As well as improving bus travel in the town, where congestion has historically affected journeys, the changes make it easier for people to walk to bus stops, shops, businesses and the rail station.

Oxfordshire County Council’s project, funded through the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan programme, provides a longer running lane along Cherwell Street and optimised traffic signals at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions.

Pedestrian crossings have also been improved and nearby drainage and gully infrastructure cleaned.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said: “I’m delighted that work on the Cherwell Street improvement project is now complete on time and that people can begin to experience the benefits it will bring. I’d like to thank residents, businesses and everyone who uses this route for their patience during construction.

“Cherwell Street is a main gateway into Banbury town centre and an important route for local bus services. These improvements will help buses move through the area more efficiently, improving reliability for passengers and helping make public transport a more attractive choice.

“The project has also delivered safer and more accessible pedestrian crossings, making it easier for people to get around the town centre and connect with local shops, services and Banbury station.

“These improvements are an important part of our wider commitment to creating a transport network that is safer, more reliable and supports sustainable travel across Oxfordshire.”

Construction started in January 2026.

Surfacing and road lining works finished on 17 July, and the new permanent traffic signals have just been tested and installed.

The Cherwell Street scheme forms part of the council’s wider commitment to creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive county where journeys are quicker, more connected, more flexible and more reliable.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Cherwell Street bus service improvement project focused on Cherwell Street, between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions, and the Bridge Street and George Street junctions themselves.

The completed project includes:

· a longer running lane along Cherwell Street for left-turning vehicles, including buses, travelling north-bound into Bridge Street (west)

· optimised traffic signals at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions to reduce delay for buses and cars

· improved pedestrian facilities with new, safer, and more direct crossings

· and lining and signing work to improve traffic flow, safety, and overall road user experience.

The project is largely funded by the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) programme and improvements to bus service reliability and journey times were core requirements.

Additional money from local developers (known as Section 106 contributions) funded crossing facility and signal improvements at the Bridge Street junction.

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A fun way to stay active has become a weekly must for residents who are part of a support service funded by Oxfordshire County Council.

Members who use the Banbury Community Support Service wanted to find a way to stay active, so joined forces with an exercise and nutrition expert, and the Mighty Movers were unleashed.

The Friday group focuses on what people can do and what feels right for them, with a healthy dose of encouragement and laughter with one participant declaring “it’s so nice to exercise again”.

Exercise expert Jane Hawthorn from JaneyHFit (pictured) thoughtfully adapts each session to suit individual abilities, helping people build confidence, maintain strength for everyday living and, most importantly, have fun.

There are also sessions to help the people being supported understand the importance of nutrition, healthy eating and hydration, which affect energy levels, help build muscle and support general health.

Being active and well is an important part of enabling residents to stay in their own environment for longer, happy and healthy, and is part of the Oxfordshire Way.

Mighty Movers is part of the Banbury Community Support Service in Neithrop and is funded by the Well Together Programme. Neithrop is one of 10 priority areas across the county where £1 million has been invested in grassroots groups, local charities and community organisations, helping to strengthen community-led health and wellbeing initiatives.

Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “For many people, traditional exercise settings can feel intimidating or inaccessible.

“There was a desire to create something different, built around encouragement, laughter and the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to move in a way that feels right for them.

“Because the funding is there to create bespoke services, Fridays have become something truly special for residents. What began as a simple wish from the people we support, to find a fun and welcoming way to stay active, has grown into something joyful, inclusive and deeply meaningful.

“These exercise and nutrition sessions are valuable and are helping people feel empowered to look after their wellbeing.

“The sessions are more than exercise, health and wellbeing; they are about connection, confidence, belonging and joy.”

Janey said: “I love the energy that the Mighty Movers group bring and we have so much fun.

“As a qualified exercise referral instructor, I tailor each session to meet the group’s mixed abilities, adapting the movements and equipment where needed. I work closely with the co-ordinator, and the support workers to ensure everyone feels comfortable and included.

“The feedback from the Mighty Movers really means a lot, and I’m grateful to be part of a group who enjoy the sessions as much as I do.”

Banbury residents can get involved in the group by emailing banburycss@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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This week, Oxfordshire County Council and its highways contractor M Group used Wildmere Road in Banbury as a test site to trial 15 different methods of filling in potholes or ‘patching’ minor defects.

Some of these methods are already used in Oxfordshire, while the others were new technology sourced by M Group.

Wildmere Road was closed and a 700-metre stretch was divided into sections. Each section had a different type of pothole or patch repair carried out to get a direct comparison of the various methods.

It is the second time the council has carried out a pothole repair innovation event, following a similar trial in Steventon in 2023, believed to have been the first of its kind in the country. Seven repair methods were trialled in 2023, making this week’s event a much larger undertaking.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The impact of potholes on our roads this winter, not just in Oxfordshire but nationwide, has been unprecedented.

“We are committed to seeking new and innovative methods of carrying out repairs on our 3,000 mile road network. Technology is changing all the time and it is important to test the latest products to maximise value for money when it comes to highway maintenance.

“The 2023 event led to us adopting several new methods of repair, and ruling out others, so we hope this latest trial will provide evidence and information for our contractors about what repair methods work best by testing them on the same stretch of road.”

Since January 2026, M Group has repaired more than 33,000 highways defects – compared to 37,042 potholes filled in the whole of the 2024 - 25.

This was against a backdrop of perfect pothole-forming weather conditions this winter – a prolonged freeze followed by a protracted period of rain, which led to an unprecedented increase in the number of emergency pothole reports. The council was receiving more than 1,000 reports a week, reaching over 1,300 defects in a single week in early March.

As a result, the number of repair crews was increased from seven to 25 to reduce a backlog of potholes caused by the weather. More specialist crews and equipment were also brought in, including a ‘Bobcat’ planer, Dragon Patcher and thermal road repairs.

Richard Lovewell, M Group Business Director, said: “From introducing the Dragon Patcher back in 2015 to hosting the UK’s first pothole trial day in 2023, M Group and Oxfordshire County Council have a strong track record of working together to find better ways to maintain and repair roads.

“This latest trial is about building on that progress. By testing new products and approaches we can ensure that we are using the best value materials in the right conditions and the right places, increasing efficiency and durability, and delivering better value for Oxfordshire residents.

“With wetter winters and hotter summers, it is vital we keep adapting our maintenance techniques to cope with increasing pressure on our road networks.”

Wildmere Road will be monitored regularly over the next two years to allow comparisons of the type of repair, equipment, material, and labour used, and the time taken.

This will include an understanding of the potential results, longevity of repairs, waste generated, carbon impact, use of recycled content and productivity that may be achievable.

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Identical twins Chris and Johnny Taylor, aged 18 and from Charlbury, are studying for their A levels alongside training as boxers at Banbury Boxing Club.

They entered foster care at 14, where the stability and support they received helped shape the exciting direction their lives are now taking.

Johnny said: “Our days are very structured now and that’s something that could only have happened through being fostered.

“When we first moved in with our brilliant foster carer, Lucy, life felt uncertain and we weren’t always sure what support would be available to us, everything felt strange and new.

“However, over time, that began to change as routine and structure gradually became a source of reassurance, helping us feel more secure and confident, something we hadn’t really had until that point.

“At first it felt like staying at a friend’s house, then after a while it felt like home.

“Once you’re settled, then you can dream; your ambition and drive kick in. We both love boxing, and train and coach together at Banbury Boxing Club. But it doesn’t end there because we also share knowledge about fitness and sports nutrition on our social media channels. You’ll find us on TikTok: thetaylortwins07 and Instagram: thetaylortwins.07.”

The twins’ commitment to boxing, alongside their academic studies, has brought its rewards; they were recently offered unconditional places on the psychology and sports performance undergraduate course at University of Portsmouth, where they’ll enrol in September 2026.

Having their own bedrooms and taking part in everyday family activities, such as shared dinners, holidays abroad, and spending time together, has helped the twins feel settled and truly at home, and they believe this has played an important role in how opportunities are now falling into place.

Chris sums it up: “It just makes everything calm, you know, it’s like we can wake up, we know what we’re doing, no stress.”

Their foster carer, Lucy, isn’t left to provide support alone, assistance comes from Oxfordshire County Council’s dedicated foster care team and by being linked with a wider network such as peer support from other fostering families.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Chris and Johnny’s experience shows how fostering can make a real difference for children and young people, replacing uncertainty with stability, support and a sense of belonging that is now helping them pursue their ambitions.

“I hope in Chris and Johnny we have two future boxing stars and I wish them the very best.

“We have 147 approved fostering families and I admire and congratulate each and every one of them for their dedication and commitment to young people.

“Our foster care service is not for profit, and where possible we are committed to keeping children and young people near to their birth families, friends and schools.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s foster carers receive:

• Generous fees, paid in addition to the child’s allowance, based on experience and skills.
• Dedicated social worker support.
• Access to professionals involved with the child/children, linked with support groups and specialised training.

For further information about becoming a foster carer, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/fostering, email fostering@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone 0800 783 5724.

Your Oxfordshire

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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.}

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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.

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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. 

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The new site will allow for a larger, more accessible, and modern library in a central location that better meets the needs of the community and the growing local population.

Following works to the site, the new library is expected to welcome the public in its new home at Castle Quay, by the end of 2027.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Libraries are more than just a place to borrow books. They are community spaces that play a vital role in helping people in everyday life from getting information and support to a place to socialise.

