to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier along the town’s East St Helen Street, in a survey open until 28 October.

Oxfordshire County Council has drafted the proposals working with local groups including UK active travel charity Sustrans. The proposals will create safer routes for walking, wheeling and cycling across the area, including facilitating two-way cycling along East St Helen Street.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “As well as providing essential safety improvements for people traveling around Abingdon, this work would connect a missing link in a major national cycle route between the Thames Valley and Wales.

“We need to reduce the number of cars on the road in Oxfordshire, and projects like this one enable healthier, more connected, and more accessible journeys. We want walking, cycling and public transport to work for more people, becoming a natural first choice.

“I encourage people to take a look at our plans and share their thoughts to help us finalise a design that works for residents.”

The plan includes improved cycling facilities on East St Helen Street and new pedestrian crossing facilities on the High Street, Bridge Street and Stert Street.

The scheme proposes:

• Two parallel cycle and pedestrian zebra crossings for the National Cycle Network 5 (NCN5) route between Abbey Close and East St Helen Street. ​
• Provision for contraflow cycling allowing travel in both directions for cyclists on East St Helen Street.
• Two zebra crossings on High Street and Bridge Street.
• Raised tables to prioritise safer walking, wheeling and cycling at the junction between East St Helen Street and Lombard Street.
• Continuous footway providing step-free crossing for pedestrians and slow-turning vehicles.
• New crossings on East St Helen Street and West St Helen Street.
• Planting and cycle parking where possible.

The location has been identified as a priority in the Abingdon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

A survey is available on the county council’s digital engagement and consultation platform, Let’s talk Oxfordshire for people to share their feedback on the plan. The survey closes at 11.59pm on Tuesday 28 October 2025.

There will be two drop-in events to view the information and chat to project officers, at Abingdon Guildhall on 11 October from 10am to 3pm and 14 October from 4pm to 7pm.

A report summarising the proposal and feedback from the survey will be presented to the county council’s cabinet member for Transport on whether to proceed at a meeting later this year. If approved, construction of the improvements would start in spring 2026. 

Notes

• The survey is available at: oxfordshire.gov.uk/eaststhelenstreet. 
  Paper copies of the survey can be requested by email to ncn5-cycleroute@oxfordshire.gov.uk or by calling the county council’s customer services team. Residents who wish to write to the council should address their envelope with Freepost OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL as one line in the middle with ‘Abingdon East St Helen St’ written in the top left corner.
• The drop-in events are open to everyone, with no need to book. Information materials shared at the events will also be published online, on Let’s talk Oxfordshire. The events will be held on:
  • Saturday 11 October 2025 from 10am - 3pm in the Old Magistrates’ Court Room, Guildhall, Abbey Close, Abingdon OX14 3JD;
  • and on Tuesday 14 October 2025 from 4pm - 7pm  in the Roysse Room, Guildhall, Abbey Close, Abingdon OX14 3JD.
• The scheme is funded by a UK Government active travel grant of £1,473,679.
• Measures in the central Oxfordshire travel plan and Oxfordshire’s local transport and connectivity plan are designed to make Oxfordshire a better place for everyone.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Excavation and earthworks start today (3 September) as part of the construction of new south-facing slip roads at Lodge Hill, which only has north-facing slips at present. The scheme will improve connectivity to and from the north of Abingdon, avoiding the town centre and making it easier for people to choose walking, cycling or taking public transport as part of their daily routine.

Early work to set up the site and prepare the area began in May 2025. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

To ensure the scheme is built safely, the council’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty, will undertake six different stages of work to minimise disruption.

The first stage involves removing the islands at the junction of the slip roads. This will create more space for construction vehicle access and movement. During this first stage of work, temporary overnight traffic signals will operate between 9pm and 5am on the A4183 and A34 southbound.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “The much-anticipated A34 Lodge Hill scheme will improve capacity at the junction, improving bus and car journeys, as well as making walking and cycling safer in the area.

“This is vital and much-needed investment to support growth in Abingdon. Once complete, it will reduce the amount of through traffic in the town centre, improving the environment for everyone.

“We have all campaigned for this for so long and it is wonderful news that construction has begun.”

Pauline Schaffer, Director of Infrastructure Funding at Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, we want to support public and private sector partners to unlock strategic housing sites where brownfield, infrastructure or land projects face delivery challenges.

“Through the Brownfield Infrastructure Land fund, we’re unlocking 820 much needed new homes in Abingdon with the construction of these key roads. Lodge Hill is a prime example of how we’re working with partners like Oxfordshire County Council to unlock the potential of new homes and regional growth in communities through improving infrastructure.”

Matt Parkes, Project Director at Balfour Beatty, said: “We’re pleased to be partnering with Oxfordshire County Council to deliver the A34 Lodge Hill Interchange scheme. This vital infrastructure project will not only unlock regional economic growth but also transform connectivity for residents and road users. Once complete, it will provide safer, more efficient journeys and support the long-term development of the wider area.”

Details of traffic management throughout construction and more information about the A34 Lodge Hill scheme is available on the council’s website.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Cassington based Mixergy, an organisation that produces smart cylinders to maximise efficiency and reduce energy bills in the home, was a recipient of the King’s Award for innovation.

Meanwhile, Beadlight, a company in Witney that produces lighting and touchscreens for aviation, and Intralink, an international business development consultancy based in Abingdon, received awards for excellence in international trade.

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Marjorie Neasham Glasgow BEM, who will be presenting the awards on behalf of the King, said: “I am delighted that these three Oxfordshire based businesses should be recognised for their outstanding achievement in the categories of innovation and international trade. The King’s Award for Enterprise is considered the UK’s most prestigious accolade for businesses around the country. Congratulations.”

The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed in 2023 to reflect His Majesty The King’s commitment to continuing the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II in recognising outstanding British businesses.
 

Now into its 59^th year, the programme celebrates businesses that represent the best of British enterprise in the following categories: 

• innovation
• international trade
• sustainable development
• promoting opportunity through social mobility

Awards are valid for five years.

Those who receive an award are given a Grant of Appointment and commemorative crystal trophy, use of The King’s Awards flag and use of the emblem on marketing materials, and an invitation to a royal reception.

Anyone wishing to apply for the award in 2026 should visit the King’s Awards website, and apply before 9 September this year.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Kym and Roger Garnett are much like any other Oxfordshire couple. They live on a quiet road in Banbury, in a spacious well kept house.

But for the last 27 years, the Garnetts have been part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Shared Lives programme, seeing them open their home to adults with additional care needs, offering them a place to stay and grow their independence.

And at a ceremony last night (Tuesday 29 April) at Frilford Heath Golf Club near Abingdon, Kym and Roger were given an award celebrating their long service by Oxfordshire County Council Chief Executive, Martin Reeves.

Martin said: “For almost three decades Kym and Roger have selflessly opened their home to offer adults with additional needs a place to live happily and independently.

“The difference they have made to the people they have shared their lives with should not be underestimated and it is a privilege to be able to celebrate their kindness and dedication with them.”

Roger and Kym became Shared Lives carers in June 1998. Roger had previously been employed as a support worker with the NHS learning disability team and has many years of experience supporting adults with additional needs, with a specialism for people with autism.

They are able to support up to three people at any one time, for long and short-term stays as well as providing accommodation for adults needing immediate support with little notice period.

Martin added: “Kym and Roger have been able to offer tailored support for people when they have needed it most. Whether that was a fixed place to stay to give someone the continuity they needed or a roof over their head when a person found themselves in immediate need, the Garnetts have opened their door and welcomed them in.”

Kym and Roger are both advanced first aiders and have significant support from the county council’s Shared Lives team, ensuring they have the latest guidance and training.

On receiving the award, Roger said: “Shared Lives is a very special programme. While there are some challenging times, we get just as much from the scheme as the people living with us.

“We learn from each other and laugh with each other and it is a real joy to see the people staying with us grow their independence.”

Roger and Kym have also been shortlisted for a long-term service award at next month’s Oxfordshire Care Awards. The event recognises excellence in the region’s care sector, with the ceremony taking place at Blenheim Palace on Tuesday 6 May.

Shared Lives plays an important role in the council’s Oxfordshire Way vision, by supporting people to live happily and independently withing their communities, reducing the need for more formal care.

Shared Lives carers come from all walks of life, from different backgrounds and live in all kinds of homes. You can earn up to £500 a week by supporting someone at home and fit it around your life and work commitments.

If you think you could support an adult with additional needs, you can find out more about the programme at oxfordshire.gov.uk/sharedlives or calling 01865 897971.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

A care team that provides a unique hybrid approach to supporting adults with additional needs has been nominated for a prestigious local award.

Oxfordshire County Council’s community partnership team provides traditional building-based activities from Mayott House in Abingdon while also delivering outreach support across the county, for adults identified as needing more one to one, personalised care.

They have now been nominated in the care team category at next month’s Oxfordshire Care Awards.

Bianca Moss is the Community Partnership Team Manager at Oxfordshire County Council and said: “We really are unique in our approach to providing care. Unlike more formal services, we are given the flexibility to offer a range of activities in different locations, that really make a difference to the people we support.”

The community partnership team was developed in response to the social distancing challenges of the COVID pandemic, when people were unable to visit community support services due to lockdown restrictions.

Instead of basing themselves from a council community support service building, the team instead worked with extra care housing providers, bpha, to provide a more traditional day care support in the form of a café for residents and visitors at Mayott House, Abingdon.

Alongside this, countywide outreach support can be offered to adults identified as most in need, including people with mental health concerns associated with loneliness and depression.

Bianca said: “We are the only team I’m aware of able to offer this holistic, individualised support, as well as our building-based care. Whether it’s bingo or knit and natter at Mayott House, supporting someone to attend a GP appointment or help decluttering their house, our small team has the autonomy to think differently and put the person they are supporting at the very heart of what they do.”

The community partnership team has now been recognised for its work by being shortlisted for the team of the year at the Oxfordshire Care Awards.

The prestigious awards recognise excellence in the local care sector and will take place at Blenheim Palace on Tuesday 6 May.

Karen Fuller, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Adult Social Care, said: “Our community partnership team embodies our Oxfordshire Way approach to support people to live well and independently within their own communities.

“This is only made possible by the partnership we have formed with housing providers bpha, as well as by working with The Order of St John Care Team, who provide care and support at Mayott House.

“With their backing, our small and creative community partnership team can offer the flexibility needed to provide this unique, hybrid model of support for our residents.”

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

But the 36 year old, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in her teens, is now thriving, working for Oxfordshire County Council’s in-house print company, County Print Finishers, which specialises in offering accessible employment to people who are experiencing a disability or long term health concern.

