Oxford and Oxfordshire news, sport and information updated throughout the day

Stories for 7 July 2006

Athletics

ATHLETICS: Paradine takes crown

Alchester's Sarah Paradine was celebrating after battling the heat and humidity to win the veteran ladies' over-35 title at the Princes Risborough 10K race on Sunday.  more...

Bicester News

We push on with plans, says NHS

NHS managers are pressing ahead with plans to close Bicester's community hospital despite this week's Government announcement of an extra £750m for community health services.  more...

'Ripple' fear on cuts'

The closure of a Ministry of Defence site near Bicester will have a far-reaching impact on the town's economy, according to business leaders.  more...

Business

Today's local share prices

AEA Technology 103.5 BMW 2709 Electrocomponents 229.25 Isoft Group 55 Oxford Bio 25 Oxford Instruments 209.75 Reed Elsevier 535 RM 164 RPS 215.5 Torex Retail 63.75   more...

Housing market building slowly

House price growth in Oxfordshire is among the lowest in the south east, according to new findings.  more...

Today's closing local share prices

AEA Technology 103.5 BMW 2678 Electrocomponents 228.5 Isoft Group 53.25 Oxford Bio 24.75 Oxford Instruments 209.75 Reed Elsevier 533.75 RM 163.5 RPS 215.75 Torex Retail 63.75   more...

Chox News

Double bonus

The Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign has enjoyed a huge boost from the sales of the Oxford Loyal wristbands.  more...

'Rowers' put in marathon push

Health club manager Colin Berryman and four members of his staff rowed a marathon in Oxford's Westgate Shopping Centre to raise money for the Children's Hospital Campaign.  more...

Cimena

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dean Man's Chest (12A)

What is it about pirates that we find so attractive?  more...

Columns

Cabbages and Kings: July 7, 2006

SHE was the picture of defiance. Her Churchillian jaw set, she heard every word spoken by the three women behind her at the Tesco supermarket checkout.  more...

Competitions And Offers

Win a VIP day at the Blenheim International Horse Trials

Oxfordshire's biggest sporting event, the Blenheim International Horse Trials (August 31-September 3) provides a fantastic opportunity to see the world's best riders in action in the spectacular setting of Blenheim Palace.  more...

Cricket

CRICKET: Holders march on

DEFENDING champions Banbury complete the Bernard Tollet Oxfordshire Cup semi-final line-up after gaining a walkover from Banbury Twenty.  more...

CRICKET: Hole in demand

OXFORD are fighting to field Stuart Hole in their Evening Standard Trophy last 16 clash at Walton-on-Thames on Sunday.  more...

CRICKET: Struggling Oxford turn to veteran

RUPERT Evans will make his first Home Counties Premier League Division 1 appearance of the season when Oxford host Tring Park tomorrow.  more...

CRICKET: Oxon going for Banbury boost

BANBURY will supply five of the Oxfordshire side to face Wales in the Minor Counties Championship Western Division at White Post Road.  more...

CRICKET: Four in a row for Dark Blues

Oxford University made it four Varsity Match wins in succession by thrashing Cambridge by nine wickets on a memorable day in The Parks yesterday.  more...

CRICKET: Marland brings down Swifts

Lee Marland struck a brilliant century to help Westbury stay top of Division 1 with a nine-wicket victory against Witney Swifts, writes Kieren Bushnell.  more...

CRICKET: Bryan wants repeat performance

Bicester & North Oxford skipper Ian Bryan has praised the efforts of his players in a losing cause against Kidlington and asked for more of the same against Gerrards Cross tomorrow.  more...

CRICKET: Baggs shines for Nondies aces

A half-century from Matthew Baggs helped Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts' record their third successive win, this time at the expense of Dinton 2nd in Division 3.  more...

Didcot News

Projects get grants worth £270,000

A theatre, sports pavilion and a bus museum are among the Oxfordshire projects that have netted £270,000 in grant funding, thanks to the landfill tax credit scheme.  more...

GPs earn cash with top marks

Doctors' surgeries across south and west Oxfordshire are set to be among the best in the country for the second year running.  more...

Editorial Comment

Cheer up! It's just a summer blip

What would we do if we didn't have the weather to talk about?  more...

Football

FOOTBALL: Carterton snap up deadly duo

Carterton boss Steve Hale is hoping to boost his side's goals tally after capturing the prolific strikeforce of Alex Green and Steve Avenall from rivals Shrivenham.  more...