“The relocation will transform our library provision in Banbury with massively improved facilities, including better digital resources, flexible study areas, and dedicated spaces for community events. The new library, which will be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, will also be designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring that all residents can benefit from its services.”

Councillor David Hingley, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “As a big supporter of libraries and their vital role in our communities, I’m delighted to be welcoming Banbury library into Castle Quay. This will provide a larger, more modern space that places the library in the heart of Banbury, which will be a significant cultural investment in our town centre and for our residents to be able to enjoy all the benefits a contemporary library provides.

“Through previous engagement residents have shown support for improving and regenerating Banbury town centre, and the library relocation forms an exciting part of our upcoming plans.

“In its new, central location, the library will add to the cultural vibrancy of the town as a hub for education, leisure and social connection. This move reflects our commitment to Castle Quay as a multi-use, community destination and to ensuring Banbury thrives as a place where people want to live, work and visit.”

The news forms part of an ongoing project to update Oxfordshire’s libraries, with a number of other local communities already benefitting from upgrades to modernise and improve accessibility.

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Smokers in and around Banbury who would like to quit can learn more about how to do this and make themselves feel calmer, brighter and healthier, as the South East Smokefree Alliance (SESA) comes to Banbury Market on 15 January.

Stop smoking support advisors, Oxfordshire County Council officers and members of SESA will be out and about on 15 January between 10am and 3pm to spark conversations about wellbeing, and the link between quitting smoking and feeling better.

It forms part of a wider regional campaign that seeks to dispel myths around smoking being a way to relief stress.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, said: “Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions you can make for your health and happiness. We want everyone in Oxfordshire to know that free support is available and taking that first step could lead to a brighter, healthier future for you and your loved ones. If you want to take the next step, do take advantage and speak to a member of the team!”

Dr Sarah Milne, Lead of the South East Smokefree Alliance, said: “So many people believe smoking helps them cope with stress, but the truth is the opposite. Nicotine tricks your brain into thinking you need it to feel calm, when in fact it’s stealing your happiness and resilience.

“We recognise that people have other stresses and challenges in their lives though the evidence is clear that if you are receiving support for a mental health problem or major challenge, quitting smoking can help you through this.”

The market stall will also feature activities and conversation starters to get people thinking and smiling.

The activities are part of a mass media campaign funded by 18 councils in the south east of England that explains in simple terms how quitting allows the brain to produce dopamine naturally again, helping people feel calmer, brighter and less stressed within weeks.

Stop Smoking, Feel Happier forms part of SESA’s wider mission to make the south east a smokefree region by 2030. Over 846,000 adults in the south east smoke, costing thousands of lives every year and deepening health inequalities, particularly among people with mental health challenges and those in manual or routine jobs.

Thousands of people in Oxfordshire successfully quit with the free support of their local stop smoking service each year and the service will be on hand in Banbury to share how they can help.

The council’s free stop smoking service, Smokefree Oxon also provides a range of support services to help residents quit, including aids, coaching and more. Find out more by visiting Smokefree Oxon’s website, by calling 0800 772 3673, or text QUITOXON to 66777.

More information

The South East Smokefree Alliance (SESA) represents 18 local authorities: Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.

There are at least 846,787 adults who smoke across the south east – 10.6 per cent of the population. Thousands of people have stopped smoking in Oxfordshire over the past few years.Smoking prevalence rates in Oxfordshire have fallen in 2024 to an all time low of 7.5 per cent of the population. This still means thousands can still access the free support to quit. 

Smoking causes around 9,500 deaths each year in the south east region and is responsible for over 55,000 hospital admissions annually.

Smokers are 2.5 times more likely to need social care and on average need it 10 years earlier than non smokers.

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Oxfordshire County Council is working with its contractor M Group Limited to widen traffic lanes and make improvements to traffic signals between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions. When finished, the improvements will make bus journeys through Banbury town centre more reliable, while creating safer pedestrian crossings at junctions.

Night work on the Bridge Street and George Street junctions will run throughout January, as part of a seven month construction programme.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “This project aims to maintain Banbury’s bus services in the long-term, focused at two busy junctions. When the work is finished this summer, Banbury will benefit from better pedestrian crossings and improved access for buses, making the town centre more accessible and more attractive to travel to on foot or by bus. We also plan to connect this work up to other improvements planned for cyclists in the future.

“January is a busy first month for this project, and what we are doing on site will change frequently. Temporary traffic lights and signage will always be in place along with diversion routes to keep people safe. I recommend people plan their journeys in advance and go through the road works carefully.”

The work involves improving the current George Street bus lane; access for buses into Bridge Street west; and the crossing facilities and signalling at the Bridge Street and George Street junctions.

The configuration of work areas, lane closures and pedestrian diversions will change throughout January. Access for businesses and emergency services will always be maintained. Smart traffic lights with remote monitoring will help manage congestion and keep traffic moving.

Night work is being used to minimise daytime disruption.

Construction will take place simultaneously at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions, to enable the project to finish in summer 2026.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Key elements of the improvement project include:

·       A longer running lane for left-turning vehicles (including buses) on Cherwell Street.

·       Upgraded pedestrian facilities with new crossings to benefit people walking, cycling, and wheeling.

·       Optimised traffic signals along Cherwell Street and the area between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions.

·       Enhanced road markings and signage to improve traffic flow and safety.

The scheme is funded from Department for Transport Bus Service Improvement Plan monies with local developer Section 106 contributions paying for the pedestrian safety improvements.

Sign up for regular updates and full details of the improvements by visiting Oxfordshire County Council’s website, where more information on forthcoming construction phases can also be found: oxfordshire.gov.uk/cherwellstreetbus

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The routes of the B3, 488 and 489 buses have been updated to drop passengers directly outside the station entrance.

These changes to Banbury’s local bus network will improve journeys between Banbury town centre, the rail station, Cherwell Heights, Bodicote, Longford Park and Chipping Norton.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “This is a major step forward for joined up travel in Banbury, strengthening our local bus network and making it easier for everyone to connect between bus and rail.

“Travel hubs like the rail station are vital to Banbury’s continued growth and prosperity, offering safer, sustainable and more convenient travel options and supporting our ambition for Banbury to be a thriving, accessible town.

“I am so pleased that the long-awaited Tramway Road project is almost complete, with one more drop off area being constructed this spring. This is about providing residents and visitors with the reliable, future-ready services our communities deserve and enabling greater use of public transport for everyday journeys.”

Residents can familiarise themselves with the new B3, 488 and 489 routes and timetables by visiting Stagecoach Bus’ website. The changes came into effect on Sunday 4 January 2026.

Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “We’ve made targeted changes to the B3, 488 and 489 services to better meet the needs of passengers travelling to and from Banbury station. By adjusting routes and timetables to take advantage of the new access via Tramway Road, we’re improving reliability, punctuality and day to day convenience for our customers. These service improvements are about delivering practical, dependable connections and making public transport a more attractive choice for local journeys.”

Oxfordshire County Council working with its contractor M Group Limited started construction of the Banbury Railway Station access improvement project in October 2024, with the provision of new bus stops and a bus only route along Station Approach Road north a central part of the project.

Work has now been completed on a new roundabout, a new section of Tramway Road and a Tramway Road footpath. New drainage, surfacing, lighting, fencing and landscaping have also been installed in the station west car park A, along Station Approach Road north and in the station forecourt.

The west car park reopened in December, providing access to standard, disabled and enlarged parking bays at the back of the station.

The last phase of construction, which involves a new drop off facility planned for land to the south of the new roundabout, is expected to be built in spring 2026, subject to land agreements.

Notes for editors

Updates to the Banbury bus routes and timetables can be found on Stagecoach Bus’ website.

·       Service B3: Now connects Banbury town centre, Banbury Railway Station forecourt, Cherwell Heights, Bodicote, and Longford Park. Buses will run every half an hour, starting at 6.36am and ending at 7.50pm, Monday to Friday; every half an hour starting at 7.06am and ending at 7.43pm on Saturday; and every hour starting at 8.12am and ending at 6.12pm on Sundays.

·       Services 488 and 489: Now link Banbury with Chipping Norton, providing revised routes that serve the Banbury railway station forecourt using Tramway Road and Hightown Road. These services will no longer call at George Street, High Street, or Banbury Cross, but continued hospital connectivity is assured using stops on Hightown Road. Buses will run roughly once an hour, starting at 6.01am and ending at 7.07pm, Monday to Friday; once an hour starting at 6.16am and ending at 5.42pm on Saturday; and roughly once every two hours starting at 8.01am and ending at 5.42pm on Sundays.

Photo

1. From left to right: Paul Wooster, Area Manager, Chiltern Railway; Trevor Bayliss, Operations Manager, Witney Depot, Stagecoach West; Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action; Chris Hanson, Managing Director, Stagecoach West; Councillor Liz Leffman, Charlbury and Wychwood, Leader, Oxfordshire County Council; Chris Dyer, Head of Service, Transport & Property Infrastructure Delivery, Environment & Highways, Oxfordshire County Council.

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The county council and its contractor, M Group Limited, have been building a new road enabling access from the south, providing footways, cycleways and bus stops, and resurfacing.

Commuters and those travelling over the festive period can now drive into the west car park from the new access route up Tramway Road, using the new mini roundabout. Drivers can also drop off passengers on Tramway Road. Station Approach Road north and the station forecourt are now open for drop off and parking.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to reach this milestone in this much needed project for Banbury. Residents now have more choice in how they access Banbury Rail Station and, crucially, we’ve made it possible to improve bus access in the new year.

