Oxfordshire County Council has appointed GRAHAM to deliver the Didcot to Culham river crossing section of the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) scheme. This is the third and final construction contract to be awarded for this scheme.

The project will enable more reliable journey times, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, support new employment sites and housing in and around Didcot, and help facilitate new and enhanced bus services.

The Didcot to Culham river crossing includes a new 3.6km single carriageway road between the A4130 at the existing Collett roundabout junction in Didcot and the A415 at Culham. It will include a new bridge over the Appleford railway sidings and a new bridge over the River Thames. Segregated walking and cycling facilities will also be provided along the length of the scheme.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The Didcot to Culham river crossing will significantly reduce congestion in the area, and provide a safe route for walkers and cyclists. In particular, it will help relieve the congestion at the existing historic river crossings through Sutton Courtenay/Culham villages, and also at Clifton Hampden.

“These existing local bridges are old and not suitable for modern levels of traffic movement. They are often congested and subject to flooding in the winter months. This new crossing over the River Thames will help improve traffic flow, public transport journey times and reliability, and offer more resilience for public transport from flooding.

“The entire Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure scheme will give people more choice in how they travel, with improved conditions for active and sustainable kinds of travel which are better for everyone.”

Andrew Henry, GRAHAM Contracts Director, said: ““It is fantastic to have partnered with Oxfordshire County Council once again on another essential civil engineering project in the area.

“The Didcot to Culham river crossing is a complex project, which is ideally suited to our expertise. It will involve a complete overhaul of the current infrastructure, which is no longer fit for purpose, to deliver vital improvement works that support an enhanced quality of living for residents.”

Enabling works, including site clearance, archaeology investigations and utility diversions began earlier this year, and early construction activities are underway. Construction is expected to last approximately two and a half years.

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The appointment is the second of three contracts to be awarded to construct the scheme, which will provide vital transport infrastructure to reduce congestion.

The project will enable more reliable journey times, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, support new employment sites and housing in and around Didcot, and help facilitate new and enhanced bus services. The Clifton Hampden Bypass section will re-route traffic on the A415, around the village of Clifton Hampden.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “The A415 is a busy road that experiences a large amount of through traffic and congestion on the A415 to A4074. It runs right through Clifton Hampden, including past the village primary school. This bypass will completely transform that, moving traffic onto a new road to the north of the village. 

“I’m very pleased that we’ve successfully appointed a contractor to provide this much needed bypass.”

The bypass will provide a new single carriageway road, with segregated shared walking and cycling facilities, between the A415 at Culham Science Centre and the B4015 Oxford Road to the north of Clifton Hampden.

A new roundabout at the western end of the road will provide access to Culham Science Centre and Culham railway station. New junctions will be provided to the east of the new roundabout and the existing A415 as well as at the northeastern end of the new road.

Andrew Henry, GRAHAM Contracts Director said: “GRAHAM’s latest appointment by Oxfordshire County Council reflects our ongoing partnership with the local authority. We are pleased to have been appointed to deliver this important infrastructure scheme, which will play a key role in improving connectivity in and around Didcot.

"At GRAHAM, we bring a strong track record of delivering complex infrastructure projects, and we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Oxfordshire County Council to successfully deliver this scheme and create lasting benefits for the region."

Pauline Schaffer, Director – Infrastructure Funding, Homes England, said: The appointment of GRAHAM by Oxfordshire County Council is another major step forward in delivering vital transport improvements for Didcot and the surrounding areas.

“Homes England’s investment through the Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping to bring forward the Didcot infrastructure scheme, unlocking much needed new homes and economic growth for the local area.”

Enabling works, including site clearance, archaeology investigations and utility diversions, are already underway. Main construction is expected to start in the Spring, and last approximately two years.

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Oxfordshire County Council has now formally entered into a contract with VolkerFitzpatrick to build the Didcot Science Bridge section of the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) scheme on behalf of the council.

The scheme will provide vital transport infrastructure to reduce congestion and enable more reliable journey times, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, and support new employment sites and housing in and around Didcot.

The project includes four sections that incorporate improvements to existing roads, the construction of new roads, new walking and cycle routes, and will help to facilitate new and enhanced bus services.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “I’m very pleased that we have reached the stage where we have appointed VolkerFitzpatrick to build an important section of the scheme.

“This means work will start soon on this transformative infrastructure development. It will offer more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot and provide opportunities for more direct, faster and more reliable bus routes. It will also improve road safety and support the creation of new jobs and economic growth in the local area.”

The construction contract will include creating a dual carriageway along the A4130 east of the A34 Milton Interchange and a new single carriageway bridge across the railway line and Milton Road.

The dualling of the A4130 will repurpose the existing carriageway, using the current southern ditch to create a central reservation and adding two new lanes to the south. The existing A4130 carriageway will travel eastbound towards Didcot and the newly constructed lanes will travel westbound towards Milton interchange.

The three-span Science Bridge will cross over the existing A4130, the Great Western mainline railway, and Milton Road. The road will continue through the former Didcot A Power Station connecting back into the A4130 north of Purchas Road roundabout with a T-junction.

Paul Lilley, Strategic Projects Director, VolkerFitzpatrick commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver the Didcot Science Bridge, a key component of this transformative infrastructure programme.

“Our team brings extensive experience in delivering complex civil engineering projects, and we look forward to working closely with Oxfordshire County Council and its partners to create infrastructure that will improve journey times, enhance sustainable travel options, and support future growth across the region.”

Pauline Schaffer, Director – Infrastructure Funding, Homes England, said: “The appointment of VolkerFitzpatrick represents a major step forward in delivering vital transport improvements for Didcot and the surrounding areas.

“Homes England’s investment through the Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping to bring forward the Didcot infrastructure scheme, unlocking much‑needed new homes and employment space for the local area.”

Enabling works, including site clearance, archaeology investigations and utility diversions, are already underway. Main construction is expected to start in the Spring, and last approximately two years.

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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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Her comments came at the budget-setting meeting of the council on Tuesday, 10 February. The council has been able to deal with a budget shortfall of £5.4m while still investing extra in adult social care (£14m), children’s services (£19m), highways, libraries and other services.

However, the authority already knows that it will need to find further savings of at least £15.5m from 2027/28.

The government will cut grant funding by £27.2m by 2028/29 and assumed the council will make up most of the difference with maximum council tax rises. The effect of this is that the county council will have to put up council tax by 4.99% each year only to see a lot of this money immediately being subtracted by the government and sent elsewhere.

Cllr Leffman said in her speech at the meeting: “We recognise that there are areas of the country with higher levels of deprivation than our own, and it is right that the people in those places receive the support that they need, but this government has failed to recognise the pressures and challenges that we and other county councils face in delivering critical services across a wide rural area.

“In spite of the constraints, and because we have managed our finances very carefully over the past few years, we have not only been able to balance the budget for 2026/2027 but have included investments that will make a difference to the things which are of greatest importance to our residents.

“I am confident that with the investment that we are making in our highways network, with our surface dressing programme for example, along with the new Highways Asset Response Teams that have been out and about in Oxfordshire since the autumn, we will see a significant improvement in the forthcoming weeks and beyond.

“Flooding has become a regular event in many parts of the county thanks to climate change, and we have recognised the importance of tackling this. 

“The decision last year to clear all our gullies on an annual schedule has revealed that much of our drainage system is in urgent need of repair, following years of neglect.

“We therefore propose to allocate £2 million in our capital budget to repairing our drainage system, bringing the total to be spent on our drains and gullies in 2026/2027 to £3.2 million.

“Our library refurbishment programme will continue, with an investment of £550,000 in Didcot coming next, following successful refurbishments in Chinnor, Henley and most recently Witney, where 200 new registrations for library tickets were received in the week following its reopening.”

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “We face great pressure because of funding cuts and demand pressures, and there is still lots of uncertainty in areas like SEND provision. Money is being redistributed away from Oxfordshire and other areas on a large scale by the government.

“However, we are confident not only that we are setting an ambitious balanced budget for next year, delivering services to residents, but also that we are ready to face the more difficult years ahead.”

Note to editors

By 2028/29 there is a reduction of £24.1m in funding from central government compared to 2025/26. Within that there is an increase of £3.1m in funding for the Families First Partnership that the government will expect the council to use to fund new investment and activity in preventative services for children’s social care. Excluding that, the underlying reduction in grant funding is £27.2m

Oxfordshire County Council and its highway contractor M Group will carry out the work to the whole interchange, including the circulatory carriageway and all approaches and exits.

The work will include kerb and drainage maintenance, ironwork adjustments, resurfacing of the existing carriageway and reinstatement of all existing and legal road markings and lines.

Traffic signal loops will also be re-cut to ensure the signals operate with the correct timings and sequencing once the junction reopens.

To minimise disruption, a 24/7 road closure is scheduled from 8pm on Friday 27 February to 5am on Monday 2 March, subject to weather conditions and any unforeseen circumstances, with work taking place both day and night.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This work is essential to maintaining the safety and long term condition of this busy strategic junction.

“By carrying it out over a single weekend with a full closure, we can complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible while reducing overall disruption.”

During the closure, the entire Milton Interchange will be closed, including all A4130 approaches and exits towards Didcot and Steventon. There will be no access on or off the A34 at this junction and no vehicular access to or from Park Drive.

A fully signed local diversion route will be in place throughout the work.

Temporary three‑way traffic signals will operate on the A4130 to maintain vehicle access between Didcot, Milton Gate and the services area. Access to Milton Gate and the services complex will not be possible directly via the roundabout.

Access to Milton Park business park will be available using alternative routes through Milton village, Sutton Courtenay or from Didcot to the eastern end of Park Drive.

For safety reasons, there will be no pedestrian access around the roundabout from Milton Heights or Trenchard Avenue. Pedestrians from Park Drive will be diverted through a public right of way, rejoining the A4130 opposite the hotel.

A dedicated pedestrian route between Milton Gate and the services area will remain open, supported by pedestrian marshals. Pedestrian access along the A4130 from Didcot will remain open as far as Milton Gate and the services area.

Scheduled bus services will continue to operate, although routes will be temporarily revised. Passengers are advised to check bus operator websites for the latest information. Staff will be in place at all road closure points to help manage traffic and pedestrians safely and advance warning signs will be in place.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet today adopted the Science Vale movement and place plan that sets out 22 objectives and accompanying actions to create a long-term transport strategy for the area, which is spread across the districts of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

They prioritise people walking, wheeling, cycling and using public transport over private car use.

The Science Vale area has a concentration of world-class innovative research and enterprise facilities. It covers Wantage and Didcot, surrounding villages and the employment sites at Culham Campus, Harwell Campus and Milton Park.

It is home to around 73,000 people and this is expected to rise to more than 170,000 by 2050, which highlights the need to address challenges such as congestion, air quality, rural accessibility and pressure on public transport.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “Oxfordshire is embarking upon sustainable and positive change – placing people, communities and places at the heart of this.