CRICKET: Ardley set to face Banbury

Ardley United boss Peter Foley will be pitting his wits against former teammate Kevin Brock when they travel to Southern League Premier Division side Banbury United on Tuesday, July 18 (7.45).  more...

Leader

Beware of gifts

We have heard before Government pronouncements about how much they value community hospitals. They have not made much difference to the policies of the primary care trusts in Oxfordshire in the past and we have little confidence that they will make any difference now.  more...

Splashing out

Thames Water has been pursuing a vigorous public relations campaign in the wake of its imposition of a hosepipe ban on its customers. Day after day we have been assailed by advertisements and mail shots explaining how much it is doing to conserve water on our behalf and urging us to join it in its grand project.  more...

Splashing out

Thames Water has been pursuing a vigorous public relations campaign in the wake of its imposition of a hosepipe ban on its customers. Day after day we have been assailed by advertisements and mail shots explaining how much it is doing to conserve water on our behalf and urging us to join it in its grand project.  more...

Letters

All about burning

Your readers will be aware the councils in Oxfordshire are undertaking a public consultation about our future household waste and recycling called 'No Time to Waste'.  more...

Ash plan must be thrown out

Officers of Oxfordshire County Council have recommended that RWE npower, the owners of Didcot Power Station owners, be granted planning permission to fill Thrupp Lake at Radley with waste ash (Oxford Mail, July 6).  more...

Front page news

Sir, I must complain about the photograph of the Royal Green Jackets on their last parade (Report, Page 2, June 30).  more...

Amazing links

Sir, What a privilege it was being part of the Vertigo event on Saturday(July 1st) as some 170 Christian teenagers came from all over Oxfordshire to take part in 21 different social action projects across our city.  more...

Noisy night flights

Sir, I can't help but notice that following the reopening of the runway at RAF Brize Norton, Oxford is now situated under an increasingly regular flight path for aircraft in and out of the base.  more...

Rough ride

Sir, Someone seems to think that cyclists are second-class citizens and do not have the right to ride on Tarmac. All along the river, south of the city where the rowing occurs, they put rough stony tracks whereas nowadays with Tarmac that can let rainwater through, it should be possible to Tarmac the towpaths. When you consider all the rowing coaches and others who cycle along there, it would be much kinder and better in the long term to put Tarmac down. Another example of this thinking, runs along beside the University Parks. For some strange reason it is OK to have pedestrians walking along a Tarmac path, but the poor cyclists have to make do with a rough track (usually with pedestrians walking along it!).  more...

Burning issue

Sir, No time to waste, says the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP). This is a public engagement by councils on what to do with our rubbish, which will not be allowed into landfill in coming years. The reason? Methane from rotting waste is contributing to climate change.  more...

Gross simplification

Sir, Readers who have read the material accompanying the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership's consultation 'No Time to Waste' may be confused about the options presented to them, and which of them Friends of the Earth supports.  more...

Gross simplification

Sir, Readers who have read the material accompanying the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership's consultation 'No Time to Waste' may be confused about the options presented to them, and which of them Friends of the Earth supports.  more...

Powerful argument

Sir, Officers of Oxfordshire County Council have recommended that RWE npower, power station owners, be granted planning permission to fill Thrupp Lake with waste ash. Sadly, they seem to have fallen hook, line and sinker for the old, constantly repeated line that the power station cannot possibly continue to generate electricity without the (relatively small) extra capacity of Thrupp Lake.  more...

Square warning

Sir, The mound in Bonn Square is a dreadful mess whatever do visitors to Oxford think? We who live here know that the square is to be given a major facelift. Would the city fathers have put up a notice for visitors to let them know what is going to happen? This happens in shops when a major refit is planned why not this square?  more...