“If you are walking, cycling or wheeling, new footpaths and cycleways will make journeys safer. In the new year, the B3, 489 and 499 buses routes will begin stopping outside and we will complete work on an extra passenger drop off facility.

“Our ambition has always been to make it easier to get to Banbury Rail Station and take the train onwards and this new travel hub will make a positive difference to station users into the new year and beyond.”

Construction started in October 2024, with the new roundabout, new section of Tramway Road and the Tramway Road footpath opening for access to the industrial estate and football ground in June of this year.

Work has now been completed in the station west car park A, along Station Approach Road north and in the station forecourt, including new drainage, surfacing, lighting, fencing and landscaping.

The county council has also completed designs for a new drop off facility planned south of the new roundabout. Subject to land agreements, this will provide six bays plus one reserved for disabled users and is expected to be built in spring 2026.

Michael Stewart, Commercial and Customer Strategy Director at Chiltern Railways, said: “We have been working with Oxfordshire County Council to carry out significant upgrades to Banbury station, including new footpaths, cycleways and bus stops which will be transformational for rail users. In addition to this, there will be enhanced parking options for our customers at the station.

“Over the last 18 months, we have also opened a new café, toilets, and carried out a painting programme to improve the overall experience for our customers at Banbury.”

New signage will be in place to inform drivers about designated parking areas and that a ‘bus gate’ only route, restricting standard vehicles from Tramway Road to Bridge Street, is now live along Station Approach Road north.

Stagecoach Bus has confirmed that the B3 and 488/489 bus routes will stop at the Banbury Rail Station from Sunday 4 January, with updated timetables now available on their website.

Notes for editors

More information on the Banbury Rail Station access improvements can be found at oxfordshire.gov.uk/banburystation

Updates to the Banbury bus routes and timetables can be found on the Stagecoach Bus website: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-11/12/2025-16:37:22:832

The west station car park provides 118 standard bays, four disabled and three enlarged bays at the back of the station.

Drivers can drop off or pick up on Tramway Road or enter Banbury Rail Station via Bridge Street and use the drop off areas at the north and east sides of the station, with the north providing close access to the station front door.

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The raids, carried out on 28 September, were part of Operation CeCe, a national initiative to tackle the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products, funded by HMRC through a partnership with National Trading Standards. 

Officers were accompanied by specialist tobacco detection dogs, which can sniff out contraband in concealments within till points or hidden in storerooms.

The operation resulted in the seizure of 18,980 illegal cigarettes, 6.8kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 8.6kg of waterpipe tobacco (commonly known as shisha). The total street value of the haul was approximately £10,000.

Other products seized included 120 nicotine pouches and 263 single-use vapes.

Other issues detected were:

• One premises with a sophisticated concealment operated by electromagnets and built at height to try to evade the detection dogs
• Three premises with tobacco products on open display, whereas they must be out of sight of customers
• Three premises with staff unable to identify the owner of the business.

Investigations are ongoing, with premises facing potential criminal prosecution and additional sanctions including financial penalties. 

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team will continue to crack down on the sale of these illegal products and cause the maximum disruption possible to criminal networks. People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer Oxfordshire by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline.”

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council's Head of Prevention, Protection and Trading Standards, added: “Make no mistake about it, organised criminals are using illegal tobacco as a commodity to raise cash, which funds serious crime. We would urge the public to stop funding them.

“We know it can be hard to stop smoking but help is available. People are three times more likely to successfully quit by using a stop smoking service like Smokefree Oxfordshire. The service is free to everyone living in the county.”

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco should contact 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously online at www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk  

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Banbury Community Support Services (CSS), run by Oxfordshire County Council, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newly transformed community garden on 12 August 2025.

Providing day support for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, dementia, autism, and age-related conditions, Banbury CSS plays a vital role in the local community.

The garden, once a cherished space, fell into disrepair following an incident of vandalism that left the polytunnel destroyed and paths unsafe. With no immediate funds for restoration, the future of the garden looked uncertain.

Refusing to be defeated, the team launched a heartfelt fundraising campaign through their charity, The Friends of Redlands, and reached out to the community via Facebook.

Their call was answered by Milestone, a generous local company that offered to rebuild the garden completely free of charge.

In just one week, their team created a safe, accessible, and serene space, and they continue to support the project by painting fences.

Jen Farrell, Service Manager at Banbury CSS, said: “This garden is more than a space: it’s a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together.

“It reflects the compassion and determination of everyone involved, from volunteers to local businesses.”

The transformation was further supported by:

• Ball Colegrave, who donated seeds and plants
• Nicholsons, who contributed additional plants
• A volunteer day from HSBC staff, coordinated by Alex Greenwood Bell
• Julia Ramm, the project lead, whose dedication from start to finish has been instrumental in bringing the garden back to life

The new garden is now fully wheelchair accessible, featuring raised beds and tranquil corners that are enjoyed by all who attend Banbury CSS.

Every Monday, six dedicated volunteers help maintain and enhance the space, reinforcing the sense of togetherness and hope that defines the service.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Banbury CSS has shown how compassion and collaboration can transform lives and spaces. It’s a privilege to support such a remarkable initiative.

“I would like to add my heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers that gave their time and resources to make this happen." 

The grand opening will welcome all who contributed to the project, alongside the people supported by Banbury CSS, their families, and friends.

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Positive progress has been made in 2024/25 against priorities set for Oxfordshire County Council by its cabinet, with notable achievements in the council’s work to tackle climate change.

The 17 June meeting of the council’s cabinet was presented with the authority’s annual report, which detailed many positive developments during 2024/5.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Across the wide array of services we provide to the Oxfordshire public, from highways to social care, our aim is to make Oxfordshire a greener, fairer and healthier county.

“Our officers have worked hard to deliver against these priorities in partnership with many other organisations. It was great for the first cabinet meeting since the elections to report on the progress that has been made in supporting our communities and protecting our environment over the past 12 months.

“It is worth noting that these achievements have been delivered against a backdrop of financial constraints and high, complex demand on our services as we continue to work with our communities to support those who are most vulnerable.”

Achievements in 2024/5

Action to tackle climate change lies at the heart of the council’s work and 2024/25 has seen the authority being ranked as the top performing waste disposal authority in England for the eleventh year running as well as expanding the council’s electric vehicle fleet and reducing operational emissions by 71 per cent.

Since the report was published the council has been told that it is the best performing county council in the UK for tackling climate change.

Meanwhile £3.6m has been secured to improve public EV charging to make driving electric vehicles more accessible in the county and more than 200 requests have been approved to reduce speed limits to 20mph in towns and villages. Five new bus routes began operating to connect more villages and market towns to Oxford following a £1.2m allocation from the council.

During 2024/5 the council planted 825 trees and 16 new community orchards. It completed more than 3,300 tree care operations and 20 new road verge nature reserves were designated.

The council’s work to support residents during the cost of living crisis includes providing 500 vulnerable households more than £1.2m in supermarket vouchers, energy credit and essential household items through the council’s government-funded resident support scheme; and providing £3.3m to ensure families entitled to free school meals received support during school holidays.

And in terms of wider support to the most vulnerable, the council was awarded local authority of sanctuary status for supporting people fleeing war, persecution and serious human rights violations - the first county council to do so.

Achievements around creating a healthier county include partnering with University College London’s Institute of Health Equity and renowned academic Sir Michael Marmot to become a “Marmot Place” – a two-year programme to tackle health inequalities and local communities.

Waiting times for social care assessments continued to fall, with the cumulative improvement over the last four years being 80 per cent. Meanwhile more people were supported to live in their own communities for longer with 3,186 packages of home care arranged.

The council’s discharge to assess programme has enabled more than 7,000 people to be discharged safely from hospital – an increase of 23 per cent compared to the previous year.

Many accolades were achieved by the council in 2024/5 including the 2024 LARAC Best Partnership award for improving recycling and reducing waste (jointly won with community action groups), and an MJ award for the “Cheers M’Dears” Community Support Service in Banbury.

The council’s performance and insight analyst team won the best teamwork award in the ONS Datathon 2024 and a construction project to improve Banbury railway station won a Green Apple Environment Gold award.

Cllr Leffman added: “The report provides a snapshot of the wide range of activity and support that the council provides to residents across the county on a day to day basis. It’s a great way for people to spend a few minutes learning what their council tax contributions went towards during 2024/25.”

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There will be a limited drop-off facility in the west car park B, but passengers can also be dropped off in the east multistorey car park where parking will be available including accessible bays.

Some changes have been made to the design of the improvements since construction work began. This is because of complications including unmapped utility services and archaeological discoveries. There have also been poor ground conditions and a reduced availability of land. 

The design changes mean that vehicles and cyclists travelling south along the newly extended Tramway Road from 18 June will give way at the roundabout and those travelling north along Tramway Road will have priority, where originally two lanes were planned. Work is now expected to finish in December 2025. 

More information about the project is available on the council’s website: oxfordshire.gov.uk/banburystation

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Open until 29 September, visitors are welcome at Swalcliffe Barn on Sundays and bank holidays from 2pm until 5pm thanks to the efforts of the Swalcliffe Society and Oxfordshire County Council’s museums service.