“The movement and place plans, including this one for the Science Vale, are key to this. They reflect the needs and aspirations of our communities, help to protect our natural environment and deliver the homes, businesses and leisure facilities that our communities need and enjoy.

“A significant shift in this strategy has been putting people at the heart of plan making, alongside movement and working towards understanding the meaning of place at a local level.”

The plan’s objectives include:

• Creating a comprehensive active travel network that is safe, comfortable and direct by updating national cycle routes, improving lighting and surface quality, reducing severance caused by busy roads and adding cycle hubs.
• Public transport improvements including better bus frequencies, improved interchanges and long-term rail enhancements, for example support for a Wantage and Grove station.
• Supporting economic growth and innovation, given the area’s global reputation for life sciences, fusion research and space technology and the importance of dependable, low carbon connectivity.
• Protecting nature and the environment, with a focus on improving public spaces and strengthening community identity.

The plan’s vision received strong support during a public consultation.

There are 12 proposed movement and place plans for Oxfordshire that the council will be looking deliver over the next year or so. They will act as supporting documents to the council’s wider local transport connectivity plan, which was adopted in 2022.

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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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A major change to the way the government distributes grant money to councils means it and many other local authorities will face real challenges from 2026/27 with £1.5 million of new savings to services being discussed to help close a budget gap of £5.4m – and more significant reductions in the following two years.

The government only told councils how much money they would be receiving just before Christmas, leaving no time for officers to work up savings proposals for 2026/27.

The county council has options for delivering a balanced budget in 2026/27 but will be unable to expand services as it would have liked and will ask scrutiny councillors and cabinet for views on how a current funding gap of £5.4m can be dealt with by 10 February when a budget is set.

Measures will be proposed for debate including the use of reserves; setting less money aside in forecasting annual pay inflation and increasing the amount anticipated to be accrued in bank interest on money the council plans to spend in the normal process of delivering services  – each of which come with risk.

Another proposal for debate is increasing funding that will potentially be needed to fund the cumulative High Needs dedicated schools grant deficit but not by quite as much as originally planned.

A further option that would help the longer run budget is to seek additional savings of £1.5m from services in 2026/27.

The council now knows for certain that it will need to find further savings of at least £14m in 2027/28 (in addition to the £5.4m in 2026/27) because the government provided funding information for three years. As such there will need to be planning work throughout 2026 to meet this large challenge. Further savings will be needed in 2028/29, the first year of local government reform in Oxfordshire.

By 2028/29 there is a reduction of £24.1m in funding from central government. Within that there is an increase of £3.1m in funding for the Families First Partnership that the government will expect the council to use to fund new investment and activity in preventative services for children’s social care. Excluding that, the reduction in grant funding is £27.2m

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Property, Finance and Transformation, said: “While we always take a prudent approach to budget setting there are pressures relating to social care that need to be met. These services are demand-led and if that demand rises then we have to find the money to meet the costs. There are also inflationary costs to be met in 2026/27.

“As a cabinet we will listen to councillors in the scrutiny committee and debate ourselves how we balance the 2026/27 budget and we have options that do not impact on services. However, people need to be under absolutely no illusion that in future we and many partner councils in local government will not have that luxury. Having three years’ worth of funding information means we know that stark reality for certain.

“Money is being redistributed away from Oxfordshire and other areas on a large scale by the government. There will be very real impacts on our budgets and our services in future.

“While we respect the government’s desire to put extra money into areas of the country that have higher levels of deprivation, we do not think this should be at the expense of Oxfordshire and its residents.”

The proposed Council Tax rise for 2026/27 is 4.99 per cent. The government has assumed that the council will set Council Tax at this level for each of the next three years in calculating the amount of grant funding it awarded the council under its new formula for distributing funds to councils across England.

Cllr Levy added: “This year’s budget features a number of positive investments but we are going to start facing real challenges thereafter. We need people to hear that message loud and clear. The government has cut grant funding and assumed the council will make up the difference with maximum Council Tax rises.

“The effect of this is that we will have to put up Council Tax by 4.99% each year, but a lot of this money will immediately be subtracted by the government and sent elsewhere. This is both financially difficult and hard to square with local accountability and choice.”

Key investments

• The council will continue the annual highway gully cleaning that was reinstated in 2025/26 and a further £4m will be invested (£2m in 2026/27 and £2m in 2027/28) in improved drainage infrastructure to help protect communities from flooding. This will deliver new and replacement drainage systems and help roads be kept free from flooded areas as much as possible, strengthening local flood resilience.
• A total of £150,000 will be invested to progress design and construction for Phase 1 of the Wantage Market Place project, focusing on the West End. Building on previous design work and consultation, the scheme will replace the tarmac surface with paving in keeping with the historic town centre, creating a safe, traffic-free space with step-free access.
• Libraries will see capital programme investment to create flexible, accessible spaces that supports a wider range of activities and resources with £360,000 for Wantage Library and £250,000 (rising by a further £500,000 in 2027/28) for Goring Library and £550,000 for Didcot Library.
• A total of £14m is proposed to be allocated to adult social care to deal with financial pressures including projected population growth and accompanying increases in people in care and the financial effect of the increase in high-cost complex placements.
• A total of £19m is proposed to be allocated to Children’s Services to meet additional costs of children’s social care and education. In addition to this, new activity required by the government as part of the Families First Partnership will be funded from a £3.1m increase in grant funding in 2026/27.
• Demand for the park & ride joint ticketing deal (£4 for 16 hours of parking and return bus ticket for one person, £5 for two people, plus up to three children under 16 travel free) has exceeded expectations. The congestion charge is working to shift people away from cars and onto buses and active travel.  Extra funding of £400,000 is required for it to continue in 2026/27 with potentially more in future years. This will be funded from parking income.
• Maintaining real time passenger information digital display boards at bus stops across the county in 2026/27, installed due to sustained Bus Service Improvement Plan funding from the government, requires additional investment. A total of £320,000 is required to maintain the entire system. This funding helps to ensure the lifespan of all display assets is maximised. This will be funded from reserves.

Savings

Because adult and children’s social care are now a much larger proportion of the council’s budget, it is challenging to find significant service savings. 

The following savings have been identified for 2026/27 but work will need to continue throughout 2026 to identify options from 2027/28 onwards.  

• The county council purchases electricity based on a forward purchasing price. If the prices and market trends remain as projected, there is potentially a £250,000 saving that the council can realise in 2026/27. This would need to be monitored and is subject to price changes.
• Other savings relate to the use of funding held in reserves to fund pressures where that is possible and the addition of £5.4m funding from the national packaging Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme that needs to be used to meet the cost of disposal of packaging waste.

The budget will be set by county councillors on 10 February

The council is working with M Group Limited on the project, which will improve bus journey times and enable residents of Steventon and other nearby villages and commuters travelling to Harwell Campus and Milton Park to walk and cycle through the area if they choose.

The improvements include a dedicated eastbound bus lane, improved cycling and walking facilities and junction improvements at Steventon High Street and Trenchard Avenue.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “The Steventon lights project will make it easier and more attractive to take the bus, with the new bus lane reducing congestion and making journey times more reliable between Steventon and Milton Interchange.

“The project will also improve safety for all road users with new crossings and signals, and the new cyclist and pedestrian facilities will encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling.

“During construction we will keep an eye on local traffic conditions, including the A34, and will monitor our traffic management and reduce it if needed. There may still be delays at peak times, so plan your journeys in advance and keep up to date by checking our website.”

To prepare for construction, work has already been completed to survey and clear the area, divert utilities and clean all surface water drainage along the route.

The project will be built in six phases, with phase one starting on Monday 17 November.

A one-way traffic system will be in-place, from 17 November to 19 December, with traffic only allowed to exit onto the A4130 from Trenchard Avenue. The alternative route for traffic accessing Trenchard Avenue from A4130 is through Milton Hill.

Night work will also take place at the High Street junction, Trenchard Avenue and A4130 towards Milton Interchange, from 17 November to 3 December.

Phase one will finish on 19 December and there will be no traffic management in place over Christmas and New Year.

Phase two will begin in January with night work to remove traffic islands and daytime work to install a temporary roundabout at the junction of Steventon High Street and the A4130.

From January 2026, access onto and off the A4130 through Trenchard Avenue will be closed for the rest of construction, with traffic diverted via Milton Hill. Drivers through the area should watch out for temporary traffic signals and any new signage.

Work in the new year will involve widening the A4130 Abingdon Road, improving the Trenchard Avenue junction and installing new traffic lights, bus shelters and cycle parking.

The scheme is expected to take about one year to complete.

For more information on this scheme visit the county council website oxfordshire.gov.uk/steventonlights

Notes to editors

More information on the six phases of the project:

• Pre-Christmas 2025 work to install duct crossings and temporary footways overnight.
• Phases 2, 3 and 4 will involve carriageway widening, earthworks, drainage, footway works, signage, streetlighting, and surfacing.
  • Phase 2 will start in January 2026 with work to remove traffic islands and install a temporary roundabout at the High Street / Steventon Hill junction. A temporary roundabout will be installed at the Milton Hill/A4130 junction. Both roundabouts are subject to approvals. Work will take place in three main areas, located on the north side of the High Street / Steventon Hill signalised junction, the verge on the east side of High Street signalised junction, and the land to the south of A4130 between Trenchard Avenue and Milton Interchange.
  • Phase 3 will include works to the north side of the A4130, between the High Street junction and the pedestrian crossing / bus stops, and work on the south side of the A4130, to the west of Trenchard Avenue.
  • Phase 4 will include works on the south side of A4130, between Trenchard Avenue junction and the bend before High St / Steventon Hill junction. There will also be works to the north side of A4130 leading to Milton Interchange, and on the south side of Trenchard Avenue. Kerbing and drainage works will take place on the west side of High Street / Steventon Hill, leading south of the A4130.
• Phase 5 includes finishing works on the south side of the A4130, between Trenchard Avenue and the bend before the High Street / Steventon Hill junction. It will also include works to the north side of A4130, opposite Trenchard Avenue, and leading to the Milton Interchange. New islands and traffic signals will be installed at the High Street junction.
• Phase 6 includes works to the north side of A4130, opposite Trenchard Avenue, and leading to the Milton Interchange. New traffic islands and signals will be installed on the A4130 / Trenchard Avenue junction, as well as commissioning the traffic signals, completing surfacing, and laying road markings.

This is subject to change.

The project involves:

• Widening the A4130 Abingdon Road between the Steventon lights junction and the Milton Interchange to provide an eastbound bus lane and dedicated cycleway and footway facilities.
• Improving the Trenchard Avenue junction to increase capacity and allow for quality active travel infrastructure to support journeys on foot and by cycle.
• Adding new traffic lights with crossing points at Trenchard Avenue/ A4130 and upgrading the Steventon High Street traffic lights with crossing points.
• Providing real time bus information, including green-roof bus shelters and cycle parking to create a transport hub.

This project was known as Relief to Rowstock Phase One. Following feedback from the public consultation in October 2022, the project name has been amended.

