Latest news with #OxfordshireCountyCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council urged for 'Plan B' to tackle congestion
A council has been urged to find a "Plan B" for tackling a city's congestion problem after a traffic filters trial was pushed back. The managing director of Oxford Bus Company, Luke Marion, said congestion in Oxford was at "emergency levels". Oxfordshire County Council's Lib Dem administration was set to introduce contentious traffic filters on several major roads in autumn 2024, but they were pushed back for another two years due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road. The council's newly elected cabinet said it is going to draft new plans to deal with the city's congestion problem. The traffic filters would be introduced on Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, with motorists without a permit facing a £70 fine for driving through. The plans are part of the county council's drive to create a net-zero travel and transport system by 2040. Last week, Banbury's Labour MP Sean Woodcock wrote to the council asking whether they would take advantage of powers to bring more bus services under their control, if the government's better buses bill was passed. Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said the calls for action were taken "seriously" and that they looked forward "to engaging on proposals soon". "We need faster, more regular, cheaper bus services, and we need them now," he said. "The way to do that is to tackle congestion, which will of course also deliver safer, quieter, cleaner streets, and help key workers and businesses delivering vital services on our roads." Green county and city councillor Emily Kerr said she was "delighted" at the news and called the delays due to the Botley Road closure "exceptionally problematic". "Everyone agrees we need to speed up the buses," she added. "But whilst Labour and the Tory Alliance say they want this, they've opposed the policy suggestions which will deliver it, such as traffic filters." Labour councillor Brad Baines argued that the county council plans "do not answer questions about affordability of bus services or routes going where people need to go". "These are key barriers which are yet to be addressed or even considered." Councillor David Henwood is part of the Oxfordshire Alliance, which consists of Conservative and Independent councillors. "The solution is clear: remove the LTNs to unlock Oxford's radial routes, relieve pressure on the main roads, and finally make space for efficient, reliable bus services across the city," he said. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Urgent health responders exempted from city's LTNs LTNs and cycle lanes cost council almost £4m Council refuses calls to open LTNs in emergencies Oxfordshire County Council
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Oxfordshire County Council urged for 'Plan B' to tackle congestion
A council has been urged to find a "Plan B" for tackling a city's congestion problem after a traffic filters trial was pushed managing director of Oxford Bus Company, Luke Marion, said congestion in Oxford was at "emergency levels".Oxfordshire County Council's Lib Dem administration was set to introduce contentious traffic filters on several major roads in autumn 2024, but they were pushed back for another two years due to the ongoing closure of Botley council's newly elected cabinet said it is going to draft new plans to deal with the city's congestion problem. 'More regular' services The traffic filters would be introduced on Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, with motorists without a permit facing a £70 fine for driving plans are part of the county council's drive to create a net-zero travel and transport system by week, Banbury's Labour MP Sean Woodcock wrote to the council asking whether they would take advantage of powers to bring more bus services under their control, if the government's better buses bill was Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said the calls for action were taken "seriously" and that they looked forward "to engaging on proposals soon"."We need faster, more regular, cheaper bus services, and we need them now," he said."The way to do that is to tackle congestion, which will of course also deliver safer, quieter, cleaner streets, and help key workers and businesses delivering vital services on our roads."Green county and city councillor Emily Kerr said she was "delighted" at the news and called the delays due to the Botley Road closure "exceptionally problematic"."Everyone agrees we need to speed up the buses," she added."But whilst Labour and the Tory Alliance say they want this, they've opposed the policy suggestions which will deliver it, such as traffic filters."Labour councillor Brad Baines argued that the county council plans "do not answer questions about affordability of bus services or routes going where people need to go"."These are key barriers which are yet to be addressed or even considered." Councillor David Henwood is part of the Oxfordshire Alliance, which consists of Conservative and Independent councillors. "The solution is clear: remove the LTNs to unlock Oxford's radial routes, relieve pressure on the main roads, and finally make space for efficient, reliable bus services across the city," he said. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Councils pay Oxford college £545,500 after planning delay