As well as a permanent exhibition showcasing 2,500 years of history, volunteers will also be on hand to explain the very special history of this remarkable historic building and its collection of agricultural and trade vehicles, providing a taste of rural life throughout the centuries.

Mark McCree, Head of Libraries and Heritage at Oxfordshire County Council, said, "Swalcliffe Barn is a remarkable piece of history that offers a unique glimpse into rural life throughout the centuries. We are thrilled to open its doors once again and share its treasures with people with the help of the Swalcliffe Society.

“It is a perfect destination for families and history enthusiasts alike. Don't miss the chance to explore this beautiful site.”

Special tours for groups of between six and 25 can be arranged with prior notice and can be combined with a visit to Swalcliffe's historic church as well.

New for 2025, the Oxfordshire museums service is also launching a series of events, including family theatre, Fabularium performance of Reynard the Fox, and two family open days during the summer holidays at the barn.

The Swalcliffe Society will also be hosting the Adderbury, Deddington and District Photographic Society for an exhibition of photographs on 7, 18, and 24 to 26 May from 10am to 5pm.

Parking is available, and entry is free, although donations are welcome. Find out more about events at the barn by visiting the Oxfordshire Museum’s website.

Residents are also welcome to volunteer throughout the summer. For more information on volunteering, please phone 01295 788127, or email swalcliffe.barn@gmail.com or oxfordshire.museum@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

About Swalcliffe Barn

Constructed in 1401 for New College, Oxford, Swalcliffe Barn is a Grade 1 listed building and a scheduled ancient monument, situated in the picturesque village of Swalcliffe, six miles west of Banbury.

Find out more about the Swalcliffe Society by visiting Swalcliffe Parish Council’s website or the group’s Facebook page.

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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.

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The events, part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Future Generations Programme, are designed to help those aged 11 to 18 understand local democracy and encourage them to participate in politics.

Following the success of the first pilot event back in November, young people were joined at County Hall in Oxford, Edmonds Park Pavillion in Didcot and Banbury Children and Family Centre by county council directors and councillors from across the political spectrum in Oxfordshire who shared their experiences.

MP for Didcot and Wantage, Olly Glover, and MP for Banbury, Sean Woodcock, also took part in the events, providing an overview of their roles as MPs and answering the young people’s questions.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, who attended the Oxford and Banbury events, said: “I would like to thank our young people from across Oxfordshire who attended our pizza and politics events across the county. I was inspired by their questions and contributions, which were insightful and eye-opening, and will ensure that young people's voices continue to be heard as part of our future generations programme of work.”

The agenda included an introduction to local and national government, a vibrant question and answer panel session between young people and politicians, and themed discussions.

Participants had the opportunity to ask questions throughout, discuss important issues, and share their thoughts on various topics linked to different services the county council provides.

The events form part of the county council's Future Generations work, which seeks to put the wellbeing of future generations at the heart of all decision making.

Councillors passed a motion back in March 2023 with cross party support setting out a commitment to considering the wellbeing of Future Generations in all decision making.

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The annual budget setting meeting of Oxfordshire County Council (11 February) also agreed new funding in 2025/26 for special educational needs (SEND), early years support and holding the price of joint ticketing at park and rides.

In the autumn, Oxfordshire County Council had said that it would face a £25 million funding shortfall in 2025/26 before taking account of any new funding.

The impact of new money allocated to local government in December combined with local changes and a 4.99 per cent council tax increase in 2025/26 meant that this shortfall could be addressed, with additional money to allocate to services on a one – off basis.

A total of two per cent of the council tax increase is ringfenced for adult social care under rules set down by central government.

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “We are pleased to be able to spend more on important services that people value ranging from adult social care for children and adults to highway maintenance.

“There is lots of good news for people all over the county and from all backgrounds in the budget we have set. This is all in the context of us carefully and responsibly managing the council’s finances and making efficiency savings where and when we can.

“While it is good news that we can spend more on priorities in 2025 the pressures on local government continue to increase and things look uncertain beyond 2025/26. All councils want more certainty looking forward.”

What has been agreed?

• £1m of funding for the expansion of early years support (under 5s) so that all children can get the best possible start in life.
• The council proposes has allocated £1.141m of extra funding in 2025/26 relating to special educational needs (SEND) and education, health and care plans (EHCP). A total of £641,000 of this would be additional money to complete EHCPs more quickly and £500,000 to facilitate the provision of expertise from special schools focused on children with EHCPs who are in mainstream schools. An EHCP is put in to support a young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the UK if their educational setting doesn’t have the resources and expertise to support them.
• Meanwhile there is £2m of new money partly funded by new government grant funding to support families to overcome challenges at the earliest opportunity, prevent escalation and effectively intervene with problems.
• £400,000 additional funding to cover the costs of the increase in number of children with SEND requiring home to school transport.
• £3.6m for flooding measures including £2.1m for proactive work with communities who have suffered flooding and £1.5m additional funding for highway drainage in 2025/26, with the council moving to an annual highway drainage gully emptying and jetting cycle.
• £1m funding for revenue or capital spend to leverage investment in rail, including supporting active travel access, improvement programmes and the development of strategic cases and masterplans to prove the environmental, economic and community case for rail.
• £400,000 to support holding the price of a joint ticket (parking and bus fare) at Park & Ride car parks unchanged from 2024/25.

The council’s Liberal Democrat/Green administration accepted amendments by the Labour group at the council during the debate and details of these changes can be found here

Additions include investment in breakfast clubs at schools, the development of a business case for greenways cross-country cycle routes, finance to transform libraries into community hubs, further money for family help and SEND and narrowing the gap for disadvantaged children based on the work of the Education Commission in Oxfordshire earlier in the 2020s.

Spending on capital projects

Additions to council’s capital budget include: 

• £38.6m for a two-year highways maintenance programme, which will extend surface dressing, prevent potholes from occurring and improve drainage across the highways network in Oxfordshire. A further £16.2m will be used to repair and maintain bridges and £4m for improvements in road safety.
• £11.1m towards the completion of Watlington relief road to alleviate congestion, noise and air pollution in the town centre.
• £1.8m for active travel measures to encourage walking and cycling including £500,000 for active travel in rural areas.
• £300,000 funding towards working with other organisations collaboratively on planning regeneration in Banbury Town Centre.

A public consultation on the substance of the 2025/26 budget proposals ran throughout December and ended on 2 January 2025.

This followed extensive engagement with residents over the summer on their priorities, including on the budget. This was through the council’s annual residents’ survey and participatory engagement opportunities using an online budget simulator, focus groups and sounding boards for children and young people. This feedback has been used to inform the development of proposals and the budget and business planning process throughout the year.

Other key information about the county council budget for 2025/26 and the vote:

• The net budget for 2025/26 will be: £646m.
• Council tax will rise by 4.99 per cent, of which two per cent is earmarked for adult social care.

The political groups at the county council

• There are 63 county councillors.
• The Liberal Democrat Green Alliance group is made up of 23 county councillors (20 Liberal Democrat and three Green).
• The Conservative group is made up of 19 county councillors, plus one independent councillor aligned with them in the Conservative Independent Alliance.
• The Labour & Co-operative Party group is made up of 14 county councillors.
• The Independent Voice of Oxfordshire is made up of 3 county councillors.
• There are three independent councillors.

Almost 10,000 counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and other tobacco and nicotine based products have been seized following a series of visits to retail premises by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team.

Officers were accompanied by specialist tobacco detection dogs, which can sniff out contraband in concealments within till points or hidden in storerooms.

Premises involved included off-licences, convenience stores, food retailers and barbers in Banbury, Kidlington and Oxford.

The operation resulted in the seizure of 9,340 illegal cigarettes, 700g of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco, 180 unit packs of non-compliant nicotine pouches and 42 disposable electronic cigarettes, or vapes, with a capacity of nicotine containing liquid nine times the maximum allowed.

The total street value of the haul was approximately £5,000.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety: “Our trading standards team, working in partnership with other agencies, will continue to crack down on the sale of these illegal products and cause the maximum disruption possible to criminal networks.

“People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer county by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline.”

Other issues detected were:

• Two premises in breach of their licensing conditions.
• One premises with a concealment operated by electromagnets, although no illegal product was contained within it.
• Four premises with tobacco products on open display, whereas they must be out of sight of customers.
• Two premises with evidence of staff sleeping or living in store rooms, which was referred to other agencies.

Investigations are ongoing, with premises facing potential criminal prosecution, licence reviews and additional sanctions, including financial penalties.

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, added: “We are serious about taking action whenever we find anyone selling illegal tobacco. Its sale undermines legitimate businesses in Oxfordshire and puts money into the hands of criminals.”

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco should contact 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously online at stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk

More information

It can be hard to stop using tobacco products, but help is available. People are three times more likely to successfully quit by using a stop smoking service like Smokefree Oxfordshire. The service is free to everyone living in the county.

Photo: The seized haul found by detection dog Billy.

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The road, north of Wardington, was closed by Oxfordshire County Council on Monday after the sinkhole appeared in the centre of the carriageway. Emergency diversion routes were immediately put into place.

Following visits to the site by inspectors, the council’s contractors are planning to begin repair work today. It is hoped that the road can be opened and the repairs completed by the end of the month, depending on what is found once water is pumped out and excavation work starts.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is an extremely busy road, which is why we have made it a priority to have a repair programme in place within days.