Jenny spent ten years after leaving secondary school in a mixture of part-time and full-time further education settings, including specialist colleges for people with autism.

She initially worked for the family’s MOT service business as a bookkeeper and a garage assistant. Jenny said: “No two days were the same at the garage. The business was going for 52 years before my dad and uncle retired and I lost my job. In the same year, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a really difficult time for me.”

After months of supporting her mother’s recovery, Jenny felt it was time to try and find a permanent job, but with funding being reduced from the charity that was supporting her, she was put in touch with Oxfordshire Employment to help her find the job she wanted.

Oxfordshire Employment is the county council’s service that works with people who have additional needs, understanding their individual skills and supporting them to find and maintain a job that’s right for them.

For Jenny, her stand out organisational skills, which she learnt during her time as a bookkeeper, and natural attention to detail were a clear advantage to any employer looking for reliable and hardworking staff.

And after receiving some interview training and support with her CV, Jenny was offered casual work with a party entertainment business, before earning a position at County Print Finishers in February 2020.

Having started in a part-time role, Jenny worked her way up in the company and is now a full-time grade five workforce associate, which is something she very much enjoys.

She said: “I have quite a lot of responsibility here. I look after a production line that does things like the relabelling of goods, making them ready to sell in shops. I make sure there aren’t any mistakes and keep the production line flowing. My aim is to one day be a supervisor.”

Jenny is an integral part of the County Print Finishers team, based in Osney Mead in Oxford. As well as making sure the production line operates smoothly, she’s recently gained her forklift truck licence and is working towards even more qualifications to help her continue to progress her career.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Jenny story of resilience and determination is truly inspiring. She has overcome a number of barriers to find and maintain full-time work and while Oxfordshire Employment has given her outstanding support, it’s Jenny’s hard work and aspirational attitude that’s really led to her success.

“She is a wonderful example of how people from a range of backgrounds, with unique skills and dedication, can bring value and diversity to Oxfordshire’s workforce.”

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The proposal to create a series of ‘greenways’ – high-quality paths in urban or natural areas prioritised for pedestrians and cyclists – comes from a joint project being developed by Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and the University of Oxford.

The aim is to create a network of safe, convenient and well-connected cycling and walking routes linking surrounding towns, villages and future economic development sites with Oxford city centre and other key employment, cultural and economic locations.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “Many people who want to walk or cycle more, for their health, wellbeing or to save money, are often put off by having to share the space with motor vehicles. Some of our towns and villages have no safe options at all, despite their close proximity to Oxford.

“That’s why the Oxford greenways project is so important. I would urge as many people as possible to take part in the consultation so that we can prioritise and design routes where they will make the biggest difference.”

The consultation runs until Tuesday 18 March. To take part, visit Let’s talk Oxfordshire.

Councillor Louise Upton, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Cycling Champion, said: “In order to encourage more people to walk and cycle into Oxford for work, studying, entertainment or shopping, we need to provide them with safer and more accessible routes.

“This engagement is a chance for pedestrians and cyclists to share their feedback on six proposed greenways. These new routes are designed to promote healthier and safer options as people travel across Oxford and Oxfordshire.

“I encourage everyone interested in cycling to participate – whether you're an experienced cyclist or someone who wants to start cycling.”

A first set of greenways is proposed to connect Oxford with areas including Woodstock, Otmoor, Wootton near Abingdon, Kingston Bagpuize, Kennington, Botley and Wytham.

David Prout, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning & Resources) at Oxford University, said: “Safe walking and cycling routes between Oxford and its surrounding towns and villages would be a massive boost for everyone living and working in Oxford. We are very pleased to have been part of this study and hope its recommendations will be implemented.”

The Oxford greenways project began in 2020 but was put on hold due to the pandemic. Feedback from the latest consultation and other engagement events will help inform the development of a delivery plan.

Initial funding is in place for design of the first set of greenways. However, route construction and further design development of the proposed network – which could improve links to around 60 towns and villages – would require successful funding bids and grant allocations.

Greenways schemes will be developed alongside other improvements to cycle routes around the county, including National Cycling Network routes, Oxfordshire’s Strategic Active Travel Network, and area and corridor travel plans within the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled plans for an Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that it is reported will boost the UK economy by up to £78 billion by 2035. Lord Patrick Vallance is to be appointed as Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion

Cllr Liz Leffman, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: We particularly welcome the investment in East-West Rail, which is so important for connectivity across the Oxford to Cambridge corridor. As is well known our ambition at the county council is to see greater investment in our rail infrastructure locally and regionally to boost connectivity and productivity. But we also need urgent action to fix our crumbling water and sewage system, and improve the electricity grid, if the region is to flourish.

“We look forward to working with Lord Patrick Vallance in his new role, alongside our partners in Oxfordshire and neighbouring areas, to enable our county and the wider region to reach its full potential.  

“One aspect of the announcement which will cause concern locally is the mention of a new reservoir near Steventon. We know that this is opposed by the majority of local people and has been questioned and scrutinised at many levels over a long period of time.”

An electric car club pilot scheme has proved so popular that 15 vehicles are set to remain in place at more than 10 new and existing locations around the county, following the end of the 18 month trial period.

Since the pilot scheme was launched in April 2023, it has attracted over new 1,200 members, seen over 5,200 individual hiring sessions and led to more than a quarter of a million electric miles being driven.

The scheme has been coordinated by Oxfordshire County Council and is supported by Oxford City Council and Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils who have hosted the pilot vehicles in their car parks. The vehicles have been provided and operated by hire companies Co Wheels, Enterprise CarClub and Zimbl.

The success of the extended trial scheme means that car club vehicles are set to continue in the following locations:

• Abingdon – Cattle Market and West St Helen Street car parks (Co Wheels)
• Banbury – Calthorpe Street West and Windsor Street car parks (Zimbl)
• Bicester – Claremont car park (Zimbl)
• Eynsham – Back Lane car park (Co Wheels)
• Henley – Greys Road car park (Co Wheels)
• Oxford – Redbridge and Seacourt Park and Rides (Co Wheels and Zimbl)
• Wallingford – Cattlemarket car park (Co Wheels)
• Witney – Woodford Way car park (Enterprise CarClub).

New car club vehicles are also set to be introduced at these new locations:

• Chipping Norton – New Road car park (Zimbl)
• Woodstock – Hensington Road car park (Zimbl)
• Thame – Upper High Street (Co Wheels).

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “The popularity of the EV car clubs has led to the continuation of the schemes in many places, meaning even more residents and businesses can try out these shared cars for themselves.

“Car clubs give people the chance to use an EV when they need one, without the expense of owning or leasing one outright. They can make it much more affordable for people who don’t drive every day and provide real-world experience of driving electric without a long-term commitment.”

It is estimated that a successful car club vehicle can take on average 20 individually owned cars – often petrol or diesel vehicles – off the road.

EVs in the scheme can be hired from £5.95 per hour, including insurance, plus 12p per electric mile.

If demand for car clubs continues and funding can be identified, then it’s likely more car club locations will be introduced within the next few years. Residents can submit locations where they would like to car clubs using Oxfordshire County Council’s EV charger and car club demand tracker.

Updated details about the EV car club pilot and where your nearest car club location is can be found on the Oxfordshire County Council website.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The archaeological investigations were undertaken of behalf of Oxfordshire County Council in preparation for the new A34 interchange at Lodge Hill.  Discoveries included deeply buried sediments from the area’s ancient river systems dating back to the Middle Pleistocene period and some flint tools, reflecting early human presence from this era.

Experts from Oxford Archaeology, commissioned by the councils’ contractor, Balfour Beatty, dug 16 trial trenches, 12 test pits and two boreholes. The work was part of a planning condition to explore any potential archaeological remains and any ancient sediments that would be affected by the new interchange. 

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: Archaeological investigations like this are an important part of the process of delivering construction schemes. They help us identify and understand past features and residents of the area and record them for future generations. 

“Oxfordshire has a fascinating history – not just its people, but its geology too. These remains offer a glimpse into the ancient ecosystems that existed here during the interglacial periods.”

 Excavations found evidence of the Lodge Hill Channel, an ancient river system that crosses the site in a southwest to northeast direction. This channel, which is buried beneath a younger layer of gravel, has silty sediments up to 5m deep in places, with remains of ancient fossil material such as snail shells, fish bones and plant matter in its deeper parts. A piece of a Palaeolithic flint handaxe was also found from deposits that directly overlap the ancient channel fill.   

The channel deposits at Lodge Hill are probably part of the same river system as similar deposits found nearby, also in north Abingdon, where Sugworth Lane crosses the A34. The Sugworth Lane deposits have been recognised as of national significance for their fossil faunal remains, which contains an extinct species of vole.

Although no major archaeological remains were identified in the trenches, a few flint artefacts were also found that reflect later prehistoric human activity at the site. Three worked flints were found, probably from the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods.  

The archaeological evaluation also revealed a few undated features, including two small pits, a linear ditch, and a series of postholes, likely of post-medieval or modern origin, along with quantities of Roman pottery and medieval tile fragments. 

Carl Champness, Project Manager for Oxford Archaeology said: “The discovery of a rare lower-middle age handaxe and the interglacial channel deposits at Lodge Hill dating between 600,000-500,000 years ago may provide new insights into a lost landscape. This is only the start of the story, and we hope planned further investigation and detailed analysis of these remains, will help enhance our understanding of the early occupation of Britain.” 

Francis Wenban-Smith of University of Southampton, Palaeolithic specialist for Oxford Archaeology, said: “These are very exciting finds. Artefactual evidence of this period is exceptionally rare in the Upper Thames landscape north of the Goring Gap. The presence of flint tools gives an insight into the mobility of these ancient humans, since flint raw material would not have been available at the site. The human species involved was probably Homo heidelbergensis, who were the ancestor of the Neanderthals, and who periodically occupied Britain in warmer climatic episodes between c. 800,000 and 400,000 years ago.” 

Image provided courtesy of Oxford Archaeology

Image 1 shows the Lower/Middle Palaeolithic handaxe identified in the North drift gravel deposits in Test Pit 21 

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

For safety reasons, Oxfordshire County Council will be shutting the centres for two days – although never at the same time – to allow for deep cleaning and essential maintenance.

This includes jet washing the sites and structures, repainting lines and safety areas, as well as other general work to improve the customer experience.

The closing dates are:

• Stanford in the Vale, near Faringdon: Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 September
• Ardley, near Bicester: Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September
• Drayton, near Abingdon: Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 September
• Oakley Wood, near Wallingford: Thursday 12 and Friday 13 September
• Dix Pit, Stanton Harcourt: Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 September
• Alkerton, near Banbury: Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 October.

