Latest news with #SeanWoodcock
Yahoo
7 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
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to create football regulator supported by Banbury MP
Plans to establish an independent football regulator have been backed by Banbury's MP, who said it will "protect clubs, empower fans, and keep clubs at the heart of our communities". Labour MP Sean Woodcock has given his support to the Football Governance Bill, which reached its second reading on April 28. The bill aims to fulfil Labour's manifesto commitment to create an independent football regulator and introduce new rules to safeguard clubs and empower fans. The regulator will have powers to intervene in financial distributions as a last resort and compel clubs to democratically select fan representatives that the club must engage with. A new owners' and directors' test will be introduced to ensure club custodians are suitable and finances are sustainable. The bill will also introduce targeted financial sustainability regulation, set a minimum standard of fan engagement, and prevent English clubs from joining leagues that do not have fan support. A new corporate governance code specific to football clubs will be established, and there will be a commitment to improving equality, diversity, and inclusion within the game. The bill aims to tackle rogue owners and directors, implement a club licensing regime, monitor club finances, and improve fan engagement throughout the football pyramid. Mr Woodcock said: "I welcome that the Labour Government have reintroduced a strengthened Football Governance Bill, delivering on Labour's manifesto commitment to establish the independent football regulator and a new set of rules to protect clubs, empower fans, and keep clubs at the heart of our communities. Sean Woodcock (Image: Other.) "For Banbury, I am sure that this bill will provide reassurance to fans. "Clubs like Banbury United are at the heart of our community and social inheritance, passed down through generations. "I am pleased that these clubs' future legacy will now be protected by this Labour Government." The bill comes following the attempted breakaway European Super League, and several high-profile cases of clubs being financially mismanaged. Since 1992, more than 60 clubs have gone into administration. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "English football is one of our greatest exports and a source of national pride which this government wants to see thrive for generations to come. "But for too long, financial instability has meant loyal fans and whole communities have risked losing their cherished clubs as a result of mismanagement and reckless spending. "This bill seeks to properly redress the balance, putting fans back at the heart of the game, taking on rogue owners and crucially helping to put clubs up and down the country on a sound financial footing."
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Banbury business leaders question anti-social behaviour bill
Plans to tackle anti-social behaviour have been backed by an MP despite business leaders doubting the schemes' government introduced a raft of measures including action against shoplifting, as part of its flagship Crime and Policing Bill last Labour MP Sean Woodcock, said his Oxfordshire constituents "wholeheartedly" welcomed the new the chair of Banbury's Chamber of Commerce said the new bill was "almost like dressing up for an occasion and then not being able to go". Derek Hattenbach said shoplifting and anti-social behaviour were "very great problems", and were "putting people out of business" in the market town."Action is needed, but unfortunately just putting in place legislation to show the public you mean to do well is a very different thing from actually having police officers on the ground to act," he Hattenbach said Banbury didn't have the "man power" in terms of policing to "deal with the street crime as it is"."If you haven't got them [police officers] there in the first place, then purely and simply it's just a soundbite for the population unfortunately," he added. 'Devastating impact' Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said there were "some useful things" in the new accepted that, despite a "big increase" in neighbourhood police officers over recent years, he would "desperately like to have more".He said that additional government funding was due, but added that it would only pay for 50 new officers across the Thames the bill, proposed Respect Orders would allow courts to impose restrictions on an individual's behaviour, just like an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) - which were abolished in would also be able to compel offenders to attend programmes such as addiction treatment or anger management courses."Antisocial behaviour chips away at our communities' confidence and pride, undermines local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims," Woodcock said."My constituents will welcome the introduction of tough new Respect Orders, and government action on shoplifting cannot come soon enough."Addressing concerns over how the bill could be enforced, Woodcock said the measures would be "backed up by the recruitment of police officers"."We need to make sure we have people on the streets able to resource this and those are our plans," he added. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