“We will reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so. We hope this will be by the end of December but, unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to work of this nature. In the meantime, we would urge motorists to follow the diversion routes that are in place to ensure everyone’s safety.”

The suggested diversion route is between A423 Southam Road and the A425 Daventry Road.

It is believed that the sinkhole is a result of the recent flooding of the River Cherwell, causing washout of fill to affect a brick water pipe (culvert) running under the road. The most recent inspection of the culvert by the council’s highways teams, carried out before the flooding, showed no cause for concern in the culvert’s condition.

The washed out material has blocked the watercourse, submerging the culvert. The water will be pumped out to enable the culvert to be inspected, so that the full extent of required repairs can be determined.

The culvert may need to be temporarily replaced by a pipe to enable the sinkhole to be backfilled and the road reopened while a longer term repair is planned.

Cllr Gant added: “This is a pretty stark example of the kind of pressure our large and rural road network is experiencing from extreme weather. I am very grateful to our officers and contractors for getting out on site as soon as possible to put a plan in place for mitigation and repair.”

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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.

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It comes as a shop in Banbury, where smuggled shisha tobacco and excess capacity vapes were seized, has had its licence to sell alcohol revoked.

Trading standards applied to review the premises’ licence of Banbury Express Food & Wine, 179 Warwick Road, Banbury at a special Cherwell District Council licensing sub-committee hearing on 10 October.

It came after a test purchase of shisha tobacco was made back in April, with the product being sold for nearly £10 less than the rate of duty. The labelling also contained none of the required health warnings and made a prohibited reference to a taste or smell. 

Shisha, nicotine pouches and vapes were seized in a follow-up visit in July. The unlawful vapes contained five times more than the maximum capacity of nicotine-containing liquid allowed.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety for Oxfordshire County Council said: “The premises’ licence was the subject of a review because previous advice had not been heeded. Our officers try to work with businesses and provide detailed advice to help them comply with the law but when that is ignored, it’s important that the appropriate action is taken to protect the public and other businesses that are trading lawfully.”

Cherwell District Council’s licensing sub-committee heard that trading standards had identified similar issues in 2021. The business had been given extensive verbal and written advice, which had not been followed.

Councillor Rob Parkinson, Cherwell District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities, said: “It’s crucial that businesses selling alcohol follow the law. The licensing system is a powerful tool for helping prevent crime and disorder and Cherwell District Council is committed to ensuring premises are not selling products that pose a risk to public safety.”

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco or vapes should call 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously online at stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk

More information

Any person who made representations at the hearing has the right to appeal the decision by giving notice to the magistrates’ court within a period of 21 days beginning with the day upon which written notification of the determination was given, which was 14 October. 

 The decision to revoke the premises licence does not take effect until the appeal period has expired.

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Oxfordshire County Council is improving access to the station by building a new route linking Tramway Road with Station Approach Road and the station forecourt. When finished, commuters will also benefit from new bus stops, cycleways and footways.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “If you use the train station, or travel along Tramway Road, please take a moment to plan ahead to avoid delays while we construct these very welcome improvements. Follow all signs and diversion routes for your own safety.

“Please bear with us while we construct these improvements. When finished, the new route will make it easier to access the station and improve journey times for buses, taxis, pedestrians, and cyclists, particularly those travelling from southern Banbury and Banbury town centre.”

Pedestrians, cyclists and those being dropped off by car will have no access to the station using Tramway Road from 24 October 2024 to April 2025 because the footpath will be closed to allow for the new footpath and road layout to be constructed.

A diversion will be in place via Tramway Road, Swan Close, the A4260, Bridge Street and Station Approach Road, which will take 20 minutes to walk. Two-way traffic lights will also be in place at Station Approach Road to manage traffic.

Site cabins and fencing will be installed from 21 October. Work to dig up the existing Tramway Road footpath and divert drainage and utility pipes and cables will start from 4 November.

From October to November 2024, two-way temporary traffic lights will be in place at Station Approach Road to manage traffic. Part of Station Approach Road and the west station car park will then be closed from November with traffic diverted through the west station car park to maintain a route through.

Work to construct the new northern extension to Tramway Road (road surface, footpath, cycle path and roundabout) will take place from late 2024 to spring 2025.

The west station car park will be fully closed from November, with the multistorey car park still available. Commuters should look out for advance warning and diversion signs. Some pick-up and drop off locations will also need to change. The improved station car park will be built in the last stage of work. Construction is expected to finish in September 2025.

Oxfordshire County Council is working with Milestone Construction Limited to construct these improvements.

Funding is coming from the Housing and Growth Deal and existing developer contributions.

For more information about this release contact Oxfordshire County Council’s communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

More information 

The full range of improvements are:

• Extending the northern end of Tramway Road to provide a connection to Station Approach Road and the station west car park for all vehicles via a new roundabout.
• Building a new signal-controlled route from Tramway Road to the station forecourt for cyclists and those using buses and taxis. This will enable a bus route to potentially serve the station and Tramway Road.
• Providing a new footway, cycleway and bus stops along Tramway Road, and more bus stops at the station forecourt.
• Improving car parking and drop-off options, including new bays at the station and a new collection layby on Tramway Road.
• Improving lighting, surface water drainage and landscaping in the area.

 More information can also be found online at oxfordshire.gov.uk/banburystation.

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The full range of improvements are: 

• Extending the northern end of Tramway Road to provide a connection to Station Approach Road and the station surface car park for all vehicles via a compact roundabout. 
• Building a new signal-controlled route from Tramway Road to the station forecourt for cyclists and those using buses and taxis. This will enable a bus route to potentially serve the station and Tramway Road. 
• Providing a new footway, cycleway and bus stops along Tramway Road, and more bus stops at the station forecourt. 
• Improving car parking and drop-off options, including new bays at the station and a new collection layby on Tramway Road. 
• Creating a new vehicle access route to the west station car park off Station Approach Road South. 
• Improving lighting, surface water drainage and landscaping in the area. 

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More than 200 requests to reduce speed limits to 20mph in towns and villages have now been approved in Oxfordshire.

Yesterday, 25 applications were given the go ahead by Oxfordshire County Council, including ones in the towns of Banbury, Thame and Wallingford. It takes the total number of approved 20mph schemes in the county to 214 since the project began in 2022.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is an incredible landmark and I want to thank all the communities who have been in touch with us, asking to make their residential streets safer and more pleasant places.

“Throughout the delivery of this programme we have been clear about the advantages it brings. 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.

“Reducing speeds in residential areas is a vital pillar of our commitment to Vision Zero – our ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.”

The latest areas to have their applications approved by Cllr Gant at a decision-making meeting also included Appleford, Appleton with Eaton, Berinsfield, Brize Meadow, Buscot and Buscot Wick, Chadlington, Culham, Ducklington, East Hagbourne, Fernham, Freeland, Fyfield and Tubney, Horley, Kelmscott, Little Wittenham, Middleton Stoney, Northmoor, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Souldern, Sibford Gower, Tiddington and West Hendred.

Decisions on more than 30 other applications are set to be made in the future.

Unlike the approach taken in Wales, where the 30mph limit was changed by default to 20mph in built-up areas, the Oxfordshire rollout has been led by residents in the towns and villages and each scheme has been tailored to local needs.

In fact, the Welsh approach has now been revised and is much closer to Oxfordshire’s, with much greater local input from councils into whether, and how, speed limits should be changed.

To be eligible for 20mph in Oxfordshire, an application must initially be supported by each affected town or parish council and the local county councillor.

A public consultation then takes place, with opportunities for people to influence the design and the adoption of the scheme within the constraints of the approved 20mph policy and guidance.

Once the remaining schemes are implemented across the county, a period of monitoring and evaluation will take place to assess the effectiveness of the measures, and any locations where further intervention may be beneficial to ensure the outcomes of the project are achieved.

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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.

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Following an investigation by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team, Harry Davies (28) of Braithwaite Close, Banbury and Ben Birch (45) of Steeple Aston were both sentenced at Oxford Crown Court to 45 months imprisonment for fraudulent trading.

Between March and September of 2021, Davies and Birch cold-called at the home of an elderly resident in Headington, Oxford, with offers to carry out work to their property, including gardening, guttering, fencing, widow replacement and the laying of new tarmac.

In total, Davies and Birch obtained payments totalling over £477,000.

However, the investigation by trading standards found that the work to the property had been poorly carried out and, in some cases, not completed at all.

Two independent surveyors identified that, if the work had been conducted to the correct standard, it was estimated to have cost less than £85,000.

In sentencing the pair, the judge said that this case had a host of distressing features and was a “shocking example of gross exploitation of a very vulnerable person”. 

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “These offences were carried out with significant planning and over a long period, with lasting impact on the victim and their family. The perpetrators displayed cynical attempts to win their victim’s trust and allay suspicion.  They could not have failed to appreciate they were vulnerable yet continued to prey on them. 

“I’m proud of the trading standards team in bringing this matter before the court and we will continue to work with the police and others to ensure that such fraud is identified and those responsible held to account”.

Jody Kerman, Head of Trading Standards at Oxfordshire County Council, said “We advise residents to say no to cold-calling offers of home repairs and maintenance and for anyone looking for a reliable trader to always get a number of detailed quotes. You can also check with friends and family for trusted recommendations and consider a trading standards’ approved trader from our Buy with Confidence scheme.