All closures are on quieter weekdays to minimise disruption and sites will reopen at 8am the following day.

Residents are asked to plan ahead, ideally holding onto their waste until the site reopens or, if that is not possible, visiting one of the neighbouring sites.

The deep clean for Redbridge HWRC in Oxford will be carried out later in the year and full details will be provided in due course.

More information can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website, including details of alternative sites during the closures.

Users are reminded that to use their free DIY waste allowance, they need to book an appointment for their visit on the council’s website.

Residents with van or trailer permits can use these at any of the HWRCs.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Tom’s life changed last year. After having a stroke, subsequent seizures led to him being diagnosed with vascular dementia. But since joining Abingdon CSS, Tom has been supported to achieve his life goals, including scaling a climbing wall at this summer’s J-Fest in Faringdon.

Tom joined the community support centre in July and said: “I’ve met up with a lot of new people and it feels like one big family, I feel welcome as soon as I get in the door. I enjoy the singing group and reminiscing about back in the day.”

Staff at Abingdon CSS are encouraged to think creatively about how they can support people who use the service, guided by the council’s Oxfordshire Way vision to enable residents to live happily and independently within their own communities.

One of Tom’s ambitions was to attend a music festival, so when the opportunity to go to the accessible J-Fest in Farringdon came up, the support service’s coordinator asked him if he wanted go and he immediately signed up.

As well as enjoying the live music, with the support of his family, Tom decided to tackle the climbing wall, making it all the way to the top. He is already looking forward to next year’s event!

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "Our community support centres are a vital service for adults with physical and learning disabilities, mental health concerns and older care needs including dementia.

"Our knowledgeable staff offer person-centred support, listening to the people who use the service, providing real benefits for them and their families. It’s great to hear the difference Abingdon CSS is making to Tom’s life.”

Tom’s wife and carer, Jan Furze, said: “Attending Abingdon CSS has given Tom some freedom from me and restarted his social life. It gives me peace of mind to know he is safe and being looked after. It gives us conversation for when he gets home and means I have some time for myself too.

“As well as attending J Fest, Tom also enjoyed a concert at Dorchester Abbey where I was very kindly welcomed alongside him. Tom enjoys chatting to the carers when they go out for tea and visit local garden centres. It’s lovely that the carers always ask how I am too. Having access to the centre really has made the world of difference to our lives.”

More information about Oxfordshire County Council’s seven community support centres can be found on the Live Well Oxfordshire website.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Since February 1970, the ‘Wittenham Rose’ has been presented as a peppercorn rent to landowners at Little Wittenham. It is a symbolic gesture which allows ongoing access for the general public to the woods, pastureland and round hills of the reserve.

When the agreement was drawn up in 1970 the area was still in Berkshire. Since 1974 Oxfordshire County Council has presented the rose.

Increasing access to the countryside

Councillor Alison Rooke, Chair of Oxfordshire County Council said: “This ceremony is a long standing tradition that the county council is delighted to honour. Public access to the countryside is an important issue for both the county council and the Earth Trust, so the rose ceremony is an important annual event in our calendars. It is a mid-summer Oxfordshire fixture and part of the fabric of our wonderful county.”

Cllr Rooke will return to the nature reserve on 11 July to plant the rose.

The Earth Trust and Wittenham Clumps

Since 1982 the Earth Trust has managed the area around Wittenham Clumps and the surrounding farmland, grassland and woodlands. The area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, because of its grassland and significant population of great crested newts.

Dementia Oxfordshire, a service provided by Age UK Oxfordshire with funding support from Oxfordshire County Council, has worked with a group of experts by experience who are living with the condition, to devise post-diagnostic education sessions for people who have recently had a diagnosis of dementia.

Melissa Spearman, Dementia Oxfordshire’s education lead, said: “Being told you have dementia can be a really difficult time, and we wanted to show people that there are lots of ways to live well with dementia.

“One of the most important lessons we learned from our experts by experience was that people with a diagnosis need time to talk and sharing experiences is a vital step to feeing that you are not alone.

“We also use the expertise of people who are living with dementia, as well as the lived experience of their carers, to include practical examples of how to make life easier, whether that’s using simple memory prompts, rearranging the kitchen so everyday tasks are easier, or utilising technology to help.

“But perhaps even more importantly, we encourage people with a dementia diagnosis to recognise the fact that they are still the same person they were, to encourage them to stay as independent as possible and to talk openly about what they are going through.”

Glenn Fletcher, a longstanding member of the experts by experience group, was diagnosed with dementia four years ago. He delivers the post-diagnostic sessions alongside Dementia Oxfordshire’s advisers.

Glenn said: “The best advice I can give anyone who is living with dementia is don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s too easy to pull yourself down and think ‘I am not what I was’. Having dementia means you just have less capacity to do certain things. You will do things like before, but not quite the same. Peripheral elements may be missing but don’t be too frightened by that.”

Anyone in Oxfordshire with a recent diagnosis of dementia is welcome to attend an education session. They form an important part of the county council’s Oxfordshire Way vision, to support people to live well and independently within their own communities for as long as possible.

Karen Fuller, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Adult Social Care, said: “Our partnership with Dementia Oxfordshire and Age UK Oxfordshire offers residents the best possible support, closer to home. The new sessions are delivered by people who have extensive experience of dementia and are well placed to give relevant, clear advice and support at a time when people need it most."

The sessions are taking place at various venues across the county and also online. Full details can be found on the Dementia Oxfordshire website.

The experts by experience group has also worked with the Dementia Oxfordshire team to produce a new booklet entitled ‘A Straightforward Guide to Dementia’ with lots of easily understandable advice and recommendations. The guide is given out free of charge at the education sessions and can be downloaded from the Dementia Oxfordshire website.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Cllr Rooke first became a councillor in 1999 and served on both Abingdon Town Council and the Vale of White Horse District Council. She has been a county councillor in Abingdon since 2013. She succeeds Cllr Felix Bloomfield in the post. Cllr Mark Lygo will be her vice-chair.

She had a career in computer programming and as a personal assistant before leaving full time employment to care for her father. She is a mother of two daughters and has been a member of Abingdon Operatic Society for more than 40 years.

Becoming Chair of the county council is the latest in a sequence of important roles she has held including being Mayor of Abingdon and Leader of Abingdon Town Council. She was also Chair of Vale of White Horse District Council.

As the ceremonial head of the council, the chair must be a serving county councillor but must remain politically impartial. A new chair is elected each May at the annual general meeting of the county council, which this year was on Tuesday 21 May.

Cllr Rooke said: “I am looking forward to getting around to many different parts of Oxfordshire and supporting as many events as I can by attending and representing the county council. We are keen to hear from organisations who have events over the next year.”

The new Chair will raise funds for three charities during her year in post: My Vision (who support Oxfordshire residents who have poor sight or sight loss); Parkinsons UK (who have three branches in Oxfordshire) and the Earth Trust in Little Wittenham.

Cllr Rooke added: “At first it may appear that these three charities are not linked but we hope there will be a sense of synergy. People who have sight loss or may have problems with moving and getting around may not automatically think that Earth Trust could help. They are very keen to educate and open the countryside to everyone.”

“We are certainly hoping for an event over the summer involving people being able to go for a walk and enjoy afternoon tea afterwards.

“As important as the fundraising is, raising the profile of these local charities is equally as important. I hope we can achieve both during the forthcoming year.”

 About the role of chair

Ceremonial duties performed by the chair include:

• being the politically impartial civic leader of Oxfordshire
• promoting the objectives and services of the county council and Oxfordshire 
• acting as an ambassador for the county council and Oxfordshire
• fostering community identity and pride.

Key responsibilities include:

• presiding over meetings of the full council
• accepting invitations on behalf of the county council to attend events
• inviting individuals and representatives of key organisations to events at County Hall and other venues.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Southmoor Little Angels – which opened today, Tuesday 7 May – will provide year round, extended day childcare for children from six months to four years of age.

Government funded places will also be available, with a range of options including term time only attendance.

Southmoor Little Angels will use a former children’s centre building, which has been  refurbished with the help of a £35,000 grant from Oxfordshire County Council.

Councillor John Howson, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “The new nursery in Southmoor will provide a safe and stimulating environment for young children, delivered by an experienced Oxfordshire childcare provider.

“I am very proud of this latest nursery project, part of Oxfordshire County Council’s ongoing commitment to provide the very best start for every child in the county.”

Kaye Merriman, Director of Little Angels Childcare Group, said: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new nursery in Southmoor, providing for the educational and developmental needs of young children.

“With a focus on providing a nurturing and enriching environment, we are committed to offering high-quality inclusive education and care that fosters a love for learning.”

Parents wanting further information about Southmoor Little Angels should email:

info@littleangelschildcaregroup.co.uk, or phone 01865 597512.

Your Oxfordshire

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Following Oxfordshire County Council’s allocation last year of £1.2 million for rural public and community transport, further new buses will be launched on April 15 to connect more villages to market towns and Oxford.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I’m really delighted to be able to back our commitment to high quality public transport with real delivery and budget, in rural areas as well as our larger towns.

“Not everyone has access to a car and so public transport is essential to help people get around for work, shopping, and socialising. We know there is a demand for bus services in these locations, which can’t be met by the commercial operators, and we are glad to be able to help fill this gap.”

The new services will all be operated by accessible minibuses from the council’s in-house fleet but will be open to all bus users.

The announcement follows the introduction in November 2023 of new bus routes to villages, which had been without public transport since 2016, and the allocation of grants worth nearly £425,000 to improve community transport in Oxfordshire last month.

The new routes are:

• 42: Abingdon to Oxford via Sunningwell, Bayworth, Boars Hill and South Hinksey (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
• 49: Cuddesdon and Denton to Cowley Templars Square and Oxford City Centre (Tuesdays and Thursdays; on Tuesdays via Toot Baldon and Marsh Baldon and on Thursdays via King's Copse and Cowley Tesco).
• 79: Hornton, Horley and Hanwell to Banbury Town Centre and Banbury Gateway (Thursdays only).
• 85: Goosey, Charney Bassett, Lyford, West Hanney and Denchworth to Grove and Wantage (Wednesdays only).
• 107: Oddington, Charlton-on-Otmoor, Fencott and Murcott to Bicester via Langford (Fridays only).

Timetables will be available on Traveline later this month.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The trial features electric vehicles (EVs), which can be hired on an hourly or daily basis from district and city council owned car parks around the county. They are currently in place in Bicester, Banbury, Kidlington, Eynsham, Henley, Wallingford, Abingdon, Witney and Oxford.