Protecting biodiversity

Sir, Tim King (Letters, June 30), questioning the wildlife value of the Trap Grounds scrubland, is obviously unaware that the County Wildlife Sites Selection Panel recommended in 2002 that the status of SLINC (Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation) should be extended from the reed bed in the east (already so designated) "to include the scrub and grassland area to the west, up to the railway line". Nor can he be aware that in the same year Oxford City Council's plans to develop the site were opposed on ecological grounds by the following organisations: the Ashmolean Natural History Society, BBOWT, English Nature, the Environment Agency, the Oxford Ornithological Society, the Oxford Preservation Trust, and the RSPB. If the considered views of these expert organisations are not enough to convince him, I suggest that he should visit the site himself. If he goes in the early morning, he is likely to see a water vole in the pool near the railway line; if he goes at dusk in the next two weeks, he will certainly see glow-worms in the damp places under the willows. At any time of day he will hear the barking of deer and the songs of Linnet and Sedge Warbler. He might be lucky enough to see Spotted Flycatcher, Bullfinch, and Kingfisher. If he knew where to look, he would find a badgers' set and the places where slow-worms sun themselves. I hope this is enough to demonstrate that the Trap Grounds site should be preserved in its entirety, in the interests of protecting biodiversity and local people's right to enjoy fresh air and peaceful exercise.  more...

Garden close to home

Sir, I was pleased that Christopher Gray devoted the greater part of his Gray Matter column (June 23) to garden sculpture. I'd just like to let Christopher and others know of a sculpture garden on the doorstep of many readers. The Turrill Sculpture Garden is just behind the Summertown Library in South Parade, Summertown, free to the public in library hours (closed Wednesday and Sunday).  more...

Garden close to home

Sir, I was pleased that Christopher Gray devoted the greater part of his Gray Matter column (June 23) to garden sculpture. I'd just like to let Christopher and others know of a sculpture garden on the doorstep of many readers. The Turrill Sculpture Garden is just behind the Summertown Library in South Parade, Summertown, free to the public in library hours (closed Wednesday and Sunday).  more...

Attractive spaces

Sir, Congratulations on the layout of the new 'Artscene' page in the new-look Weekend supplement. To have all the listings together is a great improvement, and makes accessing one's particular interests so much easier. Looking at the choice of art exhibitions on offer, it is evident that the range and quality of art and artists in the Oxford area is really good. This perception is reinforced when reading the review of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, with the reminder that Oxfordshire artists are exhibiting alongside national names.  more...

Potential for error

Sir, As part of the consultation exercise for the North Summertown anti-parking scheme I have been sent a street plan of the area. I note just from a number of details of properties near my own that the plan has clearly not been updated for a dozen years at least and in particular does not reflect the creation of a further six households.  more...

Charge motorists more

Sir, Local councils legitimately charge quite hefty fees if anyone seeks to occupy half-a-dozen square metres of the public highway for a useful purpose, such as selling hot-dogs or sun hats.  more...

First-class buses

Sir, Without the excellent bus service laid on for the Elton John concert it could not have happened. Not everyone went by bus, but like the daily commute, if the buses weren't there, we would be faced with unacceptable congestion, and many more visitors and shoppers would desert Oxford. In the case of Elton John's concert, praise is due to Stagecoach for arranging about 40 buses from its companies around the south central and Midlands areas, and co-ordinating things to ensure that we all got there on time and that by 11.30 we'd all gone. I hope the buses ensured that a "first" at the Kassam will not be the last.  more...

Fixed fares?

Sir, I have been following the correspondence concerning bus usage in Oxford and am surprised there has been no mention of the practice which is in use in Birmingham and Edinburgh, where I have seen it in action. There is a fixed fare rate within the city and no change is given.  more...

Fixed fares?

Sir, I have been following the correspondence concerning bus usage in Oxford and am surprised there has been no mention of the practice which is in use in Birmingham and Edinburgh, where I have seen it in action. There is a fixed fare rate within the city and no change is given.  more...

No simple solution

Sir, William Richter (Letters, June 30) makes an interesting point about the buses using Queen Street. All the various bodies involved in the city centre had long discussions with the Westgate Partnership. A total of 11 possible solutions to the Queen Street issue were examined, which included the extension of terminating services to the rail station.  more...

Why not cut fares?

Sir, Your editorial of June 30 shows a basic flaw in your understanding of economics and consequential human behaviour when you conclude that the only way to increase bus usage is to implement some form of congestion charging; this, of course, presupposes that we are generally rational beings. Quite how you arrive at this contentious conclusion is beyond me.  more...

Heavy-handed eviction

Sir, Jeff Whyatt of British Waterways has claimed that there is a threat of Castlemill boatyard being reoccupied. This claim is completely unfounded and, when asked, British Waterways failed to produce any supporting evidence. British Waterways' accusation that the fence has been torched has also been found to be complete fiction.  more...