“Any Oxfordshire resident that has concerns about activity of this nature should report it to trading standards using the Citizens Advice national consumer helpline 0808 223 1133. However, if they believe a crime is in progress, call 999”.

More information

His Honour Judge Daly identified this case carried high culpability and high impact and therefore took a starting point to sentencing of six years. Taking into account aggravating and mitigating features this was reduced to 60 months, then a 25 per cent discount for plea, reducing to total of 45 months imprisonment.

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Oxfordshire County Council has invested £5 million into the Resonance Supported Homes Fund that has bought and refurbished the property, in partnership with housing provider, Golden Lane Housing.

The home is the first of five properties planned for Oxfordshire, providing person-centred housing for adults with additional needs, with four more due to open in Banbury, Bicester, Kidlington and Horspath later this year.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “This is a key part of our Oxfordshire Way vision, to support people to live well, within their own communities. Through working with partners, we are delivering a scheme that is making a real difference to adults with learning disabilities and autism, supporting them to live in their own home, with all the independence and happiness that brings.”

The six-bedroom property includes off street parking and has an enclosed back garden. It has had extensive refurbishment and includes adaptions to the kitchen and dining room to create a kitchen-diner and renovations to the garden to make it safe, accessible and manageable for all the tenants to maintain.

Four members of the new household moved in February and have been settling into their new surroundings. They have also been meeting staff from Midco Care, who will be supporting them on a daily basis. A fifth person is due to move in shortly.

Hannah, who’s 38, is one of the new tenants. Having previously lived in a shared supported housing scheme in Oxford, she’s now moved into the Witney home, which is closer to her mother and siblings.

Hannah said: “This house makes a whole lot of difference to my life at the moment. I was so happy to find it.”

The Resonance Supported Homes Fund was created in 2020 by social impact property fund manager, Resonance. It is designed to provide a solution to the acute housing shortage that leaves thousands of adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems struggling to access homes suitable for them that meet their needs.

The fund selects and buys the properties, which are located at the heart of local communities, so that residents are close to local amenities, such as shops and GP surgeries, good public transport and support services and networks, including friends and family.

Once purchased, each property is fully refurbished and refitted to a bespoke specification as well as having its energy efficiencies improved to help reduce tenants’ energy bills.

Daniel Brewer, CEO, Resonance, said: “Handing over this first property in Witney to Golden Lane Housing is a key milestone in the Resonance Supported Homes Fund’s ambition to provide the right housing for people with learning disabilities and autism in Oxfordshire.

“It was an absolute delight and privilege to meet some of the tenants that have recently moved into the beautiful new home that our fund has bought and refitted to meet their needs.

“Thanks to the investment from Oxfordshire County Council, and the fund’s partnership with expert housing partner, Golden Lane Housing, the fund is now making a difference to the lives of four people living in a home that is right for them, enabling them to live fulfilling lives with independence and choice.”

Once the property has been refurbished and adapted, it is transferred to a housing provider. In Oxfordshire, Golden Lane Housing has been chosen as a partner for the fund, offering specialist support to enable the new tenants to gain independence and enjoy a successful tenancy.

John Verge, CEO, Golden Lane Housing, said: “We are delighted to be working with Resonance and its Supported Homes Fund to provide quality homes that meet the need of individuals. Resonance has a long-proven ability in the housing sector of sourcing properties that are suitable for tenants and long-term operational partnerships with other housing associations.

“Golden Lane Housing has worked nationally for over 25 years providing specialist accommodation. The work Golden Lane Housing and the fund will be carrying out together, will ensure it contributes to addressing the great need for supported housing for people with learning disabilities and autistic people across Oxfordshire.”

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Registration services are currently located from Bodicote House in the village of Bodicote alongside Cherwell District Council’s headquarters. However, with the district council looking to move its headquarters to Castle Quay in Banbury a new home had to be found for the registrars.

Oxfordshire County Council and Banbury Town Council have agreed heads of terms to re-locate ceremonial services such as weddings and civil partnerships so that they will routinely take place in the town’s historic town hall. A legal agreement will follow. Ceremonies will be held on the first floor of the town hall providing an easily accessible location for everyone in north Oxfordshire.

It is scheduled that the move will be made by December 2024, ensuring that residents can seamlessly access essential registration services without disruption.

Banbury town hall will retain its capacity for civic and evening functions ensuring that such events can continue uninterrupted.

In due course registrar appointments (births, deaths and notices) will also move to Banbury town centre although a specific location has not been decided as yet.

Cllr Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “It’s been great to work with Banbury Town Council to bring a proportion of our registration services right into the heart of Banbury. It’s the ideal location and a great solution to an issue we knew we’d need to resolve sooner rather than later given Cherwell District Council’s plans.

“Our registration services touch the lives of people at milestone moments in their lives and is an important component of what we deliver at the county council. I look forward to the new arrangements taking shape and coming in to being in late 2024.”

Cllr Kieron Mallon of Banbury Town Council said: “The return of the registration service led ceremonies to Banbury is a cause for celebration. This is a very important service that delivers essential support at both the happy and the more difficult times in all of our lives. In recent months we’ve worked in close partnership with the county council to deliver this outcome and I am happy that it has come to fruition.

“This arrangement will also add to the vibrancy of the centre of the town centre overall and adds to the town hall itself. It's a testament to our commitment to meeting our residents' needs while delivering exceptional value."

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.

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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.

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The school has already been expanded in stages, over several years, to support increased demand for places.

This latest programme of work will involve constructing a new school hall with storage, repurposing the current hall as a multifunctional teaching space and the refurbishment of an existing building to provide a kitchen.

Councillor John Howson, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “These are exciting plans for Bloxham Church of England Primary School, reflecting our commitment to provide a top class learning and teaching environment for Oxfordshire’s children.”

The new hall will be located at the front of the school, adjacent to the main entrance and will be of red brick to blend with the existing school building.

Improvements to the school’s forecourt and parking area will also be made, including adding a disabled parking space.

Planning permission was granted in April 2023 for the scheme. Construction is due to start early 2024 and will take around a year to complete.

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At Oxford Magistrates Court on Thursday, 30 November, Krzysztof Bugno, 42, received 14 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years with 30 rehabilitation days and £2000 costs. Ewelina Bugno, 41, received eight months’ imprisonment suspended for two years with £1000 costs.

The prosecution followed a raid at their home address by the council’s trading standards team and Thames Valley Police. More than 44,000 illicit cigarettes and 24.5 kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco were seized. Magistrates ordered that this be forfeited and destroyed.

The haul, which at that time was the largest ever made by the local authority, had a street value of £20,000. The pair had originally entered guilty pleas at a hearing on 3 November.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety: “Oxfordshire’s trading standards team, working in partnership with Thames Valley Police and other agencies will continue to crack down on the sale of these illegal products. People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer Oxfordshire by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline.”

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, added: “We are serious about taking action whenever we find anyone selling illegal tobacco. Its sale not only avoids taxation, which means less money for schools, the NHS and local communities, it also undermines legitimate businesses in Oxfordshire and puts money into the hands of criminals.”

Tobacco fraud is reported to cost the UK around £2 billion a year while treating smoking-related illnesses costs the NHS a similar amount annually. 

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco should contact 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously online at www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.

The warning follows the prosecution of a Banbury husband and wife at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Friday 3 November after a raid at their home address by the council’s trading standards team and Thames Valley Police.

The raid led to the seizure of over 44,000 illicit cigarettes and 24.5 kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco, which at that time was the largest ever made by the local authority and had a street value of £20,000.

Krzysztof Bugno, 42, and Ewelina Bugno, 41, of Mold Crescent, Banbury, each entered guilty pleas to eight charges including being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of duty.

The court heard that on 31 August 2021, an undercover operative bought 10 packets of L & M cigarettes for £60 after responding to an advert posted by an account in a pseudonym on Facebook. The operative was directed to the Bugno’s home address where Ewelina was recorded on covert camera making the sale.

A follow-up took place on 5 October 2021, when 10 more packets were purchased, this time from Krzysztof Bugno, resulting in a warrant to enter the property being executed on 8 October and illicit loot discovered contained within the lounge, master bedroom and loft.

Mobile phones were seized from each suspect with experts at the National Trading Standards E-crime Unit called in to gain access to Mr Bugno’s phone, which revealed substantial evidence of illegal trading between June 2019 and October 2021. 

The prosecution alleged that at least £40,000 in duty was evaded during this period.

Matters were adjourned to the Crown Court for sentencing on 30 November.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “Oxfordshire’s trading standards team, working in partnership with Thames Valley Police and other agencies will continue to crack down on the sale of these illegal products. People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer Oxfordshire by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline.”

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, added: “We are serious about taking action whenever we find anyone selling illegal tobacco. Its sale not only avoids taxation, which means less money for schools, the NHS and local communities, it also undermines legitimate businesses in Oxfordshire and puts money into the hands of criminals.”

Tobacco fraud is reported to cost the UK around £2 billion a year while treating smoking-related illnesses costs the NHS a similar amount annually. 

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco should contact 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously online at www.stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.

More information

We know it can be hard to stop using tobacco products but help is available. People are three times more likely to successfully quit by using a stop smoking service like Stop for Life Oxfordshire. The service is free to everyone living in the county.

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The 08:35 service from Banbury to Oxford (and on to Didcot and Reading) and the 17:34 service from Didcot to Banbury had been discussed as potentially being removed from the timetable as part of the changes that happen in December each year.