The pilot has been organised by Oxfordshire County Council and supported by Oxford City Council, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils to assess the demand. The vehicles are provided by hire companies Co Wheels, Zimbl, and Enterprise CarClub.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “I’m extremely pleased to see the positive response to EV car clubs in many of the towns and villages involved in the pilot. I welcome the extension to the scheme, which will mean even more residents and businesses can try out these shared cars for themselves.

“Car clubs can play a key role in reducing carbon emissions in Oxfordshire, as well as reducing the number of individual vehicles on our roads and helping people to reduce the cost of living. If you haven’t tried them out, now’s your chance.”

Since the start of the pilot, more than 500 new members have signed up to use the EV car clubs and the vehicles have been hired over 2,000 times.

It is estimated that a successful car club vehicle can take on average 20 individually owned cars – often petrol or diesel vehicles – off the road.

The continued success of the scheme is dependent on increasing use of the vehicles in the pilot, so residents are encouraged to make use of introductory offers available and try out their local vehicle while they can.  If the vehicles continue to be well used, some of the current sites could be considered as long term locations for car club EVs, and a wider rollout could also follow in other locations. 

Eynsham car club user, Lisa Hynes, said: “We have used the Co Wheels car in Eynsham and it’s been brilliant.

“It’s right in the centre of Eynsham and has meant that we haven’t needed to buy an additional car as we can use the Co Wheels car as and when we need it. We have really enjoyed driving an electric car too.”

EV car clubs give people the chance to use an EV when they need one, without the expense of owning or leasing one outright. Car clubs can make it much more affordable for people who don’t drive every day and provide real-world experience of driving electric without a long-term commitment.

EVs in the scheme can be hired from £5.95 per hour, including insurance, plus 12p per electric mile. Residents can make use of promotions, reduced membership and driving credit offers as part of the pilot scheme.

Updated details about where your nearest car club location is, and information about promotional offers, can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Lessons learned from the pilot will feed into a countywide car club strategy being developed by the county council later this year.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

We have produced a flooding toolkit that provides advice and support for residents and businesses on preparing for and recovering from a flood.

Funding

If your property or business has been flooded or significantly impacted due to flooding by storm Henk between 2 to 12 January 2024, you may be eligible for grants under the Flood Recovery Framework. Read more about this on .gov.uk.

There are a number of schemes available, however certain eligibility criteria will need to be met to access the funding. For more information on what funding is available, eligibility criteria and how to claim please visit our Flood Toolkit website.

Sandbags

Most sandbags used for residential properties can be disposed of at one of our Household Waste and Recycling Centres. Use gloves when handling the sandbags, and speak to a member of site staff on arrival for further advice. Businesses should arrange their own collections.

A visit to the waste wizard provides further advice on the disposal of both contaminated and uncontaminated sandbags and other items in your area of Oxfordshire.

If you have unusued sandbags, it is recommended that you keep hold of these until the end of the flood season.

Cleaning and drying homes

When cleaning and drying a property affected by floods, it’s important to protect yourself from floodwater, which can be harmful to humans and animals. Wear rubber boots, protective overalls and waterproof gloves.

UKHSA has helpful information on staying safe while cleaning your home after a flood.

The National Flood Forum has produced a helpful leaflet to help those affected by flooding. It outlines what you can expect from your insurer over the comings weeks and months during recovery.

Protecting your health

Whilst all of us are familiar with a degree of adversity in life, flooding and its consequences is a particular difficult and stressful experience for everyone, and for some people it may be terrifying and even life-threatening. Whilst the waters may recede quite quickly, repairing the devastation left behind takes much longer. Practical problems, financial worries, red tape and uncertainty all need to be dealt with. 

Anyone caught up in this may feel upset, worried and exhausted. Such feelings can last a few days or weeks, depending on how long it takes for life to get back to some kind of normality.

If you are still experiencing significant distress 4-6 weeks after the floods, then you should seek a consultation with your family doctor for further advice and guidance. 

Flood warnings and flood alerts

You can keep up to date with flood warnings and alerts in Oxfordshire on the Environment Agency’s website or by following @EnvAgencySE on X. You can sign up to receive free flood warnings by email, text or both. 

For help and support you can also call the Environment Agency’s 24 hour flooding hotline on 0345 988 1188.

If the Environment Agency issues a flood alert this indicates that an area should prepare, including making defences and staying up to date with the latest information. When a flood warning is issued, this indicates a greater level of severity.

You can also monitor individual levels on the county's rivers, streams and brooks and rainfall statistics from rain gauges in your local area.

Information from other agencies

• Oxford City Council is sharing information on flooding in the city.
• News and information is also being shared by South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council .
• Information for north Oxfordshire is available from Cherwell District Council .
• West Oxfordshire District Council  also has a news page.
• GWR is updating information about travel difficulties linked to the weather
• The Oxford Bus Company is providing service updates on its websites relating to flooding impacts. Stagecoach Oxfordshire is providing updates on X/Twitter .
• Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks list power outages at any one moment.  You can zoom in and out of the map on this page or search by postcode.

Measures had already been proposed to address what had become an £11.2m shortfall after central government grant funding announcements failed to provide local government with the required finance to meet the pressures being experienced across the nation.

The proposals form part of the final budget being recommended to the council’s cabinet on 30 January, which will then be decided at the annual budget setting meeting of all 63 county councillors on 20 February.

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “Councils throughout the country made clear to central government through the Local Government Association and other channels that more funding was needed this year and in following years due to the high levels of pressures in areas such as social care, special educational needs and other services.

“There has been deep disappointment at the failure of government to address these issues.

“Our track record of responsible financial management means that Oxfordshire County Council has been in a more resilient position than many other authorities. However, the overall position is extremely challenging.

“This final batch of proposed measures means we are able to put forward a balanced budget but it has been a difficult process and we know this is mirrored in town and county halls throughout the land. We know that we, and local government as a whole, will continue to face difficult financial challenges in 2025/26 and beyond.

“It remains the case that our budgets for both adults and children’s social care will increase in real-terms after accounting for inflation in 2024, with investments to meet pressures outweighing savings proposals.”

What are the newly proposed measures?

• The county council has been notified that district councils have given a further improved forecast as to how much council tax will be collected in Oxfordshire. This amounts to £300,000.
• The council is able to reduce the amount it puts in contingency funding by £100,000.
• The council’s award-winning innovation hub (iHub) will move to becoming self-financing, which has created a saving of £300,000. It was launched in 2018 by the council to promote innovation in the county. This includes developing solutions on intelligent infrastructure, health, environment and mobility systems, as well as implementing projects to improve the local economy and environment for Oxfordshire’s citizens.
• A series of rises to charges for on-street parking and residents parking permits (helping cover the full costs of maintenance of controlled parking zones), This would raise £200,000 combined. 

Further detail

Detail as regards proposed on-street parking and residents parking changes:

• Abingdon: On-street parking pay and display would rise from £1.10 for one hour (8am to 6pm excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays) to £1.30. Two hours rises from £1.50 to £2.
• Oxford city centre central area (Zone 1): Street parking for one hour would rise from £6.60 to £7.60; two hours from £13.20 to £15.20. Evening parking would also rise from £6.60 to £7.60. Parking for an hour on Saturday rises from £6.60 to £7.60 and from £13.20 to £15.20 for two hours.
• Oxford city centre (Zone 2 including Jericho): Street parking for one hour would rise from £5.50 to £6.30 and for three hours from £16.50 to £19. Street parking for evenings and Sundays would rise from £5.50 to £6.30.
• Wallingford: Street parking for one and a half hours would rise from 70p to 80p.
• Residents parking permits: In Abingdon and Henley-on-Thames, a second batch of 25 visitor permits would rise from £27.50 to £31.50.
• In Oxford, business permits would rise from £44 to £50.50 for three months, £82.50 to £95 for six months and £126.50 to £145 for nine months. An annual permit would rise from £165 to £190. A change of vehicle charge will rise from £22 to £25.
• In Oxford, residents parking permits would rise from £70 to £80 for a first and second car and £140 to £161 for a third car In the Kassam Stadium area a permit would rise from £17.50 to £20.
• In Oxford a traders permit per week would rise from £27.50 to £31.50. A second batch of 25 visitor permits would rise from £27.50 to £31.50.
• In Banbury and Bicester a residents parking permit would rise from £66 to £76 with a second batch of 25 visitor permits rising from £27.50 to £31.50
• In Wantage and Wallingford a residents parking permit would rise from £100 to £110, and a second 25 visitor permits would rise from £25 to £31.50.
• Parking bay suspensions:  The charge for the suspension of a parking pay (both pay and display and non pay and display) would rise from £33 to £38.

Shared Lives is a scheme run by Oxfordshire County Council that matches caring households with adults who have additional care needs, offering them a place to stay and grow their independence.

At any one time, around 100 people are supported through the programme in Oxfordshire. And last night, at Abingdon’s Drayton Golf Club, carers were celebrated for welcoming people into their homes for periods of 10, 20 and 30 years.

One of those receiving an award for 30 years of dedication to the shared lives scheme was Sue Clayton. Sue lives in a village on the outskirts of Wallingford and has supported more than 30 people during her time in the programme.

Sue said: “It’s been an interesting 30 years! I would recommend this to other people, and I often do. It’s kept me young! I would urge even more people to come forward and get involved.”

Rosemary Dean (pictured above) was also acknowledged for sharing 30 years of her life supporting others. Rosemary lives near Watlington and decided to take part in the scheme after adapting her home for a family member to move in. Having initially supported older people, she now supports younger people through Shared Lives as well.

Rosemary said: “Being a part of Shared Lives and literally extending our family to include the wonderful variety of people we have met over the years, has been a privilege. It has been very rewarding and an honour.” 

The evening celebrated 19 households in total, with awards handed out by senior leaders at Oxfordshire County Council including: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Tim Bearder; Chief Executive, Martin Reeves; Deputy Director of Adult Social Care, Victoria Baran and Executive Director of People, Stephen Chandler.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “It’s been an absolute honour to be a part of the awards, celebrating some of our county’s most dedicated carers. I’ve seen first hand how  Shared Lives brings benefits not only to the adults being offered support, but also how the experience gives back to the carers who are opening up their homes. 

“Shared Lives is the epitome of our Oxfordshire Way vision – supporting people to live happy, independent lives in their own communities. I offer my thanks to everyone involved for making such a difference to people’s lives.”

Shared Lives carers come from all walks of life, from different backgrounds and live in all kinds of homes. You can earn up to £500 a week by supporting someone at home and fit it around your life and work commitments.

If you think you could support an adult with additional needs, you can find out more about the programme at oxfordshire.gov.uk/sharedlives or calling 01865 897971

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Roknor House, based in Bath Street, Abingdon housed a takeaway business on the ground floor and a hotel on the first and second floors. Fire safety inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service visited the premises in March 2021 following a tip off.