Motors

Invitation to go wild

Land Rover is inviting photographers to go Wild' with its sponsorship of the 2006 international Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) competition.  more...

Roadtest: The great estate

Drive any car for ten miles and it is difficult to form any useful opinion; drive it for 100 and you get a much clearer picture. Cover 1,000 miles and you know whether parting with the car is sweet sorrow, or a much-awaited relief.  more...

Suzuki hatchback range turns SXy

Suzuki has completed its SX4 range of five-door hatchbacks with the introduction of two versions.  more...

Dealer adds Dodge to extend its US line-up

CHRYSLER and Jeep dealer Varsity, of Shipton-on-Cherwell, is welcoming a third brand Dodge.  more...

Renault goes more dynamic

The Renault Scenic, the car which created the compact MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) sector ten years ago, continues to ride high in the UK sales charts, so to ensure that it stays that way, a new special edition has been created, based on the best-selling, mid-range Dynamique model, called Dynamique S and priced from £16,620.  more...

Music

Sam's got it caped

An eclectic weekend of music kicks off tomorrow at the Cornbury Oxford Festival. This year's bash is the biggest and best yet - and, with Oxford's Truck Records, is playing host to some refreshing new artists - including the oddly-named Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly.  more...

News

Housing market building slowly

HOUSE price growth in Oxfordshire is among the lowest in the south east, according to new findings.  more...

Hotel and conference centre plan for Oxpens 'civic square'

A CIVIC square dominated by a luxury 150-bed hotel and conference centre is being put forward in a new planning blueprint for Oxford.  more...

Planning blow to bid for cafe culture

OUTDOOR cafes are threatening to clutter to Oxford's streets, spoiling views of the city's historic buildings.  more...

Boy drowns in city river

A SCHOOLBOY drowned in the River Cherwell in the centre of Oxford despite attempts by friends to save him.  more...

Man who denied killing is released from prison

ONE of the men who denied killing Sam Barr at a wedding reception in Oxford was released from prison this week.  more...

Some £160,000 spent on Trap Grounds fight

ALMOST £160,000 of public money has been spent fighting a legal battle to build social houses on the Trap Grounds, Oxford The Oxford Times can disclose that Oxford City Council spent £159,513 on its failed legal bid for permission to build 45 affordable homes on the North Oxford land.  more...

Oxford synagogue might have been terror target

AN OXFORD synagogue may have been the target of a Muslim terror suspect accused of plotting to bomb civilian targets, a court heard.  more...

Thames Water gets new leak targets

THAMES Water's customers will not have to pay to cover the extra £150m the company will spend on fixing leaks after escaping a fine from Ofwat.  more...

Bid to bring continental feel to Cowley Road

A TOUCH of continental class could be brought to East Oxford if a local businessman has his way.  more...

People in North Oxford can expect to live longer

RESIDENTS in North Oxford have a life expectancy six years greater than those living in Blackbird Leys, figures show.  more...

Minister announces plan to shut MoD base with loss of 300 jobs

A MINISTRY of Defence base near Bicester will shut with the loss of up to 300 jobs, Defence Secretary Des Browne announced this week.  more...

Blow to lake dumping campaigners

CAMPAIGNERS have suffered a blow in their fight to prevent millions of tonnes of spent fuel ash being dumped in an Oxfordshire lake.  more...

Town redevelopment will 'amaze people'

RESIDENTS and shoppers have been promised they will be 'amazed' by plans for a shopping, leisure and housing complex on a former football ground and car park in Witney.  more...

Parents finally turn out light after inquest

ARTHUR and Linda Allen have finally turned out the light in their son's bedroom for the first time since he was killed in a motorcycle accident 19 months ago.  more...

Drugs mountain destroyed by poilice

A DRUGS mountain weighing almost a quarter of a tonne has been taken off Oxfordshire's streets to be destroyed.  more...

Residents' concerns over language school

NEWS that Plater College in Headington has been bought by an international language school for £5.6m has led residents to voice concerns about a new influx of students to the area.  more...

Obituaries

Dedicated anti-poverty campaigner dies

A DEDICATED anti-poverty campaigner who worked for Oxfam for 30 years has died.  more...

Town trader dies

THE LAST family link with one of Wantage's oldest trading firms has finally come to an end.  more...