Science Vale is a significant part of Oxfordshire with a concentration of world-class innovative research and enterprise. The area covers the towns of Wantage and Didcot, the villages of Culham, East and West Hendred, Chilton, Ardington, Harwell, Upton, East and West Hagbourne, North and South Moreton, Sutton Courtenay, Milton, Appleford, Long Wittenham, Little Wittenham, Clifton Hampden, and Berinsfield and the employment sites at Culham Campus, Harwell Campus and Milton Park.

For more information visit: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk /science-vale

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The Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure scheme will transform travel and transport in the Didcot area by providing more sustainable travel options in and around the town, as well as reducing congestion in the surrounding villages and improving air quality and noise levels.

The project includes four highway sections that incorporate dualling the A4130 between the Milton Interchange and Didcot, a new bridge over the railway line, a new bridge over the River Thames between Didcot and Culham and a bypass of Clifton Hampden village.

The project will facilitate new and enhanced bus services and will also feature 19km of new walking and cycleways. It will provide opportunities for more direct, faster and more reliable bus routes and improve pedestrian, cycling and wheeling connections.

Early-stage works currently underway include:

• Erection of temporary fencing, including tree protection measures
• Archaeological investigations
• Vegetation and site clearance to facilitate archaeological activities
• Set up of main compounds and site offices
• Utility diversions

Main construction is expected to start in early spring 2026.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “After nearly ten years in development, I am very excited to see the scheme approaching a key milestone – the start of construction.

“The work here will provide opportunities for more direct, faster and more reliable bus routes and improve pedestrian, cycling and wheeling connectivity.

“This will help encourage a shift from private car travel to more active and sustainable kinds of travel which are better for everyone, and a new crossing over the River Thames will help improve public transport journey time and reliability, by offering more resilience for public transport, from flooding.

“The Science Vale is a significant area of economic growth and is a "hot spot" for enterprise and innovation that spans both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts. It is home to a significant proportion of the region's scientific, research and development, and high technology businesses. This is an investment, mainly from central government, in the local economy.” 

With the enabling works now underway, the council is also hosting a series of drop-in information events, across Didcot and the surrounding villages, where members of the public can view designs for all the sections of the scheme and learn about the emerging construction programme. The events will also provide an opportunity for people to ask questions and discuss any concerns with the project team. Further details about the events can be found on the council's website. 

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Five primary schools in Oxford and Didcot will have their school streets programme made permanent.

School streets encourage safe and active journeys to school with road restrictions around school start and finish times The decision was made at an Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member meeting on 9 October 2025.

The schools are:

•  St Mary and St John CE primary school in east Oxford,

• New Hinksey CE primary school in south Oxford,

• Tyndale primary free school in Cowley,

• Sandhills community primary school in Headington,

• Manor primary school in Didcot

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said:  “I am extremely proud of the way these schools and their neighbourhoods have embraced their school streets and the opportunities reduced traffic brings, including support from local groups to create park and stride spaces where parents living further away can swap ten minutes finding a spot to park for a short walk through the school street and chance to socialise with school friends and other families.

“School streets create a safer and welcoming environment where children can walk, wheel or cycle to school with their parents or carers, and a quieter space at school start and finish times where residents can benefit from quiet streets without congestion and parking impacts from the school run.

"Nor do the benefits end there: children who travel sustainably to school have better educational outcomes, better physical and mental health, and learn vital skills which will help develop resilience and independence as they grow and explore their community and neighbourhood.”

The schools have been trialling their school streets using ANPR cameras under an experimental traffic regulation order since September 2024, and before this were trialling the school streets concept with volunteers operating pop-up gates at school start and finish times to discourage motor traffic from entering close to the school gates.

The aim is to reduce traffic and create a safer environment for children, parents, and teachers to walk or cycle to school.

The ANPR cameras will operate only during set school drop-off and pick-up times, on school days only and covering only the entry point. Residents and business owners in the school street, and dependent on the school street for access, are exempt from its restrictions. Other exemptions also apply including emergency vehicles, blue badge holders, certain service vehicles and carers.

Notes to editors

• More information about school streets:
  • Report to cabinet (p3).
  • Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure plan.
  • School streets (including details of existing school street locations and operating times, and exemptions).
• ANPR cameras are triggered by vehicles (not people) entering a set trigger area – in which case they photograph the vehicle’s licence/ registration plate details, and an automatic notice is issued if that registration is not on the school street’s exempted list. They do not record continuously.
• School streets are a part of the vision set out in Oxfordshire County Council’s Local Transport and Connectivity Plan to deliver a net-zero Oxfordshire transport and travel system that enables the county to thrive while protecting the environment and making Oxfordshire a better place to live for all residents.
• Four primary schools in the county previously trialled their phase one school streets with the support of Oxfordshire County Council under the UK government’s active travel initiative since 2021. Larkrise, St Ebbe’s and Windmill schools in Oxford and St Nicolas school in Abingdon were the first schools in the county to successfully implement permanent school streets. They trialled volunteer-led pop-up gates before progressing to ANPR use.
• Secondary images show children and parents volunteering for the Manor School, Didcot school street trial.

Oxfordshire County Council is currently seeking people’s views on proposals to trial a further phase (phase three) of school streets – at Harriers Banbury Academy, Edith Moorhouse primary school and St Joseph's Catholic primary school in Carterton, and Willowcroft community primary school and St Birinus boys school in Didcot. This includes a proposal to extend the phase 2 school street for Sandhills community primary school in Headington to include Delbush Avenue following concerns about road safety and parking issues. People can read the proposals and share their feedback in a survey open until the end of 13 October 2025.

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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 sixth former, aged 18, from Fitzwaryn School, Wantage, has a heightened sense of anxiety, meaning doing things independently like travelling on public transport is a real challenge.

Luckily, help was available for Kiera through Oxfordshire County Council’s independent travel training.

The scheme is designed to help young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) use public transport. A travel trainer helps them gain knowledge, experience in completing their planned route, and develop road safety skills. 

It has boosted Kiera’s self-esteem for her daily journey to such an extent that she offered to be a guide for Councillor John Howson – Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services – so he could experience the training first-hand.

Kiera pointed out aspects she had gone through such as stranger awareness, journey planning, using a bus pass or money, understanding the Green Cross Code, and other practical safety advice including ‘what if scenarios.’

“Before the training, my confidence in travelling on public transport was so low that I couldn’t do it,” explained Kiera.

“I was getting to school by taxi, a journey I found noisy and lacking the sense of independence I get from being on a bus, which has better views out of the windows too.

“Look at me now, my confidence has changed a lot since I began the travel training. Now I’m independent, which feels good and helps me in things like talking to the bus driver, and I’m even showing Cllr Howson how I cope on my travel from school.

“My independent travel trainer has been amazing. Nothing has been a problem and nothing is ever an issue, I can’t praise the trainer enough and will never forget how their support and kindness has changed my life.”

Councillor John Howson, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “I’m a regular bus user, and a champion of public transport, so I couldn’t resist the invitation to join Kiera on her journey from school.

“Kiera pointed out to me that it’s not always the same driver or passengers on board each day. This can be daunting in itself, particularly when Kiera and other young people on our independent travel training programme are often more comfortable and confident in familiar surroundings.

“However, the scheme is clearly working for Kiera. She was leading and acting as my guide because it is her route. Kiera knows when to press the bell to alight, making good use of the digital information screens to identify the correct bus stop.

“Indeed, I’d like to thank the bus companies and their drivers who support our independent travel training. They make our young people and their travel trainers welcome and look out for them throughout their journeys.

“We are rightly proud of our county’s bus services and it’s brilliant that we are encouraging young people to use public transport through initiatives like this, giving them independence, boosting their confidence and their freedom to explore and learn.”

Further information about the independent travel training scheme is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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The road will connect into the existing A4130 Didcot Northern Perimeter Road / Abingdon Road / Ladygrove priority junction.

The Oxfordshire County Council scheme aims to:

• Provide an alternative to traffic passing through Didcot town centre and help to reduce congestion
• Connect to existing, planned and proposed walking and cycling routes in the area
• Support planned growth in housing and employment in the Science Vale

Plans include a signalised northern junction that will introduce a new (fourth) arm to the existing A4130, Abingdon Road and Ladygrove carriageways, together with crossing provision for pedestrians and cyclists at the junction.

The scheme also includes a new link that will connect the northern junction with the southern section of the Didcot NPR3 scheme, which is to be constructed / delivered by Bloor Homes as part of their Ladygrove East development.

A 5.6m wide shared footway/cycleway will be included on western extent for the entire route (segregated from traffic), with zebra crossings to be installed at appropriate locations.

The southern section will connect onto the A4130 Hadden Hill carriageway via a new roundabout arrangement.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “Didcot is growing and will continue to do so. This scheme will help to keep everyone moving efficiently by encouraging them to use the A4130 as a ring road around the town.

“The proposed works aim to improve connectivity around Didcot without the need to travel through the town centre. This will also help to make it easier for people to choose walking, cycling or taking public transport for short journeys.

“I encourage people to look at the proposals and help us understand the impact they’ll have. We’d like to hear how our proposals could work for local residents or where they may need some changes.”

The scheme is being funded through a combination of infrastructure grant funding from Government, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding and Section 106 contributions from developers.

A public consultation will run between 12 noon on Tuesday 25 February 2025 and 11.59pm on Tuesday 25 March 2025. It will showcase the preliminary design details and proposed layout arrangements. The online consultation will also be supported by two drop-in events, at the Ladygrove Community Centre in Tamar Way, Didcot,  for members of the public to see the proposals in person:

• Thursday 6 March 2025 – 2.00pm - 8.00pm
• Thursday 13 March 2023 – 2:00pm – 8:00pm

Members of the public can view the online consultation and complete a survey by visiting https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/didcot-npr3-scheme

Feedback will help to inform the designs that will be submitted in a planning application later this year. Subject to planning approval, the proposed works would start in summer 2026 and be completed during summer 2027.

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Oxfordshire County Council has officially entered into contracts with GRAHAM Construction Ltd and AECOM to deliver stage two of the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) scheme.

GRAHAM is undertaking the detailed design of the Culham river crossing and the Clifton Hampden bypass elements of the scheme while the detailed design of the Didcot Science Bridge and the widening of the A4130 is being led by AECOM. 

Segregated two-way pedestrian and cycle facilities will feature along the entire route.

Detailed design is underway, with construction expected to start in early 2026.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “GRAHAM has worked on similar projects around the country and have a high commitment to social value and giving back to the local area. Their bid was successful as they understood the scheme and its complexities and how the four elements need to tie together.

“AECOM has been involved in the project since its inception and have supported us through the planning application process. Their knowledge of the scheme will be invaluable in progressing the project towards construction.

“This transformative infrastructure development will offer more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot and support the creation of new jobs and economic growth in the Science Vale region.”

Andrew Henry, GRAHAM Contracts Director said: “GRAHAM has been working closely with the council and key stakeholders since April 2023 through early contractor involvement. This collaborative approach has enabled us to develop the detailed design for these significant infrastructure projects while actively engaging with third-party stakeholders such as Thames Water and Openreach to coordinate necessary utility diversions. As we deliver this transformative project, we will focus on working closely with the local community to create a lasting impact that benefits everyone”.  