During the visit, several serious fire safety issues were identified. These included the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems not working, lack of adequate fire-resistant structure between the ground floor takeaway and the sleeping accommodation above and no fire risk assessment in place.

The premises were considered so dangerous that inspectors issued an immediate prohibition notice preventing sleeping in the property until fire safety measures were improved.

Mr Chuhar Singh of White Way, Kidlington pleaded guilty to six breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at a hearing on 25 August 2023.

He returned to Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday 20 October 2023 for sentencing, where he was fined £20,000 and was also ordered to pay over £3,000 in costs.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service provides fire safety advice to businessperson and employees. Email: fire.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Fire and rescue crews work every day to save and improve the lives of people across the county. For more information, visit: 365alive.co.uk

Your Oxfordshire

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

 The project supports the county council’s ambition to create a greener, healthier Oxfordshire by providing safer and easier active travel options for future inhabitants of planned developments in north Abingdon.

The work is set to improve junction capacity, as well as make cycling and walking easier and safer in the area. It will allow for shorter journey times by adding new south-facing slip roads to the A34, cycle and pedestrian safety improvements, and layby upgrades on the A34.

The junction currently has north-facing slips only and is located between Abingdon and Oxford.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “The approval of this application is fantastic news, as securing planning consent is a key milestone in moving forward with this project.

“The proposed work aims to improve connectivity from the north of Abingdon to the town centre and make it easier for people to choose walking, cycling or taking public transport as part of their daily routine. It will reduce traffic through Abingdon, making walking and cycling in the town safer and easier.

“Oxfordshire needs a modern, reliable, affordable and sustainable transport system. The wider Science Vale area will see significant growth in the coming years and investment is needed now so that the transport network can meet the demands that will be placed upon it in the future.”  

The county council held a public consultation in early 2021 to gather initial feedback on the scheme. Revised proposals based on the consultation feedback were included in the planning application.

In addition, as part of a wider package of transport measures surrounding the site, traffic calming measures are also proposed north of the Lodge Hill junction. These measures will be brought forward by Oxfordshire County Council separately to the Lodge Hill scheme, as they will only require amendments to existing road infrastructure.

Planning approval for the project was granted through a county council delegated decision, following submission of the original planning application in October 2022 and a supplementary submission to support the application earlier this year.

The A34 Lodge Hill scheme is funded from several sources including contributions from developers, Growth Deal and funding directly from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). However, following a review of the scheme in 2022, a funding gap was identified.

Currently, the council is engaging with Homes England to secure additional funding that will help accelerate the detailed design process and enable construction to begin.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The Oxford-based author of the Sunday Times bestselling DI Fawley crime series will be coming to Oxfordshire County Council’s Abingdon Library to talk about her first stand-alone novel, Murder in the Family.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “I am delighted that once again Abingdon Library is welcoming another critically acclaimed author.

“Our Oxfordshire libraries have hosted so many acclaimed authors of both fiction and non-fiction writings in the past, including Mick Herron, Nicola Cornick and Peter Tickler. It’s great to be able to welcome to many big names and hopefully encourage more people to develop a love of books.”

Cara Hunter also commented on her upcoming appearance: "I love doing local events and especially in libraries. We didn't have many books at home when I was growing up so I owe my love of reading – and where I am now – entirely to libraries."

Cara's novels have sold over a million copies worldwide. Her upcoming release Murder in the Family has already been optioned for TV by Neal Street Productions – the company behind TV hits such as 1917 and Call the Midwife.

The event starts at 6pm and will include an audience question and answer session and a chance to purchase signed copies of her new book. Tickets cost £2, which includes refreshments, and are available by asking at the library or calling 01235 520374.

Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries regularly hold events, most of which are free of charge, for people of all ages, from ‘rhymetime’ for young children to ‘knit and natter’ for adults and much more. Find out more about what’s on by visiting the county council’s libraries’ webpages.

More information

Murder in the Family is an ingeniously plotted and addictive novel about an unsolved murder that gripped the nation. When Luke Ryder was found dead in the garden of the family home in London in 2003, he left behind a wealthy, older widow and three stepchildren. Years later, a group of experts are filmed on the set of a true-crime show as they re-examine the evidence – with shocking results.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

For one individual across the pond, Teresa Bennett, it was particularly stressful to find out her rescue dog, Cora, had destroyed a signed copy of a book she had borrowed.

However, thanks to the work of staff at Oxfordshire County Council’s Abingdon Library, Indianapolis-based Teresa was able to replace the book, Slow Horses by Mick Herron, and even get her own signed copy of his latest collection.

Jess Williams, Customer Service Advisor at Abingdon Library, explained the unusual request: “Last November, we were lucky to welcome Mick Herron to Abingdon Library to promote his newest story collection, Standing by the Wall.

“Shortly before the event, I was contacted by a lady from the USA, who explained her dog had chewed a prized copy of a Mick Herron book she had borrowed. She was desperate to organise a new, signed copy to replace the destroyed one.

“As the book has been adapted into a TV show, its popularity meant it was difficult for her to get her hands on a copy – and even harder for an autographed copy.

“We regularly hold events at Abingdon Library with famous authors, speakers and much more. She noticed through her online search that we were hosting an event to launch Mick Herron’s latest series of short stories and asked if this meant we could help her to get a book autographed for her.”

So working closely with contacts back in America, Jess worked around the clock to get a copy of the book to the library in time for the event. Eventually Teresa Bennett managed to get a second-hand copy delivered at the eleventh hour, but when it arrived at the library, typically, it was in very bad condition.

Miraculously though, the Abingdon Library team managed to get hold of another copy just in time to get it signed at the event.

She continued: “When I explained to Mick Herron about the mishap, and the international efforts undertaken to get this book to him, he absolutely loved it. Not only did he sign the book but he also asked to get in touch with Teresa directly.

“This is such a wonderful example of how libraries and books can unite people and spread happiness and, in this case, from across the globe. It’s amazing that somebody all the way in Indianapolis called on Abingdon Library for help and I was delighted to play my part in the story of a dog, a book and a thriller writer.”

As Mick Herron testified himself: “The tale of Cora and her taste for fiction is one of those delightful episodes that come along every so often, proving that stories don't only happen in books – even if the best ones end up in libraries!”

He’s since arranged for Teresa to receive a signed copy of Standing by the Wall, signing it, ‘Teresa & Cora – Another tasty book …. With my best wishes, Mick Herron.’

Mark McCree, Service Manager for Libraries and Heritage at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “This story just shows how much a love of literature can unite us all over the world and how much our library staff will go above and beyond to help people get their hands on a book!”

Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries, including Abingdon, regularly hold events, most of which are free of charge, for people of all ages, from rhymetime for young children to knit and natter for adults and much more. Find out more about what’s on by visiting the county council’s libraries’ webpages.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

It was one of seven communities to have applications for 20mph limits approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management Councillor Andrew Gant and Council Leader Cllr Liz Leffman on 27 April.

The others were Cumnor, Faringdon, Forest Hill, Shrivenham, Steventon and Woodcote.

The latest decisions mean that in the 12 months since the first phase of the council’s £8 million project started:

• 208 communities have applied for 20mph limits
• 72 schemes have been approved
• 53 installations have been completed, including Witney.

The project is being carried out in three phases between 2022-25. Applications for this year are full, but communities can still apply to be included in the final 2024-25 phase.

Bill Cotton, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Environment and Place, said: “There is a clear link between the speed of traffic and the likelihood of accidents happening in which people are killed or injured. You are seven times more likely to survive if you are hit by a car driving at 20mph than if you are hit at 30mph.”

The scheme is free to town and parish councils, with the county council funding sign-only changes for areas wishing to be part of the changes as long as locations meet the agreed criteria for 20mph restrictions.

Town and parish councils will be expected to fund any traffic calming measures or speed-activated signs that may be required to support the new limit in their areas.

Applications for 20mph streets and roads need to be supported by the parish or town council and by the relevant local county councillor. More information, including details on how to apply, is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

While the council has been working alongside Thames Valley Police, the emphasis is on drivers adhering to the new limits through a change of mindset, rather than enforcement. It is hoped that as 20mph areas become more common, breaking the limit will become socially unacceptable for drivers.

The 20mph programme also fits in with the council’s Vision Zero policy, which aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from Oxfordshire’s roads by 2050.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Organised by Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers (OACP) and hosted in partnership with Action for Carers Oxfordshire and Age UK Oxfordshire, the Oxfordshire Care Awards were held on Monday (24 April) at the Voco Oxford Thames Hotel in Sandford-on-Thames under the tagline ‘inspiration for all’. Oxfordshire County Council co-sponsored the event.

One of the big winners of the day was L A Care Ltd, who was named Care Employer of the Year after a client described the company in one testimonial as “the most caring, professional, organised, informative and helpful team.”

The Newcomer to Care Award was won by Chris Rees, a chef from the Julie Richardson Nursing Home. Chris was acknowledged as delivering “nutrition and hydration responsively, by adjusting menus to deal with common issues like weight loss, dysphagia, and dementia by developing and providing fitting alternatives.”

The Inspiration Award recognises an organisation or business that is not a health or care agency, that inspired others during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s winner was Westinghouse Laundry from Abingdon. The team collected 356 bags of laundry from carers doorsteps, washed, ironed and returned it to the carer within 48 hours.

Eleven award winners were announced, with a further eleven named as ‘highly commended’. All winners received an engraved glass trophy, a framed certificate and a cash prize ranging from £5000 to £250. Those being highly commended received a framed certificate and prize money of between £500 and £100.

Karen Fuller, Oxfordshire County Council’s Interim Director for Adult Social Care, said: “The Oxfordshire Care Awards give us the chance to acknowledge excellence in care, celebrating the people making a difference to some of our most vulnerable residents.

“From unpaid carers and volunteers to established care companies, each plays a valuable part in how we deliver adult social care here in Oxfordshire. It’s been an honour to attend the event and celebrate their achievements.”

Eddy McDowall, CEO of Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers, said: “It’s always a privilege to be involved in the Oxfordshire Care Awards. Our awards give the whole community a chance to pause, reflect and thank the hard working people in our industry, celebrating those moments where people go above and beyond what’s expected.”

Penny Thewlis, CEO of Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “The care awards are always a complete delight from beginning to end! I can’t think of anything more important than providing care and support to enable people to live life with dignity and some joy. The awards celebrate the amazing people who are doing this every day and whose praises are very rarely sung publicly. They should be.”

Kay Francis, Head of Carer Services at Action for Carers Oxfordshire, said: “We had such a wonderful afternoon celebrating the fantastic care provided by wonderful people in Oxfordshire. Valuing the contribution care workers, volunteers and unpaid carers make in our communities is often humbling and always an honour.”