However, Great Western Railways has decided against removing them from the timetable, meaning that commuters from Banbury, Didcot and Oxford and places like Tackley and the Heyfords will still be able to use the services.

Cllr Judy Roberts Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy said: “GWR have listened very carefully to what local rail users have said and responded really well. Both of these services are very well patronised and link villages as well as towns. They’re exceptionally valued by the communities they serve and ideally timed for commuters.”

“We know that GWR are always happy to listen to feedback from their customers and the communities they serve and that this will remain the case looking in to the future as we look to improve our rail links for the benefit of everyone. We want to provide people with great transport options so that they are not wholly reliant on their cars and the railways are a key component of that.”

GWR Business Development Portfolio Director Tom Pierpoint said: “We’re grateful to local residents, businesses and Oxfordshire County Council for highlighting the importance of these services, and I’m pleased we’ve been able to find a solution that will retain them both in our December timetable. 

"We do sometimes have to make changes but it is clear that these services play a vital role for our communities in Tackley, Heyford, King’s Sutton and Banbury, and I’m really glad that we have been able to keep them in the timetable.”

Ta Da! is located at Oxfordshire County Council’s CSS in Neithrop and comes shortly after Cheers M’Dears bar was opened at the service in the summer.

Jennifer Farrell, Manager of Banbury CSS, said: “The way we deliver social care is changing and we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to improve how we do things for the people we support.

“After the success of Cheers M’Dears pub room, we once again asked the people who use our service how we could do things differently to really support their wellbeing.

“And ‘Ta Da!’ – the beauty room became our next project!”

As with the development of Cheers M’Dears, the reimagined space at Banbury CSS (formerly called the Redlands Centre) has been fitted out with equipment donated from local businesses, as well as funding from the Friends of Redlands charity.

Jennifer continued: “We support many people living with Dementia and having a pamper treatment allows them to be calm, relaxed and enjoy talking about the ‘good old times’.

“Many people we support are not able to go to a traditional beauty salon. Ta Da! will be a place of calmness, fully equipped to give the adults we support the chance to experience the real therapeutic benefits of a beauty treatment.”

Banbury CSS is working with local hair and beauty colleges to connect with students and offer them the chance to use the facilities and offer treatments. Beauticians are also being invited to hire out the space for their own business, bringing money back into the Friends of Redlands charity.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “The team at Banbury CSS has done it again! By listening to the people they support and thinking innovatively, they are bringing new opportunities to people’s lives.

 "It is particularly pleasing to see how the community has come together to get behind this project and how the Friends of Redlands Charity continues to support the wonderful work being done at the centre.”

Anyone wishing to hire out the beauty room can email jennifer.farrell@oxfordshire.gov.uk for further details.

Watch a video about Ta Da! pamper room on our YouTube channel.

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Zimbl, a Banbury-based start-up company, has provided the additional EVs at two car parks in the town.

The electric car sharing pilot is a partnership between Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils. Each council has provided the car parking spaces for the vehicles.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “Zimbl is a welcome addition to our car club partnership. The programme represents a great option for residents looking for access to a vehicle without having the ongoing cost and worry of owning one, and many families will find them an ideal substitute for a second car, reducing clutter on your driveway or in the street.

“With all the vehicles in the car club fleet being electric, there’s the added bonus that people can experience driving an EV, adding to the big emissions and cost savings that come from lower car ownership.”

Zimbl join existing car club providers Co Wheels, and Enterprise CarClub, offering pay per use EVs for the trial which is scheduled to end in April 2024.

Richard Devitt, Co-Founder of Zimbl, said: “We believe that car ownership is an outdated concept – especially for second cars – and that car sharing will soon become the new norm. By hiring an EV only when we need to use a vehicle, we save money and help to reduce emissions.

“We believe in the power of electric mobility to create a sustainable and greener future and our mission is to provide accessible, convenient and hassle-free hourly electric vehicle (EV) hire services – revolutionising the way people access electric vehicles.”

The EV car club scheme gives people the chance to drive 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.

The Oxfordshire wide pilot launched in April 2023, making a range of EVs available for people to hire on an hourly or daily basis at the following locations. Details and locations are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Richard Falconer, Managing Director of Co Wheels, said: “It is great to see that Oxfordshire, once again, is leading the UK in providing sustainable transport options. This exciting expansion across the county reflects the growing demand for car-sharing clubs, driven by residents who are increasingly recognising the environmental and economic advantages of shared mobility.

“As we continue to make traditional car ownership a thing of the past, we've recently expanded in Oxfordshire by introducing two MG4 electric cars in Bicester and Kidlington, bringing our total fleet to 50 vehicles all conveniently located not just in the city centre but now in towns and villages across the county. This expansion aligns perfectly with the growing awareness and enthusiasm for eco-conscious choices, as we continue our journey toward a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.”

The EV car club pilot is running for 12 months and will assess the demand for this type of service across Oxfordshire. The pilot project aims to inform longer term plans for potential EV car club rollout across the county.

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Following on from the success of last year’s community capacity grants, Oxfordshire County Council has relaunched the fund for 2023/24 which will be administered by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action, Community First Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire Community Foundation.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “We’ve seen in the last year how this programme can make a real difference to people’s lives.

“By providing funds to organisations at the heart of our communities, it helps them to expand their valuable work and strengthens our Oxfordshire Way vision of enabling people to live well and independently closer to home.”

The programme is separated into two pots. The first is called the connected communities fund. This offers groups faster access to grants of up to £5,000. The second is a larger community capacity grants fund that will consider applications from organisations looking for up to £20,000.

Connected communities fund

Last year, Banbury charity Dementia Active received £4,939, helping them to keep running their regular sessions for older people with dementia while their new building was taking shape.

Andy Gill, CEO of Dementia Active, said: “The additional funding and support we received through the connected communities fund allowed us to keep running our much needed services at a crucial and pivotal point in our ongoing development.

“The encouragement and advice offered by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and Community First Oxfordshire has been invaluable throughout.”

Dementia Active was one of more than 70 groups and organisations supported by the connected communities fund, each receiving a share of £175,000.

Once again, this year the connected communities fund will be managed by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and Community First Oxfordshire, offering a grants ‘plus’ programme, which includes advice and support alongside the funding.

The application window for the connected communities fund is now open (Wednesday 6 September) and will remain open until all the money has been distributed.

Larger community capacity grants

Alternatively, organisations looking for more than £5,000 can apply to the larger community capacity grants fund, offering access to up to £20,000 of the total £325,000 pot.

Blackbird Leys based charity, Daybreak, benefited from almost £10,000 from this fund last year, helping to provide a range of additional support for its staff and members.

Jan Park is 71 years old and regularly attends Daybreak’s Rosewood centre with her friend Valerie. Jan has dementia and had previously suffered with loneliness and isolation, especially during the pandemic. But her daughter, Mary Park, says that’s all changed because of Daybreak.

Mary said: “Mum goes four times a week and has a great time singing, bowling and dancing! Mum can hold almost a full conversation now, whereas before coming she could barely put two words together.”

The application process for these larger grants takes more time, with proposals being considered by a panel from Oxfordshire Community Foundation in October.

The funding window has now open (Wednesday 6 September), with organisations being asked to complete the process by Thursday 28 September, when applications will be assessed.  

How to apply

Organisations looking to apply for up to £5,000 through the connected communities fund, alongside additional support from Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and Community First Oxfordshire, can find more information online.

Groups hoping for an amount between £5,000 and £20,000 can apply online to Oxfordshire Community Foundation.

Links to the organisations administering the grants, as well as other funding opportunities, can be found at oxfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityCapacityGrants

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Dementia Active in Banbury is a registered charity specialising in running activities which support people with dementia.

After applying to Oxfordshire County Council’s connected communities fund, the organisation received £4939, helping them to keep running their regular sessions for older people with dementia while their new building in Banbury was taking shape.

Andy Gill, CEO of Dementia Active, said: “We create a sense of community where people can feel comfortable in themselves and don’t need to worry about what other people think of them. They’re in a safe, comfortable environment. The aim is to stimulate cognitive responses in a range of enjoyable activities as this can help slow down the progress of the disease.

“The additional funding and support we received through the connected communities fund allowed us to keep running our much needed services at a crucial and pivotal point in our ongoing development.

“Our new building is now up and running and in September we are opening a drop in Music for Wellbeing service for people diagnosed with dementia and their carers as well as new groups for people with advanced dementia and young onset dementia.

“The encouragement and advice offered by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and Community First Oxfordshire has been invaluable throughout.”

Dementia Active is one of more than 70 groups and organisations that have been supported by the connected communities fund since it launched last autumn, each receiving a share of £175,000 resulting in more than 90 activities being delivered in the last year.

Managed by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA) and Community First Oxfordshire (CFO), the grants ‘plus’ programme offered financial support up to the value of £5,000 per applicant, alongside advice and support to help the money go as far as possible.

It’s part of the council’s adult social care Oxfordshire Way vision to support people to live well and independently within their own communities, remaining fit and healthy for as long as possible.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “We know that people want to live well in their own neighbourhoods and our connected communities fund helps to achieve just that. By strengthening local organisations with both financial and more practical support, we’re creating huge benefits for residents in Oxfordshire right on their doorstep.”

The real added value of the connected communities fund is the flexibility of the scheme and the opportunity to talk through proposals with OCVA and CFO, who can provide additional advice, expertise and connections helping them to further strengthen their programme.