Mark Saunders, AECOM Director for Streets, Surface transportation, Aviation and Ports said: “Since our involvement in the concept and planning stages of the scheme began in early 2019, AECOM is delighted to continue working with Oxfordshire County Council on the detailed design phase. Leveraging our in-depth knowledge of the scheme, we are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to deliver the best possible outcomes for Didcot and the surrounding area.”

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Planning approval for the HIF1 Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure project was granted by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, following a planning inspector’s report recommending that the scheme proceed to construction. The scheme was subject to a 21-day conjoined public inquiry earlier this year.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “The approval of this application is fantastic news, as securing planning consent is a key milestone in proceeding with this project.

“This work is a big step towards tackling congestion in Didcot and the surrounding villages. It will transform travel in the Didcot area for current and future residents as well as commuters, reduce congestion in the surrounding villages, and improve air quality and noise levels.”

The £332 million project is fully funded. Successful discussions with government in early 2022, and again in early 2024, resulted in additional grants from Homes England. Approval was also given to underwrite up to £30m from Oxfordshire County Council’s capital budget in February 2022, while Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership contributed a £10m capital investment generated from Enterprise Zones’ business rates retention.

With planning consent now in place, work continues to finalise detailed designs, and confirm and appoint contractors.  The decision on the statutory orders needed to secure all of the land for the scheme is awaited, but private negotiations with landowners continue to progress.

Construction is anticipated to start on site in early 2026 and last approximately two years.

Councillor Roberts added: “This project is key in providing real sustainable travel options for people in and around Didcot. It will enable more reliable journey times for buses and other vehicles and improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity.

“The investment in this infrastructure will also support more jobs in the local area in new and existing employment sites. I’m delighted that we can now progress towards construction.”

For more information about the project visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/didcot 

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Five primary schools in Oxford and Didcot will have their school streets programme supported by the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. The decision was made at an Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member meeting on 5 September 2024.

The schools have been trialling the school streets concept, which involves timed road closures with volunteers operating pop-up gates close to school entrances at school start and finish times. The aim is to reduce the volume of motor vehicles during school drop-off and pick-up times creating a safer environment for children, parents, and teachers to walk or cycle to school.

During October and November,  ANPR cameras will be installed at the school street entry points to help operate the scheme consistently without reliance on a volunteer team. The cameras will operate only during set school drop-off and pick-up times, on school days only and covering only the entry point.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “School streets are a simple but very effective way to help make it easier for the school community to start and finish the school day feeling safer, more confident and healthy.

“It’s also a hugely positive thing that schools are supporting their families even further to get the most out of the school journey with other opportunities such as walking buses and park and stride – which allows people who need to drive for longer or more complex journeys to park nearby and enjoy the social benefits of walking or wheeling for the last leg of the school run.” 

“As a highway authority we have a responsibility to improve how people can get about the county, together with a duty to reduce our impacts on the environment and make it better for everyone. We have learned from the school streets scheme so far that generally school communities enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the school street and residents are seeing less of traffic impacting how they enjoy their neighbourhood and access their homes. I am incredibly proud of our local schools helping us strive to make Oxfordshire the best it can be and look forward to the continued success of the school streets.” 

The schools are:

• St Mary and St John Church of England Primary School, Oxford
• Sandhills Community Primary School, Oxford
• Tyndale Community (Primary) School, Oxford
• New Hinksey Church of England Primary School, Oxford, and
• Manor Primary School, Didcot.

Residents and businesses in the school street locations will receive letters on how to apply for their vehicle exemptions and when their school street ANPR cameras will become operational. Oxfordshire County Council’s school street webpages also provide a full of list of exempt vehicles – which includes residents, local businesses, blue badge holders and carers – and details on how to register an exemption.

Notes to editors

• More information about school streets:

• Full report to cabinet.
•  Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.
• Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure plan.
• School streets (including details of existing school street locations and operating times, and exemptions).

• ANPR cameras are triggered by vehicles (not people) entering a set trigger area – in which case they photograph the vehicle’s licence/ registration plate details, and an automatic notice is issued if that registration is not on the school street’s exempted list. They do not record continuously. 
• School streets are a part of the vision set out in Oxfordshire County Council’s Local Transport and Connectivity Plan to deliver a net-zero Oxfordshire transport and travel system that enables the county to thrive while protecting the environment and making Oxfordshire a better place to live for all residents. 
• Four primary schools in the county previously trialled their phase one school streets with the support of Oxfordshire County Council under the UK government’s active travel initiative since 2021. Larkrise, St Ebbe’s and Windmill schools in Oxford and St Nicolas school in Abingdon were the first schools in the county to successfully implement permanent school streets. They trialled volunteer-led pop-up gates before progressing to ANPR use. 
 

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

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 Councillor Felix Bloomfield is chair for 2023/4 and his annual event was held on Friday, 15 March at County Hall.

He was joined by the Chair of West Oxfordshire District Council, Mayor of Didcot, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council, charity representatives from Parkinsons UK, Councillors, colleagues from Oxfordshire County Council and friends.

The evening raised £3,389 which is being shared equally between the chair’s chosen charities. Parkinson’s, Cancer Research, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, SSAFA Oxfordshire, Royal British Legion, Veterans Gateway, Veterans UK, Felix Fund, Sepsis UK and SeeSaw – grief support for children and young people in Oxfordshire.

The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra string quartet played for the first part of the evening after which guests were given a tour in the tunnels that are underneath the court room at Old County Hall.  The evening concluded with a raffle and auction held by the Chair.

Councillor Bloomfield said: “I would like to say thanks to council staff for their hard work and dedication and to guests for attending and supporting me at the annual event that was held. I also offer a big thank you to the organisations and businesses that provided donations towards the raffle and auction.”

 Those who provide donations were as follows:

• The Malmaison Oxford
• The Chequers Inn, Berrick Salome
• Blenheim Palace
• Bodleian Library, Oxford
• Bygone Boating, Benson
• Oxford United
• Chiltern Railways
• Comptoir Libanais, Oxford
• Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
• Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens
• Crocodile of the World
• Courtyard by Marriott, Didcot
• The Half Moon village pub and pizzeria, Coxham
• Hook Norton Brewery
• Home Sweet Home, Roke
• Oxford Preservation Trust
• The Three Horseshoes, Benson
•  Weston Manor Hotel, Oxford
• Millets Farm
• Rona Art Gallery
• The Oxford Artisan Distillery
• Hazel and Richard Jeffries
• Councillor John Howson
• The Bell at Crowmarsh

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

Funding

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

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

Sandbags

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

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

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

Cleaning and drying homes

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

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

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

Protecting your health

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

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

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

Flood warnings and flood alerts

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

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

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

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

Information from other agencies

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

A total of £14.4 million will be invested in the planned school, which will be located in Didcot.

Initial design work has started and the education specification will be published for public consultation in February. It is intended that the school will have capacity to teach 120 children with special educational needs related to autism and/or social, emotional and mental health.

The school will be run by an academy trust to be identified through a competitive process. The choice of sponsor will be approved by the Department for Education and is expected to be announced either later this year or early 2025.

Subject to planning permission, construction work is scheduled to begin in 2025 with a projected opening date of 2026/27.

Oxfordshire County Council has a growing number of special schools. Bloxham Grove Academy opened this month, and the Department for Education is due to submit a planning application soon for another school in Faringdon.

The proposal for the school in Didcot will be the first of two new special schools planned for the area, which will take the total number of Oxfordshire special schools to seventeen.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Improvement, said:

“The proposed new school in Didcot will be an important part of our efforts to provide quality local facilities and support for SEND children.

“We’re fully committed to improving Oxfordshire’s SEND services for children, young people and their families. We’ve recently published a priority action plan and are working together with families to make a difference to the way children and young people get the support they deserve to help them thrive.

“This is an important stepping stone and I look forward to providing updates on the project in coming months.”

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Oxfordshire County Council carried out the work using ‘cold recycling’ with its contractor Milestone Infrastructure and its supply chain partners Aggregate Industries, Drayton Construction, Hazell & Jeffries and OCL Regeneration in September and October.

During this programme, over 4,000 tonnes of cold recycled material was laid, saving an estimated 75 tonnes of carbon – equivalent to 92 flights from London to New York. It also avoids the environmental impact of disposing of thousands of tonnes of waste planings – the top layer of road surfaces removed due to damage – and the need to extract virgin aggregates.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is just the latest in a series of schemes we are carrying out with our contractor to improve the quality of Oxfordshire’s roads. By embracing innovation, we are making our residents’ money go further, helping ease the burden on highways budget and cutting carbon emissions in our own projects.”

Five schemes were completed across the county using cold recycling:

• Park Road, Didcot
• Kingham Hill Lane, near Cornwell
• Merton Road, Ambrosden
• B4450 Station Road, Kingham
• Aston Road, near Ducklington.

This technique involves recycling stockpiled road planings and processing them ready to be reused in resurfacing projects.

This material, known as Foambase® or cold recycled bound material, uses 94 per cent of recycled aggregates bound with foamed bitumen and other hydraulic binders. It uses just five per cent of the energy compared to that used in the manufacture of traditional asphalt. This offers a 50 per cent savings in embodied carbon compared with using standard materials.

Richard Lovewell, Business Director for Milestone on the Oxfordshire Contract, said: “Carbon reduction is a key strategic target for both Milestone and Oxfordshire County Council. It is therefore imperative that we look for new ways of working to maximise the use of recycled materials within our highway maintenance contract.

“Our innovative solution of recycling waste materials arising from other maintenance schemes not only reduces carbon emissions but also creates cost savings, especially through not having to pay high specialist disposal costs. This delivers the dual benefit of additional reinvestment into the county council road network whilst taking another step to achieve Milestone’s target of net zero by 2040.

“This project is another great example of Milestone and Oxfordshire County Council working together to deliver sustainable solutions to maintain the county’s roads.”

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

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We want walking and cycling to become the everyday choice for short journeys or as part of longer journeys combined with using public transport in Didcot and beyond.

“The Didcot LCWIP will help achieve a culture of walking and cycling. This can create  thriving, healthy, inclusive and climate sensitive communities, where improvements enhance the environment that makes Didcot a great place to live, work and visit.”

Approval was given on 14 December by Cllr Gant at a delegated decisions meeting for the cabinet member for transport management.

The LCWIP will provide a ten year plan for the delivery of cycling and walking interventions to maximise the uptake of active travel to help meet the travel needs of the growing populations of Didcot and surrounding areas. It will be reviewed and updated regularly.

There are a number of barriers to more people walking and cycling in Didcot. Key to this is a lack of a joined-up network of walking and cycling routes that improve road safety and make walking and cycling for local journeys more attractive as an alternative to private motor vehicles.