The full list of winners and those highly commended are:

Newcomer to Care Award 2023

Winner: Chris Rees – Julie Richardson Nursing Home

Highly Commended: Monica Ferrara – Blue Angel Care

The Care Home Worker of the Year Award 2023 

Winner: Daniel Smeu-Mare – Julie Richardson Nursing Home

Highly Commended: Jade Betts – Highmarket House Care Home

The Community/Home Care Worker of the Year Award 2023 

Winner: Craig Cox – Style Acre

Highly Commended: Tracey Johnston – Oxford Aunts Care

The Care Team of the Year Award 2023 

Winner: Flexicare (Oxford and Abingdon) Care Team - Flexicare

Highly Commended: Holder House Care Team – Richmond Fellowship

The Care Employer of the Year Award 2023 

Winner: L A Care Ltd

Highly Commended: Care Compassion & Conversation Ltd

Long-Term Service of the Year Award 2023 

Winners: Susan Vivier and Sandra Stowe – Beech Haven Care Home

Highly Commended: Katrina Kelbie – Dimensions

The Unpaid Carer of the Year Award 2023 

Winner: Phil Foster

Highly Commended: Lily Croft

The Volunteer Worker of the Year Award 2023

Winner: Meryl Smith – All Together in Charlbury (AITC)

Highly Commended: Pat Armstrong – Response Organisation – ‘Response Giving’

The Inspiration Award 2023

Winner: Mike Mitchell – Westinghouse Laundry Services

Highly Commended: SOFEA

Josie’s Award 2023

Winner: Sarah Rees – Oxfordshire Shared Lives Scheme

Highly Commended: Peter Anthony – Style Acre

The Leadership of the Year Award 2023

Winner: Nancy Walters – Mumby’s Live-In Care Ltd

Highly Commended: Karen Stay – Aston Cote Day Centre (for the over 65’s)

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Below is useful information for local people to monitor the situation in their part of the county - especially when the Environment Agency issues flood alerts or the more serious flood warnings.

There are also links to the Met Office's weather warning bulletins.

Flood Alerts and Flood Warnings

If the Environment Agency issues a flood alert this indicates that an area should prepare, including making defences and staying up to date with the latest flood alerts. When a flood warning is issued, this indicates a greater level of severity.

You can keep in touch with the Environment Agency's regularly updated information relating to current flood alerts and flood warnings and the five-day flood risk for Oxfordshire. This page also captures flood alerts and warnings from areas immediately adjacent to the county.

Meanwhile it is also possible to monitor individual levels on the county's rivers, streams and brooks.

Flood water is not clean and not suitable for children to play in. There might be hidden hazards under the water such as manhole covers that have lifted. Anyone who has been in flood water should wash their hands at the soonest opportunity.

You can sign up to receive flood warnings from the Environment Agency. Alternatively you can call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 to register. The service is free and you can choose to receive notifications of flood warnings by email, text, or both.

Weather forecasts

The Met Office issues weather warnings when severe weather is expected. These give an indication of problematic weather that may be on its way to Oxfordshire and could further influence river levels.

The Met Office rainfall radar gives an up-to-date picture of weather as it currently stands in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas.

Flooding advice

Oxfordshire County Council has produced a flooding toolkit which provides advice and support for residents and businesses. it gives information on preparing for instances of flooding. 

School closures

Schools are asked to update this page on the county council's website should they need to close for any emergency reason including flooding 

The two hour ‘adults cycling with confidence’ training can be booked by emailing:

roadsafety.education@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

The sessions are practical. Participants should come with their bike, safety helmet and appropriate clothing.

The next sessions will take place in Botley, Kidlington and Abingdon as follows:

Botley

Tuesday 2 May 2023, 10am - 12 noon

Meeting point: Seacourt Park and Ride.

Kidlington

Wednesday 3 May 2023, 10am - 12 noon

Meeting point: Front of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’ headquarters, Sterling Road, Kidlington.

Abingdon

Tuesday 6 June 2023, 10am - 12 noon

Meeting point: Front of Abingdon Fire Station, Ock Street.

Andy Ford, from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service' community safety team, said: “Cycling is a great way to exercise and an environmentally friendly form of transport. However, it’s important that anyone using their bike is familiar with the Highway Code and the safety critical dos and don’ts, particularly on busy main roads and at junctions.”

Safety advice is also available on Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website

Cycle Safety | 365Alive including:

• Cycle at least half a metre from the kerb to avoid drains and gutters.
• Never pass nearside between traffic and the pavement especially close to junctions, particularly when there are large vehicles where the driver may not have seen you in their wing mirrors.
• Don’t ride on the pavement, except where it is designated as a cycle path. Where this is provided, moderate your speed and take care when passing pedestrians and give way at junctions.
• If a road junction is busy, do not feel you have to continue cycling. You can always get off, push your bike, or walk on the pavement.
• Don't weave in and out of traffic or change direction suddenly without signalling.
• Give pedestrians priority when necessary.
• Use your bell to inform other road users of your presence. Fit a bell if your bicycle is not fitted with one.
• If you are not confident cycling in moving traffic you may want to consider further cycle training.
• Wear a cycle helmet, high-visibility clothing or accessories.

Your Oxfordshire

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

For Elena Volosin, who supports older people living in a carehome in Burcot, south Oxfordshire, the winter was going to be financially tough. Like most of us, household bills were on the rise and Christmas credit card debts needed to be paid.

But to make matters worse her car, which was essential for her to get to work, needed some unexpected repairs.

It became a worrying time. But with help from the Care Workers' Charity hardship grant – funded by Oxfordshire County Council - Elena was given £500, to help get her car back up and running, as well as contributions to the general cost of living, taking some of the pressure off.

Elena said: “Everyone knew prices were going up but when my car broke down I was beginning to worry about how I was going to pay for it all. I just needed a bit of short-term help, to plug the gap.

“I heard about the hardship grant and thought it was worth looking into. Within two weeks of applying, I had an extra £500, which really helped me manage my finances.”

The hardship fund was set up last spring, offering quick financial support to people working in Oxfordshire’s care sector. It has paid out more than £260,000 to over 440 people and there are still funds available for people working in Oxfordshire’s care sector who need additional financial support.

In response to the increased cost of living, the maximum individual funding allowance has now been increased to £750 for requests made by 31 March 2023.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Elena and the hard-working staff like her are performing an incredibly important, difficult and often undervalued role, caring for our friends and families who need additional support. This council recognises their contribution and feels it is vital that our care professionals have access to this fund, helping to offer financial support during this difficult time.

“This is a reflection of how much we value the job they do to support our most vulnerable residents and I would urge anyone in the industry who is facing financial hardship to apply.”

The grant has recently been expanded to include people starting their career in the industry, helping them to find their feet by removing the initial financial hurdles they may encounter, including contributions towards housing and transport costs.

Care workers can also apply for a reimbursement in paying for their Blue Light Card – a system which provides everyday discounts for people working in social care, as well as the emergency services.

The fund can help with a range of costs, from essential living expenses to payments supporting health and wellbeing or promoting independence. Most successful applications take only two weeks for the money to be transferred into people’s bank accounts.

Elena said: “This fund isn’t about a charitable handout and nobody should feel embarrassed about applying. Everyone is feeling the financial pinch at the moment and I would encourage anyone who works as a carer in Oxfordshire to take a closer look to see if the grant can help them too.

“Getting my car fixed has helped me get back to the job I love. Working in a care home gives me the chance to interact with its residents and their happiness makes my days beautiful and easy. I always appreciate them for their strength to move on and be happy.”

For more information and to apply, go to thecareworkerscharity.org.uk/oxfordshire-grants

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council has adopted the Abingdon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which will set out how to improve the town’s active travel network, reduce the reliance on single use motor vehicles, and cut congestion.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This plan really sums up this council’s ambitions. LCWIPs are practical ways of helping people to reduce their reliance on cars for short journeys, and help the council meet our objectives of tackling climate action, improving air quality, and creating a healthier Oxfordshire.

“Many different community groups were involved in helping us put this plan together, and we are sure this approach will help it be a success. Nowhere in Abingdon is more than one and a half miles from the town centre – that’s roughly a 30 minute walk or a 10 minute cycle ride – so we look forward to more people using active travel over the next few years.”

The proposals include more than 100 suggestions for the following types of improvements:

• new and improved crossings for walking and cycling
• junction redesign to prioritise walking and cycling
• removal or modification of barriers on walking and cycling routes to improve accessibility
• provision of additional high-quality cycle parking
• on-carriageway cycling improvements such as wider cycle lanes
• provision of segregated cycle tracks, some of which will require reallocation of highway space from motor vehicles to active travel
• permissions for cycling on some routes where it is not currently allowed
• new crossings for walking and cycling over the River Thames and River Ock
• footway widening
• provision of new and improved walking and cycling routes between Abingdon and other key destinations outside the town.

These infrastructure improvements are intended for development over a 10 year period and will help to increase active and sustainable travel and reduce the use of private motor vehicle journeys.

The Abingdon plan is the fourth LCWIP to be approved in Oxfordshire, following on from Oxford, Bicester, and Kidlington. Consultations have taken place for others in Witney and Banbury.

Implementing the plan is expected to make it easier for the council to negotiate funding from developers and the government once the design stage of the project begins.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council has sent its responses to a series of consultations taking place concerning future water supplies, including the Water Resources South East (WRSE) draft regional plan (see attached document).

The WRSE plan includes proposals for a reservoir located between Abingdon, East Hanney, Steventon and Marcham, which would hold up to 100 million cubic metres of water – known as the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) – as well as other options for securing future water supply.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “We have consistently opposed this reservoir proposal, which we believe could turn out to be a damaging white elephant  that will not be resilient to the kind of multi-year droughts we are seeing in many parts of the world.

“It will arrive too late – climate change is worsening rapidly, and this scheme takes 20 years before it does anything. Putting more than a billion pounds into this project will delay quicker and more reliable schemes, including recycling and transfers from less water-stressed regions, which provide the early, powerful climate resilience we believe is urgently needed.

“The consultation uses outdated figures for population growth and exaggerates water need.

“Securing water supplies for the people of Oxfordshire in the medium to long term is something we as a council will do all we can to help, which is why we organised the recent water summit to look at the issues surrounding it. But building a huge reservoir, damaging the environment and the lives of the people living in this area, is not the answer.”

The SESRO previously appeared in the WRSE emerging regional plan, which Oxfordshire County Council responded to in March 2022. Despite about half of the 1,150 responses indicating direct opposition to it, the giant reservoir proposal was not removed from the draft plan.