Respected figure in town

DON McGregor, a well-known man in Abingdon and Dorchester-on- Thames, has died aged 78.  more...

Other Sport

GOLF: All the latest local results

KIRTLINGTON Sunday Medal Div 1: 1 M Ellis 81-14=67, 2 D Thomas 76-7=69, 3 R Stevens 77-7=70. Div 2: 1 F Harrison 87-24=63, 2 S Arnold 89-22=67, 3 R Mitchell 83-15=68.  more...

Oxford News

Fresh invasion of travellers

These travellers arrived at Cutteslowe Park last night Travellers have returned to an Oxford park just 24 hours after another group of families were evicted by the city council.  more...

West quarter plan unveiled

A civic square dominated by a luxury 150-bed hotel and conference centre is being put forward in a new planning blueprint for Oxford.  more...

Key sponsors keep up support for club

Passion, commitment, belief - that was the message from Oxford United to businesses looking to invest in the club.  more...

Trap Grounds bill tops £159k

Nearly £160,000 of public money has been "wasted" fighting a legal battle to build social houses on Oxford's Trap Grounds.  more...

Swan is blamed for power cut

A swan is being blamed for bringing down an overhead electric cable which left more than 50 people without electricity on a mobile home park.  more...

Company appeals for mast

A mobile phone company has lodged an appeal after Oxford City Council refused to allow it to put up a pine tree-shaped mobile phone mast.  more...

Locals fear new student influx

Residents near Plater College in Headington, Oxford, have expressed concern about a new influx of students after the college was sold for £5.6m to an international language school.  more...

Floods and trees block 70 roads

Torrential downpours caused flash floods and violent bolts of lightning left thousands of homes in the dark as a storm wreaked havoc across Oxfordshire.  more...

Sister of 7/7 victim speaks out

There is no doubt that today will be a difficult one for Esther Hyman.  more...

Pcs cleared of driver assault

Two police officers walked free from court yesterday after they were acquitted of assaulting a driver who died after he was arrested.  more...

Girl fought off attacker

A teenage girl in Kidlington fought off a man who tried to sexually assault her.  more...

Councillor’s verdict after new audit: slapdash

Oxford City Council has been told to get its act together over the way it tenders for contracts and invoices clients - or risk losing more money.  more...

Restaurant Reviews

This AK shoots from the chip

Paul Stammers finds the taste of Cambodia to his liking, but is relieved not to find tarantula on the menu.  more...

Results And Fixtures

FIXTURES: The week's sporting calender

SATURDAY CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Falkland v Banbury, Henley v High Wycombe, Oxford v Tring Park.  more...

Rugby

RUGBY: Bicester hunt sponsors

Bicester are appealing for more sponsors to back them as they bid to win promotion from the BB&O Premier Division.  more...

Share Prices

Today's local share prices

AEA Technology 103.5 BMW 2709 Electrocomponents 229.25 Isoft Group 55 Oxford Bio 25 Oxford Instruments 209.75 Reed Elsevier 535 RM 164 RPS 215.5 Torex Retail 63.75   more...

Today's local share prices

AEA Technology 103.5 BMW 2709 Electrocomponents 229.25 Isoft Group 55 Oxford Bio 25 Oxford Instruments 209.75 Reed Elsevier 535 RM 164 RPS 215.5 Torex Retail 63.75   more...

Today's closing local share prices

AEA Technology 103.5 BMW 2678 Electrocomponents 228.5 Isoft Group 53.25 Oxford Bio 24.75 Oxford Instruments 209.75 Reed Elsevier 533.75 RM 163.5 RPS 215.75 Torex Retail 63.75   more...

Tennis

TENNIS: West End edged out in thriller

North Oxford were forced to hold their nerve in two three-set thrillers before running out 6-3 winners over Banbury West End in Division 1 of the Ladies' 3-Pair League.  more...

Witney News

Prince Edward joins festival crowds

Oxfordshire's Cornbury Festival is emerging as one of Britain's must-visit festival events - and now, it seems, is good enough even for royalty The Earl of Wessex will be dropping into the two-day festival as it gets under way this weekend after The Duke of Edinburgh Awards joined up with festival organisers to support the event.  more...

Crime-fighting shop is winner

A new village shop has become the first retail store in Oxfordshire to win an award for reducing its chances of being raided by criminals.  more...

  
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