The LCWIP intends to tackle these, with potential improvements including:

• New and improved crossings, including over the River Thames, and junction redesigns for walking and cycling.
• Removal or modification of barriers on walking and cycling routes to improve accessibility.
• On-carriageway cycling improvements.
• Provision of segregated cycle tracks and additional high quality cycle parking.
• Permissions for cycling on some routes where it is not currently permitted.
• Footway widening and public realm improvements.
• New and improved walking and cycling routes between Didcot and other key local destinations outside the town.

Didcot lies at the heart of Science Vale, the UK’s leading area for science, technology, innovation and research, and there is some overlap between the Didcot LCWIP network, the Science Vale Active Travel Network (SVATN) – previously known as the Science Vale Cycle Network (SVCN) – and the Strategic Active Travel Network (SATN). The three projects are complementary, and care has been taken to incorporate the relevant sections of the SVATN and the SATN into the LCWIP proposals.

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

Formally approving the plan is expected to make it easier for the council to negotiate funding from developers and the government to deliver the improvements it proposes.

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The money will be invested initially in two major 5G projects – East West Rail between Bicester and Bletchley, and Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.

The county council led the joint funding bid on behalf of nine other councils – Buckinghamshire, all Berkshire’s unitary authorities, Central Bedfordshire, and Cambridgeshire – and will now work closely with them on a 5G project called England’s Connected Heartland.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We’re committed to working with other local authorities and partners to maximise our chances of securing investment in digital connectivity and telecoms innovation.

“Today’s announcement is testament to the benefits of such an approach, allowing us to demonstrate the benefits of 5G, making Oxfordshire and surrounding counties a heartland for sustainable economic growth.”

Sir John Whittingdale, Minister of Data and Digital Infrastructure, said: "We’re channelling millions into local areas to unlock the potential of cutting-edge 5G wireless and digital technologies, which will reshape our public services, drive economic growth and boost innovation. This new fund will give local areas from across the country the opportunity to be at the forefront of Britain’s world-leading 5G revolution.

“For instance, by using 5G for farming and creating science parks, we're not just helping local communities, but also encouraging new ideas all over the UK. This is more than just linking smartphones. It's about using powerful digital connections to transform various sectors in the economy and the public sector throughout the entire country.”

East West Rail project between Bicester and Bletchley

The rail industry in the UK is in the process of evaluating new connectivity options for both track operations and passenger access to fast reliable onboard WiFi. England’s Connected Heartland project aims to demonstrate how these requirements may be met through a pilot 5G network, which will also provide trackside communities and businesses with improved connectivity.

The project will explore how 5G can be used to improve farm productivity along the route.

Harwell Science and Innovation Campus

Oxfordshire County Council plans to create a private 5G network that covers the entire Harwell campus. It has already held discussions with several organisations on site including the European Space Agency (ESA), UK Space Agency, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). They are all supportive of building a 5G network.

Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director, Innovation Clusters and Harwell Campus at UKRI-STFC, said: “We look forward to supporting the project team on the plan to build a full private 5G network across the whole of Harwell Campus, which will facilitate innovation options for our world leading clusters in energy tech, space, quantum and health tech.”

The European Space Agency’s recent work includes using satellites to deliver non-terrestrial 5G connectivity. It is one of the companies at Harwell that will be using the 5G technology.

Professor Antonio Franchi, Head of Space for the 5G and 6G Strategic Programme at the European Space Agency, Harwell Campus, said: “We are delighted with the success of this funding bid and the resulting plan to build a 5G network here at Harwell Science Park.

“We intend to further develop solutions at our 5G/6G Innovation Hub that will help to drive 5G digital transformation of the European economy, showcase UK businesses at the forefront of emerging space technologies, catalyse investment into the sector and enhance collaboration with international partners. We look forward to the role this hub may have in enhancing collaborative innovation across England’s Connected Heartland.”

Notes to editor

How 5G supports sustainable economic growth

Innovation and advanced technologies rely on a world class digital infrastructure. 5G, with faster and more reliable internet access, supports productivity across various industries on various devices. This increased productivity can lead to additional GDP growth and the creation of new jobs. Better connectivity also brings environmental benefits, such as reduced energy and natural resource consumption due to less travel and increased remote working. Clean growth means growing the national income while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, Internet of Things (IoT) and automation integration enhance manufacturing processes enable smart cities and support the development of emerging technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality.

The establishment of the Oxfordshire-led 5G innovation region called England’s Connected Heartland is an important part of the government’s commitment to advancing telecommunications innovation. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s mission is to deliver stronger growth, better jobs and bold discoveries through innovation and investment in advanced technologies. The UK's telecoms networks serve as the backbone of the economy, influencing how business is conducted, accessing public services, enjoying entertainment and maintaining connectivity.

Internet of things (IoT)

Describes devices with sensors, processing ability, software and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet or other communications networks.

Watch a short video from the government about the rollout of 5G, below:

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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.”

The council’s planning and regulation committee voted to refuse the application. It is independent from the council leadership and councillors who sit on the committee are tasked to make planning decisions based on what is presented to them.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy at Oxfordshire County Council, said:

“As a council, we are committed to the Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure scheme. We are taking stock of the planning committee’s comments and reasons before considering our own next steps.

“The scheme is designed to provide more sustainable travel options in and around Didcot, as well as reducing a legacy of congestion in the surrounding villages and improving air quality and noise levels. It would provide vital transport infrastructure to enable more reliable journey times, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity, and support allocated housing and employment sites.”

Notes

The letter from the Secretary of State is published on the council’s planning portal:

Planning Register | Oxfordshire County Council

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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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Oxfordshire County Council has given the computers to Getting Oxfordshire Online, an initiative that recycles older technology to be given to charitable organisations in the county. The donation represents a commitment to the council’s digital inclusion strategy, helping to tackle inequalities in the county.

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “I am extremely proud of the council’s IT Service team behind this donation. Improving digital inclusion is a key priority for the council, reducing inequalities and helping people to access vital support at the touch of a button, giving them the power to help themselves. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.”

The computers were provided by the county council’s IT, Innovation and Digital Service, who ensured they were securely wiped before arranging the handover to Aspire Oxfordshire, a charity which empowers people facing homelessness, poverty and disadvantage to find employment and housing.

John Dennis, Getting Oxfordshire Online Hub Manager at Aspire, said: “Getting online can make a real difference to a person’s life, helping them to find a job, putting them in touch with organisations who can support them or just giving someone the chance to talk to family and friends. We are extremely grateful to receive these laptops which will be used by those most in need.”

The digital inclusion project, Getting Oxfordshire Online, not only refurbishes and distributes the devices but also helps people to access the data, training and the support they need to get online.

The first batch has already been distributed to homeless charities, with a further 40 earmarked for refugees arriving in the county. Charities supporting older people, families facing financial difficulties and people with additional needs are also in line to benefit.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Digital exclusion is a real issue and can prevent vulnerable people from accessing the vital support they need. Technology moves on quickly and while these laptops are no longer suitable for the council, they have the potential to help others to get online and find the support they need.”

Ben Tuppen, who leads the Getting Oxfordshire Online programme, said: “We welcome donations from big organisations as well as members of the public. Each laptop has the potential to change a person’s life, so if you get a new device this Christmas, please consider gifting your old one to our programme.”  

Second hand laptops, tablets and phones can be donated at three Getting Oxfordshire Online hubs: Bicester Green in Bicester, Aspire in Oxford and SOFEA in Didcot.

For more information about the programme go to gettingoxfordshireonline.org and watch our short video.

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People will be able to choose from a range of different and exciting items including a Baird television from 1949, a collection of items from Didcot A Power Station, an ice-cream container from L Smallbones in the 1930s or a medieval cauldron and jar.

 The chosen item will be accompanied by events delivered by Oxfordshire Museum Service staff.

 Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Community Safety, said: “Instead of our museum curators deciding the programme for next year at Didcot library, this is an exciting opportunity for library users to become the curators and decide instead.

“What object evokes the most memories and interest for residents of Didcot? Do explain your vote on the library Facebook page.”

The deadline to cast a vote is 17 December, which can be done using Didcot Library’s Facebook page or in person at the library.

Shortlist

Ice-cream container from L Smallbones, 222 Broadway, 1930s

In the early 1930s, Broadway became the town’s thriving shopping centre. Leslie and Betty Smallbones ran a tobacconist and confectioner’s shop at 222 Broadway in the 1930s, where this ice cream cup was sold.

Baird television 1949

This television belonged to a family from Didcot who worked at Harwell and were always interested in the latest technology. Only few households would have owned a television in the 1950s. Broadcast hours were strictly controlled by the postmaster general.

No broadcast went out between 6pm and 7pm for a while to make it easier for children to be put to bed, a time slot known as ‘toddlers’ truce’. It was dropped in 1957.

 A collection of items from Didcot A Power Station

Didcot A Power Station operated from 1970 until March 2013. Its impact on the landscape with its striking cooling towers often divided opinion but became the defining image of Didcot. In 1968, the power station won a Civic Trust Award for how well it integrated into the landscape, but in 2003 a poll in Country Life magazine judged it to be Britain’s third worst eyesore.

The items here came from the training room at the station:

·       Work order: This is an example of a typical work order issued to the engineers working at the plant in 1974.  

·       Fuel tokens and fuel ration book: These were issued for the working vehicles on the site during the oil crisis of 1974.

·       Placemat set: This leatherette table set came from the training room at the power station while it was operated by Central Electricity Generating Board between 1970 and 2004.

 Medieval cauldron and jar

The 11th to 12th century bronze cauldron and jar were found by a metal detector user on the outskirts of Didcot. The cauldron was placed on top of the jar as a lid and has been repaired many times with patches. The repairs illustrate how important the cauldron was to its owner, but it is not known what it would have contained.

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Both businesses sold the disposable e-cigarettes, sometimes known as ‘puff bars’ or ‘vape pens’, to 16 year old test purchasers in March this year, despite the legal age limit for the sale of e-cigarettes being 18 and over.

Didcot Vaping Ltd, who trade as Didcot Vaping Store, pleaded guilty to selling an e-cigarette to a child and were fined £666, were ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £67 and the council’s full costs of £2,124.

Mr Jahngeer Hanif, 42, trading as Broad Street Supermarket in Banbury, also pleaded guilty to the same offence and was fined £600, was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and a contribution of £1,000 towards the council’s costs.

A third company is due in court in January 2023 in relation to both selling an e-cigarette to a child and for selling an e-cigarette that does not – despite a previous warning being given about the product in question – meet the UK packaging standards for e-cigarettes.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, 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. That said, anyone who does sell age restricted products but fails to make sure that they have taken adequate precautions should be aware of the potential consequences if they fail a test of this kind.”

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, added: “Prior to this test purchasing work taking place we visited all the business due to be tested to provide advice on preventing underaged sales. These visits 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 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

Despite a decline in smoking rates in recent years, smoking remains England’s single greatest cause of preventable illness and avoidable death. For this reason, Oxfordshire is aiming to be one of the first counties in England to go smoke-free – meaning less than one in twenty still smoking – by 2030. Stop for Life Oxon provides free support to people who want to quit smoking in Oxfordshire.