A similar reservoir proposal was also rejected by the government in 2011 following a public inquiry.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The final EV charging hub in the Park and Charge Oxfordshire project went live this month at Claremont short stay car park in Bicester.

It marks the completion of the 20th hub successfully delivered in the project and means a total of 250 EV charging points have been delivered across the county since May 2021.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, said: “The reaction from Oxfordshire residents has been overwhelmingly positive, from EV drivers and prospective EV drivers alike.

“Park and Charge is enabling local people who don’t have private off-street parking to have a convenient location to charge their EVs overnight, meaning more Oxfordshire residents have the opportunity to drive electric. It’s another great reason to make sure your next vehicle is an EV.”

The hubs have been seeing very promising usage level with over 3,300 individual EV charging sessions taking place across the Park and Charge network in October alone – a 23 per cent rise in the number of charging sessions since the previous month.

The EV chargers have been designed and produced by local Bicester-based company – EZ Charge – who will operate the chargers for the next 10 years.

Oxfordshire has the highest uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country, with 32 per cent of all new vehicles sold in August being fully battery electric EVs.

The 20 Park and Charge locations, each containing between 10 and 16 EV charging points, are:

• Cattle Market and Claremont car parks in Bicester
• Curtis Place car park, Kidlington
• Windsor Street and Calthorpe Street West car parks in Banbury
• Woodford Way car park in Witney
• Black Bourton car park in Carterton
• Hensington Road car park in Woodstock
• Back Lane car park in Eynsham
• New Street car park in Chipping Norton
• Cattlemarket and Goldsmith’s Lane car parks in Wallingford
• Kings Road and Greys Road car parks in Henley
• Southern Road car park in Thame
• West St Helens, Audlett Drive and Cattle Market car parks in Abingdon
• Portway car park in Wantage
• Southampton Road car park in Faringdon.

Councillor Sue Cooper, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Nature Recovery, said: “We’ve been pleased with the interest in the EV chargers in South Oxfordshire, with one car park in Henley alone having more than 1,000 sessions in its first three months. The uptake of charging bays has been higher than expected in some car parks but in others it will take longer as habits change.

“Having plenty of spaces to charge EVs will help those thinking of buying an EV but do not have a charging point at their property.”

Councillor Sally Povolotsky, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Environment, said: “We’ve been very pleased to bring EV chargers to the Vale-run car parks as part of our council goals to reduce carbon emissions. There has already been a high rate of EV ownership in Oxfordshire which is why we have undertaken this long-term project investing in the infrastructure to make it easier for those to make the switch to an EV whether or not they have access to easy charging at home.

“The scheme has been designed to encourage local residents without off-street parking to switch to an EV as they can park and charge in our car parks overnight. This has already proved popular in Abingdon with nearly 20 per cent of charging sessions at West St Helen car park being done overnight.”

Councillor Andrew Prosser, Cabinet Member for Climate Change at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Latest statistics suggest that a third of all new cars bought in Oxfordshire are now fully battery electric, which is well ahead of the rest of the UK. Projects such as Park and Charge are helping to build countywide EV infrastructure that supports this growth in EV ownership.

“We want to make it easier for EV drivers to charge up and give motorists the confidence to purchase their first electric vehicle. Maximising opportunities to grow this network will accelerate the shift to ultra-low emission transport and our pathway to net zero carbon emissions.”

Councillor Dan Sames, Cherwell District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Cleaner and Greener Communities, said: “The pioneering EV charging project has exceeded expectations and usage continues to grow. We are delighted to have been able to expand the project and create more charging hubs within Cherwell.”

The £5.4 million project was funded by grants from Innovate UK and the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles as well as private investment from local companies Zeta and Urban Integrated. It has provided the biggest ever single boost to public EV charging infrastructure in the county.

The network of ‘fast’ EV chargers have a power rating of 7kW to 22kW, which means EV drivers can get between 25 and 75 miles of charge for every hour they charge, depending on the rate at which their vehicle can charge. These innovative chargers are highly robust and reliable, and have multiple payment options including contactless ‘tap and go’, ensuring that EV drivers can always get a charge when they need one.

More details on how to use the chargers and the Park and Charge scheme are available at www.parkandchargeoxfordshire.co.uk.

The Park and Charge project is a key part of the Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, which was named Public Sector Infrastructure Strategy of the Year at the 2022 Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence Awards (EVIEs).

Oxfordshire County Council is currently working with all other councils across Oxfordshire to roll out further residential EV charging hubs in car parks right across the county, pending securing appropriate funding.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Popular author, Mick Herron, will be dropping into the library to promote his new short story ‘Standing by the Wall’. He will be holding a question and answer session and will spend some time talking about the bestselling Slough House series – adapted into the TV series Slow Horses.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: "Mick Herron is one of Britain’s most popular authors. I am delighted he is coming to Abingdon Library next month. 

“Abingdon Library regularly holds events like this with popular authors from across genres – keep an eye out for some of your favourites!"

Commenting on his appearance at Abingdon Library, Mick said: "I’ve been a user of the public library system my whole life, and regard it as one of our great national institutions, enriching the lives of its users and, in dark times, providing a safe, warm place for those in need. Like the NHS, its value is incalculable.”

The event starts at 6pm. Tickets cost £2, including a complimentary glass of wine, and are available by contacting the library directly on 01235 520374.

Abingdon Library holds regular events with authors, hosting a great selection of both fiction and non-fiction writings in the past, including Nicola Cornick and Peter Tickler.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

People in Oxfordshire who receive adult social care support at home are now able to choose from a wider range of services thanks to the success of a free scheme that helps people to set up their own care micro-enterprise.

Social enterprise group Community Catalysts is being funded by Oxfordshire County Council and offers mentoring advice alongside practical business support, helping people to work for themselves by offering care and support in their local area.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Smaller care providers help people to live well and independently within their own communities, improving health outcomes and reducing the need for more formal care.

“By helping to support these micro enterprises from start-up to becoming an established care provider, we are helping local businesses grow and developing greater local choice for people looking for additional support.”

Micro-enterprises can offer a variety of support from help to get washed and dressed to support to continue hobbies and take care of pets as well as community activities.

The Community Catalysts’ programme includes taking people through the Doing It Right standards, so that new micro-enterprises have a thorough understanding of what it takes to deliver quality care. One hundred people have now signed up to the standards and have the combined potential capacity to support one thousand people in the county.

Many of the people in the scheme have had personal experience of caring for their own loved ones, and that has inspired them to set up their own small business.

Charmin Croft runs Abingdon Home Care after being given start-up support from Community Catalysts. Charmin said: “My experience with dementia in my own family and my role as an unpaid carer has really helped me to run a better enterprise. I can share my experience with the families I support. I always make sure that they know they need to look after themselves as well as their loved one and take time for their own mental and physical health.”

To find out more about setting up a small care business visit communitycatalysts.co.uk/project/work-for-yourself-care-help-at-home

To find out more about the services on offer in Oxfordshire, go to www.smallgoodstuff.co.uk/oxfordshire

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council wants to make residential areas safer and more attractive places to walk and cycle. To enable this, 20mph speed restrictions are being used to help promote alternative modes of transport for local travel.

Consultations are currently taking place into plans for Abingdon and the Ladygrove area of Didcot. The council is seeking the views of residents, businesses, commuters, and visitors before the decisions are made.

The Abingdon proposals involve replacing the majority of existing 30mph speed limits on the main residential roads – those bounded by the ring road and those south of the River Ock – with 20mph limits. Additionally, the existing 40mph speed limits on the ring road would be reduced to 30mph.

Full details, and the chance to have your say, are available on Let’s Talk Oxfordshire until Friday 30 September.

The Didcot proposals are to bring in 20mph speed limits throughout the Ladygrove area – those roads lying north and east of the railway line – to replace existing 30mph limits.

New roads within the Willowbrook Park development north of the A4130 accessed via Franklin Gardens will also be included, along with both Copse View and Oakend Lea. The remaining roads in Didcot south of the railway line would be unaffected.

For more details, or to make your comments before 30 September, visit Let’s Talk Oxfordshire.

The proposals have been put forward following road safety concerns raised by both town councils. The aim is to improve road safety for all users and reduce the county’s carbon footprint.

Further details about how the council is making it easier for communities to request 20mph limits can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates thanks to our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

This includes the five face to face events in Abingdon, Witney, Oxford, Banbury and Didcot as well as both online events.

The majority of these events were due to run during the official period of mourning, and so, because we want to hear from residents across the county, we are postponing them all to ensure everyone has the same opportunity to ask questions. Details will be communicated on plans for future Oxfordshire Conversations by the end of September.

The initiative, planned and overseen by Oxfordshire County Council is part of the HARMONY project, testing low-carbon transportation as well as the integration of new mobility technologies with existing systems. Support was provided by academic partner, University College London, and organisations from the Harmony consortium such as RUAS, who managed the trial operation by providing and flying the drones, and Airbus through its Unmanned Traffic Management platform (UTM).

The Harmony consortium has planned a total of three pilot demonstrations, taking place in Oxfordshire, Rotterdam and Trikala. Their overall objective is to demonstrate electric automated vehicles (AVs) and drones in real-life conditions integrating them with traditional transport modes to understand the requirements, reactions and barriers and collect real-world data. The project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.

The pioneering combination of technologies used throughout these demonstrations mean they are the first of their kind, looking to advance mobility sustainability by reducing emissions, congestion and noise levels.

The trials at Milton Park, which included the use of an electric van provided by Oxfordshire County Council, and the delivery of a defibrillator, successfully highlighted that the mobility technologies tested enabled increased efficiency and speed of freight delivery.

Oxfordshire has one of the most sophisticated road traffic control centres in the UK and Milton Park was selected as the ideal location for the trials as it could offer a safe and controlled environment for innovative exercises. The Park proved to be a robust testing ground as the drone navigated airspace over the main roads and nearby railway, permitted by Network Rail, while also manoeuvring around buildings and green spaces.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, said: “Innovative zero-carbon-ready transport is set to make a huge impact, it just needs us to demonstrate how. Hence this trial, which is another example of our close working with our world leading universities, of which we are extremely proud. As a council, we’re already doing high profile work to help everyone reduce their individual emissions footprint and this is how we’re looking to decarbonise the rest.”

Veronica Reynolds, Sustainability and Community Manager at Milton Park, said: “It was a real privilege for Milton Park to be chosen as the location for these cutting-edge trials in drone technology and we’re grateful for the chance to collaborate with the other consortium partners on such an exciting project.

“The benefits from this innovative technology are clear to see, particularly from a sustainability point of view, as it could ultimately lead to fewer vehicles spending less time on the roads and a reduction in carbon emissions.”