Laura Price, CEO of Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action, said: “This innovative approach to funding community activity has stimulated more meaningful relationships with organisations. Offering bespoke support around each group’s needs has had a really positive impact, whether that be how to recruit more volunteers or how to plan for the future.”

Emily Lewis-Edwards, co-CEO of Community First Oxfordshire, said: “We thank Oxfordshire County Council for taking the initiative to reach out to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, treating them as an equal partner and calling on their experience and knowledge to place small and accessible funds with community groups and organisations that make a real difference for people in their communities and neighbourhoods. The connected communities fund was a great example of collaboration work at its best.”

Find out more about Dementia Active by watching their video or at dementiactive.co.uk

More information about the support offered by OCVA can be found at ocva.org.uk. Further information about CFO is available at communityfirstoxon.org

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Oxfordshire County Council has adopted the Banbury Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which sets 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: “Banbury is one of many towns across the country that is becoming swamped by traffic. This council has made it clear that one of our priorities is to reclaim space for people to use their environments in a way which is healthy, sustainable and safer, and the Banbury LCWIP will help us achieve that.

“More than 100 residents and groups took the time to engage with us on this plan, which is an excellent example of the importance of consultation. It changed considerably thanks to local knowledge and people responding to the proposals.”

Approval was given on 20 July by Cllr Gant at a delegated decisions meeting for the cabinet member for highways management.

The Banbury LCWIP is a 10 year plan encompassing the urban area of Banbury and its links to the surrounding villages of Adderbury, Bloxham, Broughton, Great Bourton, Little Bourton, North Newington, Middleton Cheney and Wroxton.

The ambition of an LCWIP is to create a cycling and walking network that is accessible for all and where everyone feels safe when they are cycling and walking.

The plan identifies the key routes and destinations where improvements for cycling are needed, such as:

• segregated cycle routes wherever possible
• traffic free routes
• speed reductions to 20mph
• protected space for cycling
• additional road crossings
• reviewed and improved junctions.

Improvements for walking focus on key zones, most notably in Banbury town centre, including:

• wider footways
• improved road crossings and
• removal of physical barriers.

The Banbury plan is the sixth LCWIP to be approved in Oxfordshire, following on from Oxford, Witney, Bicester, Abingdon and Kidlington.

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.

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A group of regulars who use Oxfordshire County Council’s community support service (CSS) in Neithrop, Banbury are raising a glass to a new pub room which they designed together, aptly named Cheers M’ Dears.

The reimagined space is down to the creativity of the people who use the service, as well as kind donations from the local community and funding from the Friends of Redlands charity.

The room offers a genuine pub environment including a working bar, pool table and juke box and will be used as a social space for members of the support service as well as being available to hire by community groups in the area.

Jennifer Farrell, Manager of Banbury CSS, said: “We’re always looking for innovative ways to deliver social care, putting the people we support at the heart of what we do.

“Our members have told us that they can sometimes feel uncomfortable in a pub environment and that they really miss the sociable atmosphere that comes with it. At Cheers M’ Dears, we’ve created a safe and inclusive space where everyone can relax and have fun.”

As well as enjoying the social setting, people who use Banbury CSS are training to work behind the bar, serving customers and making mocktails. It is hoped that this could lead to opportunities to work in hospitality in the future.

Jennifer added: “We support a range of different people, including those with learning disabilities, mental health concerns and people living with dementia. Our pub room will give them the chance to gain experience in the service industry without being judged, potentially paving a way for them to gain meaningful employment in the future.”

The regulars have already had an afternoon’s tasting session, making sure the non-alcohol drinks and snacks are of the highest quality. While alcohol will not be available during day when the support service is being used, the hub does hold a licence for alcohol to be consumed, so anyone looking to hire out the venue will have access to a traditional pub experience. 

All profits from the bar will go back to the Friends of Redlands charity, which was set up more than thirty years ago to support Banbury CSS. The registered charity already holds a range of events to bring funds into the centre, all benefiting the people who use the community support service.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “We are delivering social care in new and innovative ways, helping people to live well and independently within their communities for as long as possible. It’s something we call the Oxfordshire Way.

“This new pub room at Banbury CSS is the perfect example of thinking outside the box, working in partnership with the local community and the people we support, to help people live happy, sociable lives. I look forward to my first mocktail at Cheers M’ Dears!”

Anyone wishing to hire out the pub room can email jennifer.farrell@oxfordshire.gov.uk for further details.

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The business sold the disposable e-cigarette, sometimes known as a ‘puff bar’ or ‘vape pen’, to a 16 year old test purchaser in March 2022, despite the legal age limit for the sale of e-cigarettes being 18 and over.

On inspection the e-cigarette sold to the test purchaser was also found to not meet the UK packaging standards for e-cigarettes. This was despite a previous warning being issued to the business about the faults present with this particular brand and that they could not be legally sold unless the faults were rectified.

Mr Ashishkumar Patel, 37, the director of Dhwanee Supermarket Ltd in Banbury, was found guilty of two offences following a trial at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 27 March 2023. The first offence related to the sale of a vape to a child and the second was for supplying an e-cigarette that was not compliant with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.

On 5 May 2023, at the sentencing hearing, Mr Patel was fined £500 in relation to the sale of an e-cigarette to a child and a further £1,000 for selling an e-cigarette that did not meet the UK packaging regulations. Mr Patel was also ordered to pay £2,000 towards the council’s costs and a £150 victim surcharge.

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, said: “It is important that those people who want to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking have access to these products as they are one of the most effective methods of supporting a quit attempt. However, whilst e-cigarettes pose only a small fraction of the risk of traditional cigarettes, they are not risk-free products and we do not encourage young people who have never smoked before to begin using them.

“Many Oxfordshire retailers work very hard to train their staff and implement systems to prevent the sale of such items to children under the age of 18. The apparent rising popularity of disposable e-cigarettes amongst teenagers makes appropriate age verification checks essential and trading standards will continue to make test purchases to ensure that these are being rigorously carried out.

“Anyone who does sell age restricted products but fails to make sure that they have taken adequate precautions should be aware of the serious potential consequences if they fail a test of this kind.

“In addition to this test purchasing work our officers have been responding to complaints from parents and schools about alleged underaged sales at stores across the county and have made dozens of visits to local retailers because of them. These visits have also resulted in us finding thousands of illegal, disposable e-cigarettes, which have been removed from sale. We are now working with retailers to ensure that any devices they do stock in future are fully legally compliant.”

Further information for retailers on how to sell e-cigarettes responsibly, including details and photos of illegal products to avoid, can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Anyone with information about the sale of illegal, disposable e-cigarettes or underage sales can email trading.standards@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Note to editors

The sale of any kind of e-cigarette (disposable or not) to a person under the age of 18 is prohibited under Regulation 3 of The Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015 and an offence under section 92 (1) of The Children and Families Act 2014.

The requirements for the labelling of e-cigarettes are set out in Regulation 37 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. The e-cigarette sold on this occasion did not comply with Regulation 37(2)(b) and (d); Regulation 37(3)(c); Regulation 37(4) and Regulation (37)(5)(b).

 Your Oxfordshire

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The two hour adults cycling with confidence training sessions  are being run by Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service and are taking place:

• 3 July, 10am - 12 noon at Didcot Fire Station
• 11 September, 10am - 12 noon, at Seacourt Park and Ride in Botley, Oxford
• 13 September, 10am - 12 noon, at Kidlington Fire Station
• 26 September, 10am - 12 noon, at Bicester Fire Station
• 17 October, 10am - 12 noon at Thame Fire Station
• 7 November, 10am - 12 noon at Redbridge Park & Ride in Oxford.

They can be booked by emailing:

roadsafety.education@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

The session is practical. Participants should come with their bike, safety helmet and appropriate clothing.

Andy Ford, from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’ community safety team, said: “Cycling is a great way to exercise and is an environmentally friendly form of transport. However, it is 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.
• Do not 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.
• Do not 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.

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Keith Richardson, 56, of Parsons Piece in Banbury, pleaded guilty to eight offences when he appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last Friday.

On Tuesday, Richardson was sentenced to a 12 months’ community order of 180 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activities. He was also ordered to pay £1628 in costs. The court also ordered all the seized tobacco products to be forfeited and destroyed.

The court heard that after intelligence was received from the public, an undercover officer from Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards visited the burger van, which trades as Keith’s Catering Van, at the Hardwick Hill layby in Banbury, and carried out a test purchase of Amber Leaf and Golden Virginia hand-rolling tobacco in March this year. Discrepancies in the labelling were identified and both items were later confirmed as being counterfeit.

Following a further test purchase in June, trading standards officers and Thames Valley police officers executed warrants and seized counterfeit and smuggled tobacco from the van, a motor vehicle and a residential address.

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, said: “People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer Oxfordshire by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline.

“We know it can be hard to stop using tobacco products, but help is available. People are three times more likely to successfully quit by using a stop smoking service like Smokefree Oxfordshire. The service is free to everyone living in the county.” 

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of any tobacco products should contact 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously through the website stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk

Notes

As part of Operation CeCe, in just over a year, Oxfordshire County Council has seized nearly 750,000 illegal cigarettes and nearly 60,000 grams of illegal hand-rolling and shisha tobacco.

Photo: One of the labelling discrepancies (www.nhs.quit that should read www.nhs.uk/quit), which led officers to suspect the tobacco was counterfeit.

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