Notes

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.

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At Wantage Market Garden, it’s not just the plants that are flourishing. For Hannah Crabb (pictured here on the right), who’s from Didcot, spending time amongst the growing flowers with green fingered friends has given her the chance to feel free.

“It’s good for the soul,” Hannah says, who’s been coming to the garden for five years. “It’s beautiful here. I love the outdoors, meeting new people and doing a bit of gardening!”

Wantage Market Garden is a cherished green space in southern Oxfordshire. It is owned by Oxfordshire County Council and sits to the back of the adult social care team’s Wantage Community Support Service building. The garden is looked after by community action group, Sustainable Wantage, in partnership with care providers Style Acre.

Hannah suffers with epilepsy and short-term memory loss that affects her everyday life but with the help of her support worker, Wendy Trueman (pictured on the left), she is able to come to the garden on a regular basis.

Wendy’s worked with Hannah for more than two years and has seen her confidence grow: “The garden really helps Hannah’s outlook on life. There are times when she’s struggling emotionally but, when we get here, it lifts her mood and gives her something positive to focus on.”

Wendy is employed by Style Acre, a charity that supports people with learning difficulties and autism. They help around 275 people in the county in supported living housing as well as providing opportunities for day activities and social enterprises to help service users find employment.

While Style Acre supports the people, the main garden is managed by Sustainable Wantage, which brings in volunteers at weekends to help keep the site maintained.

On the surface, the garden is a simple programme, helping adults needing additional support to feel the benefits of nature. But dig a little deeper and you will find the roots of the county council’s Oxfordshire Way – an approach which is fundamentally transforming how care is delivered in the county.

By focusing on each individual, and working with community partners, people are being helped to live well within their community, remaining fit and healthy for as long as possible.

For Hannah, the garden’s tranquillity not only benefits her mental wellbeing but also helps her to control her epilepsy, giving her greater confidence to live life her way, without the need for more formal care.

And while many gardeners are thinking about packing their tools away for the winter, Hannah has big plans ahead. “We’ll be making Christmas wreaths and decorations soon,” she says. And for anyone thinking about coming to the garden, Hannah has one message: “Come on down! If you like being outdoors and meeting new people – you’ll just love it here!”.

Wantage Market Garden welcomes the public over the weekend with prearranged visits available. For more information search for Wantage Market Garden on Facebook.

Take a look at our video to find out more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poppy Meadows is being delivered by Housing 21, a national leading provider of retirement living and extra care, in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council and Vale of White Horse District Council, supported by the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal. It will provide 80 flats for people wanting to live independently but with extra care available on site.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, officially opened the show home at Poppy Meadows and said: “Good quality housing with care is a vital component of the Oxfordshire health and wellbeing strategy, with the ultimate aim of enabling people to live and age well.

“Care delivered in an extra care housing setting like Poppy Meadows has a key role in ensuring people are supported to live as independently as possible for as long as possible in their own self-contained flat that also has care and support on site.”

Poppy Meadows, on Greenwood Way in Didcot, is due to open in November 2022, two months ahead of schedule. In Wallingford, a 75-unit scheme called Highcroft is being developed by housing association Soha and is due to open its doors in January 2023. This is in addition to Willow Gardens in Chipping Norton, which provided 80 new extra care flats for residents in April 2022.

Extra care housing is a positive option for anyone over the age of 55 who doesn’t need the fulltime support of a care home but who may not be able to remain in their current home. They might have additional care needs, learning difficulties, mental health concerns or feel isolated or lonely.

Susan Wells, New Homes Sales Manager at Housing 21, said: “We are delighted to open our new show apartment and we can’t wait to start welcoming local people to view their potential future home. Poppy Meadows has been designed with residents in mind and will provide much-needed homes for the people of Didcot, enabling older people to live independently in a beautiful community setting.”

In addition to the freshly decorated homes, Poppy Meadows will also host a range of additional facilities including a resident’s lounge, bistro and hairdressers.

Cllr Bearder continued: “I’m really impressed by what this sort of facility has to offer. Providing someone with their own front door gives them a home of which they can be proud. A safe, comfortable, happy environment where they can live well within, and be a part of their community, for as long as possible.”

Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Development and Infrastructure at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We’re very pleased that Poppy Meadows has opened to help bring new affordable extra care homes to our district. The apartments and facilities are impressive and being in a central location on Great Western Park, residents will be able to lead independent lives in the full knowledge they have extra support should they need it.”

Helping people to live well and age well is a crucial ambition of the Oxfordshire Way. The approach, adopted by Oxfordshire County Council, puts individuals at the heart of adult social care decisions, working with partners and volunteer organisations to help people live independently for longer. For more information and advice on ways to support independent living in Oxfordshire, go to livewell.oxfordshire.gov.uk

More information

• For more information about extra care housing, go to oxfordshire.gov.uk/extracare
• Housing 21 is a not-for-profit, leading national provider of Retirement Housing and Extra Care for older people of modest means. We manage over 20,000 properties, providing over 38,000 hours of social care each week.

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 Tom, who has a learning disability and severe anxiety, wasn’t seeing his needs met through traditional social care avenues such as day services and respite care.

As a result, the adult social care team at Oxfordshire County Council applied themselves to finding new ways to help Tom, and his family find the right package of care, he is now flourishing with the support of his carers.

Tom’s social worker linked him up with direct payments, which offer those who need  the flexibility to arrange their own care and support the help and guidance of a professional. This could include community-based help or care and support in the home.

Since having the support of his carers, 30-year-old Tom, from Rowstock near Didcot, has come out of his shell, living a busy, happy life. He now loves playing golf, cycling, developing his artistic skills (he particularly enjoys painting landscapes), and going to the cafe with his friends. He has even completed a project about local churches.

He said: “My new carers, Jen and Carly, are very helpful and kind, and I have done lots of things with them already.

“I am very happy because I have now got Lizzie, Jen and Carly to look after me.”

Tom’s mum Mandy is absolutely delighted to see her son flourish with the support of his new carers. She said: “I always think it is lovely to see how his personal budget is allowing him to blossom and develop. He's a very lucky man to have such a wonderful team of personal assistants supporting him. None of this would've been possible without the invaluable support of the adult social care team."

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “It’s great news to hear that Tom is now prospering with the support of his brilliant team of carers.

“This is a great example of how Direct Payments can transform a person's life - giving them the flexibility to decide and arrange their own care and helping them to live the life they want to lead.

“All people have different needs and circumstances and as such we can’t deploy a one size fits all approach to those in the county council’s care. We use our intelligence and imagination to come up with solutions that suit individuals and Tom is a prime example of how that works in practice.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Women’s Tour

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rolling road closures

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

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

Redbridge Recycling Centre, temporary closure

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

Economic and health benefits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Women’s Tour

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

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

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

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The Mayor, Councillor Mocky Khan, volunteered to role-play a driver trapped inside a crumpled vehicle, at the town’s fire station.

He experienced the claustrophobia of being trapped inside, relying on the expertise of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service to cut him free. Watch the ‘car cut’ rescue on ITV Meridian.

Andy Ford, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s road safety manager, said: “As the Mayor of Didcot discovered, it is terrifying being trapped. But imagine if you’ve suffered major injury, or if the vehicle is ablaze, or slowly submerging in water following a crash into a river or lake.”

Once ‘rescued’, the Mayor was given a guided tour of the new training centre at Didcot Fire Station. It is now Oxfordshire’s central hub for road traffic collision training. The venue gives crews an all-weather facility to practice rescue techniques for a range of traffic incidents, from motorcyclists to crashes involving buses and large goods vehicles.

The car cut exercise also helps trainees gain valuable experience using rescue equipment and real people, in a safe and controlled environment. It prepares them to play an active part in the ongoing road safety campaign – ‘It’s not worth the risk’ – highlighting the contributory factors in road traffic collisions across the county:

• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Distraction
• Speed
• Drink and drugs

Drivers and passengers are twice as likely to die in a crash if they are not wearing a seatbelt. Even careful drivers can be distracted, by a phone call, text message, in-car technology, or a Satnav. A split-second lapse of concentration could result in a crash.

Using a mobile phone when driving increases the chances of a crash by four times.

The campaign promotes safe alternatives for drivers who rely on their phones. This includes, diverting calls to the messenger service or having a no calls rule when driving. Passengers could also be asked to make or take calls instead of the driver.

The faster someone drives, the less time they have to stop when the unexpected happens. Research shows that for every mile-per-hour increase in speed, there is a three per cent increase in the risk of a road traffic collision.

Many crashes happen because the driver loses control, particularly on bends or in wet or icy conditions. The message is: drive for the road conditions and give time to react by reducing speed. The difference of a few miles per hour could mean the difference between life and death.

Drinking alcohol and driving puts all road users in danger. The only safe option is not to drink alcohol. It’s not worth the risk, and there are always safe alternatives such as taking a taxi, bus, or train; designating a ‘dry’ driver, walking home, or deciding to stay overnight.

Andy Ford continued: “Oxfordshire has more rural roads than most counties. This means drivers must be alert, drive sensibly, safely and share the risk, from the moment they turn the ignition key.

“The fatal four are contributory factors in the deaths of drivers, their passengers, other road users and pedestrians. But, in most cases, these deadly collisions are avoidable.

“If you cause a collision, it can result in life-changing injuries to you, and to anyone else involved. You will also carry the terrible guilt, and for what? For the sake of a lunchtime drink, a phone-call, or saving a bit of time? It really isn’t worth the risk.”

For further information about the Fatal Four and how to drive safely, visit the website: www.365alive.co.uk/fatalfour

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The music groups are aimed at children who have been playing an instrument for at least a term and up to grade 5 and who are looking to develop their skills and performance with other players of similar ages. They will offer a fun, safe supportive atmosphere where children can make new friends and improve their playing by performing with others.

The 90-minute Saturday music centre sessions are available through school term times from 18 September and are available in Bicester, Oxford, Didcot, Thame and Witney.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “Culture plays a very important part in the lives our communities and this is especially true for our children. After the restrictions we’ve had to adapt to through the pandemic, the resumption of the music group sessions is a very welcome part of our commitment to the cultural life of children in the county.

“Evidence has found that learning music is best when you play with other people - it's more fun, and you make faster progress - come along to play in a band or group with children the same age and standard and have fun playing your instrument with others.”

Music centre instructors will offer expert tuition to allow the children in the sessions to develop their musical skills by playing as a group in an orchestral style. All of our instructors are DBS checked and risk assessments and safety precautions are being taken to reduce the risks of COVID-19 transmission.

Booking lessons is easy; parents can visit the council’s webpage, select the nearest venue and reserve a place. The groups will run on an ongoing basis through school terms. Participating children will need to bring their own instruments to the sessions.

The sessions will run each Saturday from 9am until 10.30am.

The new sessions come after school choirs and bands have not been able to rehearse together for more than a year, and children learning to play an instrument had to rely on remote instruction from their teachers.