Two councils have paid a total of £545,500 to an Oxford University college after delays to a planning County Council and Cherwell District Council were told to pay the costs to Merton College over its planning application for 540 homes at Rutten Lane in college first submitted the application in 2021, but in 2023 decided to appeal because Cherwell District Council failed to make a decision on authority said it had carried out a "thorough examination" of the case and an action plan was in place. The Planning Inspectorate awarded costs to Merton College as part of the obtained by the BBC show that Cherwell District Council has now paid £401,769.74 and Oxfordshire County Council has paid £145, inspector's report said that Cherwell District Council had "delayed development that should clearly have been permitted".It added that Oxfordshire County Council behaved "unreasonably" over a request for a contribution to highway works at the Peartree Interchange as part of the development is part of the 4,400 new homes allocated by Cherwell Council in Yarnton, north Oxford, Kidlington and Begbroke to meet Oxford's housing needs.A report released by Cherwell District Council's auditors said that a review had found significant "weaknesses" in the authority's handling of the said: "The council has already been financially exposed as a result of these weaknesses and, if left unaddressed, there is a risk that the situation reoccurs with other strategic site applications it handles."A spokesperson for Cherwell District Council said: "A thorough examination of the case has been undertaken. "An internal management action plan has been prepared to address the findings of that examination for immediate implementation."An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said it had "considered the Planning Inspectorate's decision and it will continue to review its internal procedures related to the outcome of this appeal and subsequent costs ordered against the authority". You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mum's breast cancer awareness 'trek of a lifetime'
Rebecca Horne said she could not imagine at the age of 35 she would go from "being pregnant to breastfeeding to sudden menopause, all in the space of a year". The mother from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 months after giving birth. Now in recovery, she is heading to the Isle of Skye with breast cancer charity CoppaFeel! for a 62-mile (100km) trek on 14 June to help raise awareness of the disease, especially among young people. "If you find something and you go and get it looked at, you've got the best possible chance of a good outcome, the earlier it's found," Ms Horne said. Ms Horne, who lives with her partner Ian and their four-year-old son Theo, said she "had a horrible feeling that it was something sinister" when she found a swelling in her armpit. The mum, who said she has a family history of the disease, mentioned the symptom at a follow-up GP appointment for her son. "Within a few days I was seen at the Churchill Hospital and I was told on the day that it was breast cancer," she said. Following the diagnosis, Ms Horne, who is part of Oxfordshire County Council's adult social care team, said she was off work for about 13 months. She underwent treatments including chemotherapy, breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy, followed by hormone suppressants. "It's not ideal to receive a cancer diagnosis at any time of our lives but it feels particularly hard when it is in those early years of motherhood," she said. She said she noticed the signs after seeing a sticker for Change and Check, a breast cancer awareness campaign led by ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly. Ms Horne was invited to join a choir set up by the campaign after contacting the show's producer to say how it had helped her. She said it had "really taken off last year", with the choir recording a version of Love is All Around with singer Marti Pellow. After live performances on Lorraine and at the Royal Variety Performance in front of King Charles III, the choir was invited to the King's reception in recognition of community-based cancer support charities at Buckingham Palace. "It's been such a privilege to be part of it and be able to use our platform to raise awareness," she said. She is now preparing for what she described as a "trek of a lifetime", which she said "is really part of my recovery". "I thought it would be really nice to have a goal to train for and to distract me from the worries that come from a cancer diagnosis," she explained. Ms Horne said while "there is a lot fear around going to get checked" it was important "to prioritise our health". "As busy young women, we forget," she said. "But it is about making time to do the things that we need to keep ourselves fit and well. "And remembering that you can't pour from an empty cup, you have to be well in yourself to look after others." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. 'Book club has helped me cope with cancer' Prototype 'to light up' hidden breast cancers 'I found a lump in my breast watching Bake Off' Cancer campaigner 'overwhelmed' at meeting the King Scan women in 30s - breast cancer charity CoppaFeel! Oxfordshire County Council
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bicester firefighter was true hero, family says
The family of a firefighter who died in a devastating blaze at an Oxfordshire business park have said he was "born" to do the job. Firefighters Martyn Sadler, 38, and Jennie Logan, 30, were killed along with father-of-two Dave Chester in the fire that engulfed the Bicester Motion site last Thursday evening. Mr Sadler's family said the "passion and dedication" he had for the job was "outstanding". "Our world has fallen apart and our hearts are completely broken, but somewhere in amongst it all we are immensely proud of him and his unwavering bravery," the tribute added. "Martyn was born to be a firefighter. Coming from a strong fire service family it was always in his blood, but it was significantly more than that with him, it was his life," his family said. "From as early as he learnt to walk and talk his days were filled with episodes of Fireman Sam or London's Burning and as soon as he was old enough to join the fire cadets his career began. He achieved way beyond his dreams and nothing would ever put a bigger smile on his face. "He was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle and all-round family member, an amazing friend, a committed colleague and the true definition of a hero." Two more firefighters remain in hospital in a stable condition after suffering serious injuries in the fire, which was brought under control. A police investigation has since been launched. Ten fire and rescue crews were called to tackle the blaze at about 18:30 BST on Thursday which rapidly spread through a former aircraft hangar at the site on Buckingham Road, and a major incident was declared. Thames Valley Police said it had now taken over the scene from Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service after fire crews had brought the fire under control and made the area safe. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