To learn more about the Harmony Project, click here.

Your Oxfordshire

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Susanna was given a tour of the council’s Drayton depot between Abingdon and Didcot. She met the staff and saw the equipment they use to repair and improve the county’s roads.

Among other things she saw for herself the fire-breathing  ‘dragon-patcher’ machine that has been introduced in recent years to improve the process of repairing road defects. The machine uses a combination of compressed air, heat, bitumen and chippings to repair holes.

Cllr Pressel said: “It was great to meet the teams who work throughout the year on our road surfaces. They put it in a lot of effort to make sure we can all keep moving and it was instructive to see the equipment they use and hear about the challenges and the way they go about their work.

“Of course in the winter the depot is the hub for the gritting operation in the south of the county. The gritter drivers and the people who oversee that operation help keep us safe in winter often working through the night.

“Drayton depot is a very important part of our overall highways work in the county and it was great to be able to thank the teams for the work they do.”

Hosted for the third consecutive time by Oxfordshire County Council, and the county’s city and district councils, Oxfordshire was the venue for the final stage of this year’s six stage race, won by Lorena Wiebes.

Enthusiastic residents ensured a colourful spectacle along the route, showcasing their neighbourhoods to national and international TV audiences.

Riders were flagged off in Chipping Norton’s High Street on a 90 mile route to the finish along Oxford’s historic St Giles’.

Carterton pupil, Chester Youd, aged 7, from St John the Evangelist CE Primary School, won the competition to design the starter flag. Read his story here, and see his Union Jack inspired artwork above.

The route passed through many picture-postcard locations, including taking in one of Britain’s most loved areas, the Cotswolds (see image of the Burford hill climb, above). It headed as far north as Milcombe – a short distance from Banbury where Italian rider Marta Bastianelli triumphed in the 2021 race – before changing course and travelling south through West Oxfordshire towards RAF Brize Norton in Carterton.

Stage six also visited Faringdon, Wantage and Abingdon in the Vale of White Horse; and Didcot and Wallingford in South Oxfordshire, where a large section of the route followed the stunning scenery of the North Wessex Downs.

Riders crossed the River Thames using the Folly Bridge as the race entered Oxford from its south side, with a dramatic finish on the historic St Giles’.

As in previous years (image below) many residents used their creative flair to give the competitors a bright and colourful welcome.

Throngs of spectators cheered noisily as the riders approached the finish line in Oxford.

Businesses, community representatives and cycling club members had also helped raise awareness in the build up to the race (image below).

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The Women’s Tour has been a fantastic way to showcase our wonderful county to the world. Hosting this prestigious race for a third time was a great collaborative effort between the county council and our local authority colleagues.”

Leading law firm Blake Morgan sponsored the final stage of the Women’s Tour.

About the Women’s Tour

Created by SweetSpot Group in 2014, the Women’s Tour is the UK’s first international stage race for women, bringing the world’s top riders to compete in Great Britain as a part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour.

The race, which has been won by the likes of Marianne Vos (2014), Lizzie Deignan (2016, 2019) and Demi Vollering (2021), attracts an annual roadside audience of 300,000, as well as over three million fans through linear and online platforms.

Follow the Women’s Tour on Twitter (#WomensTour), Facebook, and Instagram or via the event’s official website at womenstour.co.uk.

For further media information please contact Peter Hodges (07970 526 519 / peterh@thetour.co.uk) and Nick Bull (07977 151 184 / nickb@thetour.co.uk).

(Photographs courtesy of SWpix are marked in the ‘click on’ captions)

Your Oxfordshire

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Hosted for the third consecutive time by Oxfordshire County Council, and the county’s city and district councils, Oxfordshire is the venue for the final stage of this year’s six stage race.

Riders will be flagged off in Chipping Norton’s High Street at 11am on a 90 mile route to the finish along Oxford’s historic St Giles’ at around 3pm. 

Carterton pupil, Chester Youd, aged 7, from St John the Evangelist CE Primary School, won the competition to design the starter flag.  Read his story here, and see his Union Jack inspired artwork below:

The route - detailed on the Women's Tour website - will pass through many picture-postcard locations, including taking in one of Britain’s most loved areas, the Cotswolds. It will head as far north as Milcombe – a short distance from Banbury where Italian rider Marta Bastianelli triumphed in the 2021 race – before changing course and travelling south through West Oxfordshire towards RAF Brize Norton in Carterton.

Stage six will also visit Faringdon, Wantage and Abingdon in the Vale of White Horse; and Didcot and Wallingford in South Oxfordshire, where a large section of the route will follow the stunning scenery of the North Wessex Downs.  Those watching at Burcot will have the thrill of welcoming riders for the final sprint of this year’s tour, which is estimated at around 2.25pm.

Riders will cross the River Thames using the Folly Bridge as the race enters Oxford from its south side. In what promises to be a truly stunning end to the 2022 race, the stage will finish on the historic St Giles’ around 3pm.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The Women’s Tour is a fantastic way to showcase our wonderful county to the world. I’m confident this event will support and raise awareness of cycling and its benefits, as well as bring an economic boost to our communities – so important as businesses recover from the pandemic. Hosting this prestigious race for a third time is a great collaborative effort between the county council and our local authority colleagues.”

Rolling road closures

There will be rolling road closures from 11am at the race start area in Chipping Norton, controlled by police and route marshals, which will then continue along the route. This will involve highways and junctions, with access roads onto the route, closing for short periods while the race passes through. The length of closure depends on how dispersed the riders are.

Road closure locations along the route, with predicted race timings, are listed in full on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Redbridge Recycling Centre, temporary closure

 As the race will pass close to Redbridge Recycling Centre, the site will be closed between 1:30pm and 3pm. All other household waste and recycling centres are scheduled to remain open as normal. 

Economic and health benefits

Oxfordshire is expecting economic and health benefits from hosting the prestigious event, with cycling fans expected to visit the county to watch the race, generating additional business for restaurants, bars, hotels, B&Bs and shops.

Over 100 professional riders will weave their way through towns, villages and rural areas, and it is hoped that local schools will be inspired to organise themed sport and fitness lessons.

Families are expected to line the route to cheer on competitors, turning the event into an exciting community spectacle. Spectators will be encouraged to use healthy and environmentally friendly transport to reach vantage points to watch the race.

Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to have such a prestigious race taking place in our district and it’s a great honour for Chipping Norton to be hosting the start of the race. We hope the Women’s Tour will leave a positive legacy with more people getting into cycling and making the most of our beautiful countryside in West Oxfordshire.”

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Health and Transport at Oxford City Council, said: “Oxford is extraordinarily beautiful, one of the most scenic cities in the world. As these amazing women ride through the city to a well-deserved hero’s welcome at St Giles’, they will see many of the things that make Oxford such a special place, from the first park and ride in the country to the ancient University colleges that have produced so many world-beating athletes.

“We hope to create a really festive atmosphere to celebrate the Women’s Tour ending in Oxford and will have lots of fun activities to keep the crowd entertained as they wait for the nail-biting finish.”

Councillor Eric de la Harpe, Cycling Champion at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “I’m very proud that we’ve been able to bring The Women’s Tour to Oxfordshire and I’m really excited to see a fantastic finale on 11 June. Like many sports, cycling can be seen as quite a male dominated environment, but events like this can really help to encourage a new generation of female cyclists. Across the county we are seeing many more residents join our growing cycling community and the Women’s Tour has played a real part in inspiring people to get on their bike, whether that’s to get around the local area, to improve health and fitness, or more seriously as part of a cycling club.”

Councillor Sam Casey-Rerhaye, Cycling Champion at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Coming just days after the Jubilee celebrations, the Women’s Tour will be another wonderful event for our communities to enjoy. I’m really looking forward to seeing people join with friends and family to line the streets to mark the occasion and cheer the riders on. I hope the event brings more visitors to the area on Saturday and that they make the most our wonderful pubs, cafes and shops. If you are coming along to watch the race, make sure you check the times carefully as the cyclists go through each area very quickly, so we wouldn’t want anyone to miss out!”

Councillor Phil Chapman, Cherwell District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities, said: “Watching a world class bike race is a truly thrilling experience and one I definitely recommend to anyone who’s not seen one before. It’s a privilege to once again be supporting the Women’s Tour and have it pass through our district for local people and visitors to enjoy.”

Leading law firm Blake Morgan is sponsoring the final stage of the Women’s Tour.

About the Women’s Tour

Created by SweetSpot Group in 2014, the Women’s Tour is the UK’s first international stage race for women, bringing the world’s top riders to compete in Great Britain as a part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour.

The race, which has been won by the likes of Marianne Vos (2014), Lizzie Deignan (2016, 2019) and Demi Vollering (2021), attracts an annual roadside audience of 300,000, as well as over three million fans through linear and online platforms.

Follow the Women’s Tour on Twitter (#WomensTour), Facebook, and Instagram or via the event’s official website at womenstour.co.uk.

Your Oxfordshire

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Gabrielle, from Bicester, said: “I was delighted to win the competition and hope people will enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I love taking characters in new directions and seasoning dark themes with a spark of humour and humanity.”

The winner in the young adult section was Izzy Borg with her story “The Secret Tree” about a magical tree which grows from a seed that has the power to change everything and helps people lighten the burdens that they carry with them. It creates a wonderful feeling of people coming together to work as a community.

Izzy, aged 15 and from Abingdon, said: “As someone who aspires to be an author, I was so excited to discover that my story won the competition! I was inspired to write "The Secret Tree" after an interesting dream I had. Seeing it published will be a surreal experience for me. I just hope that everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.”

Meanwhile the winner in the children’s section was Lacie-Mae Mitchell with “Getting Grandad Better”.

In the story Mae and her grandad are best friends and have had some amazing adventures together. So what will Mae do when she hears that he is ill and in hospital? This is the story of how Mae, with her brilliant backpack full of gadgets, sets out on her super scooter to find her grandad to help him get better. Mae’s strength, determination and compassion shines through as she embarks on her mission. And in the end she might just need a touch of magic to save the day.

Lacie-Mae, aged 9 and from Oxford, said: “I am really excited to win the story competition, my story means a lot to me because I wrote it when my grandad was poorly and he’s my best friend. It’s great that I can share it with other people. I am really happy.”

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “The judging panel enjoyed reading and discussing the entries from many talented writers. The standard of this year’s stories was especially high. The winners should be extremely proud of their achievements.”

Further information:

To find out why these stories are outstanding, borrow them from: https://oxfordshire.overdrive.com/

For all free eBook, eAudio and digital resources go to: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries

Contact: librarydigitalservices@oxfordshire.gov.uk