Work on the new development at the Great Western Park site in Didcot, began on 30 June with a groundbreaking event and is being built by Housing 21 – a specialist housing provider – with the land provided by Oxfordshire County Council under a long-term lease.

Extra care housing provides a higher level of support for people with care needs who want to remain independent.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “I was delighted to be able to attend the groundbreaking event in Didcot. Extra care housing is something I’ve felt very passionately about and have been promoting in the county for some time now. This exciting new scheme will even provide more support for residents countywide.”

Once complete, the new facility will provide 80 additional extra care housing units all 100 per cent affordable housing. Sixty units will be available for rent, while the remaining 20 units will be provided under shared ownership.

All flats will be self-contained and accessible one and two bedroom properties, with communal areas and facilities for residents. On site facilities will include a café/ bistro, hair salon and communal lounge for both residents and local people.There will also be 24 hours call out facilities as well as planned care for individual residents, giving all residents the peace of mind that help is available when they need it.

Work is set to complete in December 2022, with residents due to start moving in from early 2023.

Debbie Hope, Head of Development at Housing 21, said: “We’re thrilled to have reached this exciting milestone in Didcot. This new development will provide much needed, high quality accommodation to support local older people and their changing needs. People have their own front door in a busy community setting, with 24/7 support from our on-site care team if needed.

“We have designed the buildings around an internal courtyard which provides plenty of important, open green space. The development is also in an excellent location close to the many facilities of Great Western Business Park.”

Oxfordshire currently has 17 extra care housing facilities, and this one, alongside additional facilities being built in Chipping Norton and Wallingford, will bring the total to 20 by the end of 2022.

Find out more about extra care housing in Oxfordshire on  Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

More information

• Housing 21 is a not-for-profit, leading national provider of Retirement Housing and Extra Care for older people of modest means. For more information about Housing 21, visit www.housing21.org.uk

The court action followed an investigation by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team. Kenneth Belcher from Blewbury near Didcot also pleaded guilty to associated consumer protection offences. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment; and was disqualified from being a director of a company for eight years.

At the time of the offences during 2018 and 2019, Mr Belcher was trading as MBFI Plumbing Services, as well MBFI Plumbing and Heating Services. He was contracted to complete work for several customers, ranging from installing new bathrooms, wet rooms, plumbing work and erecting an extension. Prices for the work ranged from around £2,500 to nearly £28,000.

In some cases, Mr Belcher started the work and failed to complete it and where it was completed, it was to a poor standard and valued well below the price charged. On some occasions the work was assessed to have no value at all.

As a result, customers were left having unusable bathrooms and extensions and having to find large sums of money to complete the repairs to make safe and useable.

Mr Belcher was found guilty of committing offences under the Fraud Act 2006, for dishonestly making representations in relation to aspects of the work, such as the timeframe for completion, amount of money owed, the ability to do the work and how the price of materials and services were being calculated.

In relation to the associated consumer protection offences, he also pleaded guilty to failing to notify consumers of their cancellation rights, claiming to be able or qualified to work on gas appliances, failing to perform work to a competent standard and failing to complete work within a reasonable time, or at all.

This action comes after Mr Belcher was warned by trading standards for his behaviour on a previous occasion.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “This case shows that trading standards will pursue those who take money from residents for poor or unfinished work, protecting both residents and the reputation of the vast majority of Oxfordshire traders who do the best for their customers.”

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, said: “We advise anybody who is looking for a reliable trader to always get a number of detailed quotes, 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 national consumer helpline 0808 223 1133.

Oxfordshire County Council, as the highways authority, is part of a successful consortium, awarded funding of £2.5 million from Innovate UK for its project known as MultiCAV (Multi connected and autonomous vehicle). The MultiCAV project means travellers to and from the business park will be able to book a combination of travel options (shuttle buses, taxis, e-bikes and the Fusion minibus) from a single place. Other partners include South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Councils, Arrival Ltd, FirstGroup, Zipabout and the University of the West of England.

Despite being relatively close to Didcot Parkway station, most travel to and from Milton Park is currently made in private vehicles. It is hoped that by the end of the trial, up to 50 per cent of private vehicle journeys within Milton Park will switch to using all types of electric-powered vehicles in the trial.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “Oxfordshire is a highly innovative and world-leading research-based economy and we are delighted to be supporting this trial here.

“Automated transport will have a vital role to play in our sustainable economic recovery. It will also open up a range of benefits in our fight against climate change and congestion. This will ultimately be a great service for workers at Milton Park, connecting people and communities with employment locations in an area noted for innovative growth.”

In addition to the Fusion minibus, consortium partner Arrival will supply an electric self-driving full-size bus later in 2021. The project has also delivered an electric bike hire service to complement Great Western Railway’s new cycle hub at Didcot Parkway, launched in April 2021.

For the first time in Britain, this project will extend real passenger services by using self-driving vehicles among mixed traffic on public roads. The project will deliver comprehensive research from consortium member University of the West of England, to assess both user behaviour and their commercial viability.

Fusion Processing’s Chief Executive Officer, Jim Hutchinson, said: “We’re delighted to be selected by another important automated bus project, MultiCAV, to provide our CAVstar automated drive system for use on electric buses. This vehicle technology can offer great benefits to the public transport and commercial vehicle sectors, and we have focused hard on understanding vehicle operators and providing a practical system that meets their requirements. The MultiCAV project will demonstrate how automated vehicles can provide effective on-demand transport on local routes, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”

John Birtwistle, First Bus Head of Policy, said: “First Bus welcomes the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and expertise through working closely and effectively with our consortium members as part of the MultiCAV project.

“As leaders in sustainable mobility, we are dedicated to accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon world. This trial will help us grow our knowledge of how services complementary to our mainstream bus, coach and rail operations might extend the scope of public transport to deliver a more sustainable future for the communities we serve.”

Oxfordshire County Council has finished work on five cycling routes which make up the first phase of the Science Vale Cycling Network project – more than 10km of improved cycle and pedestrian paths that are now open to the public.

The routes link the science and research centres at Harwell Campus, Milton Park and Culham Science Centre with Abingdon, Wantage and Didcot, including Didcot Parkway railway station. To see the network in full, visit the map of the routes.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “The completion of these five cycling routes is great news for this part of the county, and complements the work being carried out in Oxford, Witney and Bicester as part of our active travel programme. Having the infrastructure in place is a huge factor when it comes to persuading people to swap the car for the bike, and the Science Vale Cycle Network is just the sort of project that will make it easier to take the healthier option.”

Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic and the nature of the off-road routes, the work was completed three months before the funding deadline, and route 1 earned a Green Apple Environment Award for minimising carbon emissions and reducing environmental impact during construction.

Some of these environmentally friendly practices included:

• Powering the on-site offices by using solar energy.
• Using sustainable materials, such as locally sourced European oak.
• Reusing excavated soil to minimise waste to landfill.
• Navigating within existing trees, reducing the tree clearance and preventing negative impact on biodiversity.
• Pioneering photo-luminescent technology – i-glo discs – as path markers. They glow brightly throughout the night and use natural light to recharge during the day.
• Using a new sustainable paving, Flexipave, 50 per cent of which is made from recycled tyres. This porous material allows large volumes of water and air to penetrate the surface and promotes water recharge directly into natural aquifers, which hold groundwater. More than 16,000 tyres were used to deliver 7,115 metres of Flexipave, contributing to a carbon reduction of 382,217kg CO2 from surfacing alone.

The project is part of the Science Vale Cycling Network strategy, which supports and enables housing growth near employment sites. The strategy’s vision is for a world-class cycle network enabling users to make safe, efficient, connected journeys by bike, comparable with those found in continental Europe, supporting the growth and investment being made in Science Vale.

The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) secured £5.1m of funding for the project through the government’s Local Growth Fund. The investment shows OxLEP’s commitment to improving infrastructure and connectivity across Oxfordshire, with the aim of providing greater accessibility, reducing congestion and travel times, supporting jobs and improving the quality of life for people and communities.

The rest of the money came from Oxfordshire County Council, largely from developers’ Section 106 contributions.

Nigel Tipple, OxLEP Chief Executive, said: “The completion of such a significant project – that will have a positive impact on our business community – is excellent news, particularly in a post COVID-19 economy.

“As the local enterprise partnership for Oxfordshire, we will continue to play a vitally important role for the county moving forward, securing investment that enables new opportunities and effective connectivity that will benefit the county’s businesses for many years to come.”

The science and technology parks welcomed the improvement of facilities for existing cyclists and walkers, and those who would now be tempted to take up active travel.

Philip Campbell, Commercial Director of MEPC, which manages Milton Park – home to 250 businesses and 9,000 employees – said: “To officially open this key section of new infrastructure at a time when people are telling us that they would like to travel to and from work using sustainable travel modes is a positive milestone. Thank you to the project teams at the county council, their contractors, and our team for delivering the project. We hope that people enjoy using the new path and it helps to make their commute that little bit easier.”

Jason Stafford, Development and Construction Director at Harwell Campus, said: “The Wantage to Harwell cycle route is important for commuters to and from the Campus, both for our regular cyclists and as a more usable option for new cyclists. We are pleased to work with Oxfordshire County Council in delivering green travel initiatives as part of the Campus’ sustainability drive and the efforts of the Council’s team in enabling the completion of this key project are recognised and appreciated.”

Didcot-resident Joe Nicholls is celebrating nine years in employment at County Print Finishers thanks to the help and support of Oxfordshire Employment.

Joe, is one of the many individuals who have benefitted over the years from the Oxfordshire Employment service, run by Oxfordshire County Council to support individuals with social care needs to find and stay in work. He is now calling on others who might benefit from the service to give it a go.

Joe, a 40-year-old father of two, first came to Oxfordshire Employment nearly a decade ago following a referral by JobCentre Plus, joining the team at County Print Finishers with the hope of gaining the skills to secure external employment.

Joe commented: “I’d struggled a lot in the past with my mental health, and so found it difficult to find a job that I would really suit me. I was referred to Oxfordshire Employment, who supported me in finding this job and, honestly, I’ve never looked back.”

He has always been very open about his own challenges with his mental health and the difference that being in stable employment makes. As a result, his passion and unique insight into the needs of someone who has dealt with mental health needs allowed him to flourish and secure in a permanent role with the team as a Support Worker – helping others in the shoes he once found himself in.

Joe continued: “I know from my own experiences how important work is and the benefits that it brings to people. If it wasn’t for the help that I’ve been given by County Print, I might never have stayed in work. Now I have a stable job that I love, and I can make a real difference to other people’s lives every day.

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the additional challenges that it’s brought with it, being able to stay in work and provide support to others has been even more important to me. I am so grateful for what the service has given me. It is a really great opportunity and I would definitely encourage others to follow the same route as me.”

County Print, a Supported Business, is celebrating 75 years of employment support in 2021. Starting in 1946 as Oxford’s Blind and Handicapped workshop, it is now part of Oxfordshire Employment and provides real-world work support to individuals with social care needs to find and stay in work with new employers.

Councillor Lawrie Stratford, Oxfordshire County Council’s lead member for adult social care said: “Joe’s unique understanding and empathy make him a great support worker and mental health first aider is a real asset to the council’s adult social care service. His journey has been truly inspiring, and he’s made a real difference to the lives of so many. I hope that by telling his story it inspires others to take the plunge.

“I am delighted that County Print has been able to provide support to those that need it, while providing a great service to businesses, for 75 years. I hope there are still many more years to come.”

Find out more about County Print Finishers and their work on the County Print Finishers website.

Learn more about Oxfordshire Employment, and how it might be able to support you by going to the Oxfordshire County Council website.

More Information

• County Print Finishers, part of Oxfordshire Employment, is operated by Oxfordshire County Council and provides a range of ISO 9001 quality assured services to the printing and data destruction industry.
• County Print Finishers is a Disability Confident Leader.

Bus operators have also taken a number of measures to promote safe travel, by implementing social distancing measures on board, restricting capacity and enhancing cleaning regimes, particularly of key touchpoints. Passengers are reminded that face coverings are mandatory on public transport, except for those who are in exempt categories.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Cabinet Member for Transport at Oxfordshire County Council said: “These changes are positive news for residents of Oxfordshire; we’ve worked with the bus operators to revise bus services and frequencies to connect people with real upgrades in services to vital areas of growing employment and economic activity.

This is particularly important as we look toward recovery from the pandemic and as a means of reducing our environmental impact as individuals within growing communities. The improvements to services will also mean real travel choices for people as we look to fight congestion and improve air quality too.”

Phil Southall, Thames Travel Managing Director, said: “We’re proud to be launching a raft of new services in the new year to help drive the region’s recovery and continue to improve congestion and air quality.

“Our new contracts with Milton Park and Oxfordshire County Council to provide frequent shuttle bus services to the park will provide improved connectivity with Didcot Parkway Rail Station, Wantage, East Oxford and Headington’s life sciences district. It will also improve the frequency of local services in Didcot using our Connector branded buses. This has created new jobs and will help make travel more sustainable.

“Passengers can be reassured our buses are deep cleaned daily and a recent investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches concluded the special cleaning measures conducted on public transport are ‘very effective’.”

From 4 January 2021, there are major changes to most bus routes in the Science Vale in response to county council contract awards and a new partnership between Milton Park and Thames Travel. Services will now operate more frequently between Milton Park and Didcot, with improved links to the site from Wantage, Grove, Abingdon and Oxford.

Milton Park staff who live in Didcot can now buy a Didcot Zone travel pass for just £20 per year, giving unlimited journeys on all Thames Travel services within the town and to work.

New service X36 is introduced between Wantage, Grove, Milton Park and Didcot, while the frequency of service X2 is increased between Didcot, Abingdon and Oxford – including an improved evening and Sunday service.

Thames Travel’s existing service X32 will be extended to operate between Wantage, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Milton Park, Oxford and John Radcliffe Hospital, providing a new direct link between south Oxfordshire and the hospital. Service 94 to/from Blewbury will be revised to also serve Chilton and Harwell Campus, and a new Saturday service will be introduced.

There will also be improved links to Culham Science Centre from Didcot, with a new service 95 offering peak time connections from the town and the Ladygrove estate. Long Wittenham, Clifton Hampden and Berinsfield will also see a new 95B service to/from Didcot on weekdays.

Abingdon will once again be linked to Oxford station by service X2. Service X3 will operate through to the John Radcliffe Hospital (replacing service X13), while also serving the new Barton Park development and Barton. A higher frequency will be introduced between Abingdon and Oxford city centre on Mondays to Saturdays.

The county council is also working with local community groups and developers to restore services to Horspath and Littleworth. A new service 46, provided by Thames Travel, will run on Mondays to Fridays between Wheatley, Horspath and Cowley Centre, with through tickets available onto Oxford city centre.

Meanwhile, in the Bicester area, a number of services have been revised, with the introduction of new services 29 and H5 doubling the frequency of service between Ambrosden and Bicester, together with a new service for the emerging Graven Hill development.

Service H5 now provides new, regular bus links between Bicester and John Radcliffe Hospital, also creating new services for Merton and Islip. Service 29 will serve Bullingdon Prison and Arncott, with a limited off-peak service for Upper Arncott retained following discussions with the local community.

The county council has also stepped in to provide funding to maintain vital links to Langford, Launton and Stratton Audley following withdrawal of the S5 and 18 bus services from these areas. New services 27 and 28 will run to Langford and Launton, while Stratton Audley will be served by a new Comet community transport route on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

From 17 January, Stagecoach will re-number service S7 between Carterton, Witney and the John Radcliffe Hospital to H2 and introduce two new journeys on Sundays to cover shift times.

Provision of improved bus services is a key component of the county council’s vision of thriving communities. The council has awarded over £9 million of local bus contracts in the past 12 months to support this goal.

Further details of changes can be found online:

• Thames Travel changes in and around Didcot

• X3 bus service between Abingdon and Barton

• New bus service for Horspath

• Stagecoach services in and around Bicester

Oxfordshire County Council and Didcot Town Council have teamed up to install cycle stands in key locations in the town to make it easier for people to get out and about more on two wheels.

Teams of road crews are out in our towns and villages refreshing lines, clearing vegetation and restoring cycle paths to their full width as part of the first phase of the county council’s long-term active travel initiative. And soon people will start to see more racks like the ones in Didcot appearing near them.

County Councillor Liam Walker, Cabinet member for highway delivery and operation, said: “It is really good to see the results of the work we have been doing with local council’s like Didcot Town Council.

“It is important to remember that this type of work is only the start of what will be a concerted effort over months and years to really gear Oxfordshire’s transport infrastructure towards sustainability.

“I would encourage people to visit places like Didcot to support local businesses and also get their exercise. What better way to enjoy an afternoon than cycling to the shops and returning home with the things that you need?

 “I would also encourage people who started cycling, walking or running when lockdown was at its peak to keep up the good work so that they can continue to benefit from the health and environmental benefits.”

Cllr Mocky Khan, Leader of Didcot Town Council said: “Didcot Town Council is delighted to help get Didcot moving again – on two wheels rather than four! This complies with our declaration to make Didcot carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050. We look forward to working on more projects with Oxfordshire County Council.”

The stands have been installed at:

• Wantage Road serving the bus stops and shops by Co-op petrol station
• Wantage Road / Sherwood Road - near bike shop
• Broadway outside Cancer Research
• Broadway outside Crafters emporium

The investments will enable the development of essential transport links to make sure sustainable infrastructure is built where it is needed to support the development of much needed new homes and jobs in Oxfordshire.

In a development covering the Didcot Garden Town Housing Infrastructure Fund programme or HIF1, the Cabinet took a key decision to accept the preferred alignment of the routes of the four parts of the scheme put forward by its officers.

A sum of £218m from government agency Homes England (HE) (towards infrastructure costs of £234m) will deliver:

• Widening the A4130 from A34 Milton Interchange towards Didcot from single to dual carriageway;
• A new Science Bridge over the A4130, Great Western Railway Line and Milton Road into the former Didcot A Power Station site;
• A new Didcot to Culham bridge between the A4130 and A415 including a new crossing of the River Thames River; and
• A Clifton Hampden bypass

In doing so, the council will also consider the views of local people who submitted views over two consultations to hear residents’ views on plans to support sustainable growth around Didcot. These were held in late 2018 and a second round in March-April this year which yielded almost 700 responses.

In the case of the Housing Infrastructure 2 (HIF 2) scheme, the cabinet agreement means that the council will move ahead with the three parts of the HIF 2 scheme to access Homes England funding agreed in November 2019 worth £102 million to develop:

• An extension of the A40 dual carriageway from Witney to the proposed Eynsham park and ride, including improving cycling infrastructure along the route.
• An extension of the A40 westbound bus lane from west of Duke’s Cut canal and railway bridges close Oxford near to the proposed Eynsham park and ride.
• A40 capacity and connectivity improvements to widen access at Duke’s Cut canal and railway bridges, extending the eastbound and westbound bus priority lane, prioritising bus rapid transit at this pinch point.

In both HIF schemes, the priority is the development of additional highway space, connectivity and infrastructure to encourage more sustainable forms of travel to meet the council’s zero carbon transport network ambitions such as public transport, walking and cycling connectivity. It will also support the delivery of wider health and place-shaping benefits in line with the council’s core policy objectives.

The Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council Cllr Judith Heathcoat said:

“Oxfordshire County Council recognises an urgent need for new homes for its people and that these homes require us to get the right infrastructure in to support them first. We are committed to working with our communities to develop the right infrastructure in the right places to allow them to grow in a sustainable way.

Indeed, sustainability is at the very heart of what we intend to develop for the Didcot Garden Town area. A great boost to the work has now advanced with the award of £218m from homes England in June to allow us to work to get the infrastructure right.”

The development is great news for the people of Oxfordshire, allowing the council to improve sustainable travel for residents, communities and business whilst supporting thousands of new homes and jobs.

This sum of £218m (towards infrastructure costs of £234m) will deliver:

• Widening the A4130 from A34 Milton Interchange towards Didcot from single to dual carriageway;
• A new Science Bridge over the A4130, Great Western Railway Line and Milton Road into the former Didcot A Power Station site;
• A new Didcot to Culham bridge between the A4130 and A415; and
• A Clifton Hampden bypass

The new infrastructure not only provides opportunities for sustainable travel along the new routes but enables traffic demand management measures to be implemented elsewhere to prioritise non-motorised traffic, where appropriate. Active travel by walking and cycling has been carefully planned into the schemes and each provides new opportunities to connect areas of employment and housing for those on foot and bike using existing public rights of way.

The funds will enable direct and sustainable access between new and present homes and key employment sites in and around Didcot. The HIF schemes have been identified as essential in Local Plan development to deliver sustainable growth across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse districts and Oxfordshire County Council has been working in partnership with the two district councils to help enable this necessary infrastructure.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council said:

“The signing of this funding agreement for more than £200m is great news for the sustainable growth ambitions of Oxfordshire. It demonstrates that Government is listening and the recognition that infrastructure is required in parallel to the delivery of new homes. The infrastructure will also be vital to sustainable economic growth and support job creation in an area important to the local and national economy whilst helping to support the objectives of Didcot Garden Town; It’s a significant win for the people of Oxfordshire.”

Sophie White, Homes England’s Director of Infrastructure Grants, said:

“We are committed to working with ambitious local authority partners seeking to meet their local housing needs through delivery of key infrastructure.

Our multimillion-pound funding will resolve much needed improvements to the local road network around the Didcot Garden Town area, whilst unlocking critical housing sites and allowing the County Council to deliver their vision for new homes."

The Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping to deliver up to 300,000 new homes across England by providing local authorities with grant funding for new infrastructure to unlock homes in areas of greatest housing demand. It is administered by the government’s housing agency, Homes England, which works in partnership with ambitious local authorities to help them meet their local housing needs.