Archive
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Horton is safe - but only for time being
Vital maternity and children's services at Banbury's Horton Hospital are facing a healthier future after plans to downgrade them were thrown out Yesterday the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) backed campaigners by rejecting the plans by the Oxford
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Ten outof 11 pubs fail drug test
Ten out of 11 pubs and restaurants in Bicester have tested positive for drugs. But police claim the town does not have a big drugs problem despite some landlords warning the use of recreational drugs is rife. Officers used swabs to test the toilets
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Hamilton buoyed by practice pace
LEWIS Hamilton believes McLaren are in good shape for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix after the Briton shrugged off a minor mechanical malfunction to set the fastest time in the free practice sessions. The 23-year-old bounced back in the second
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Print firm ready for OX5 Run
STAFF from an Eynsham printing firm are the latest runners to sign up for this year's OX5 Run. Print and design firm Blenheim Colour has announced it will be fielding a team of 12 runners in the five-mile race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace,
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Print firm joins OX5 run
Staff from an Eynsham printing firm are the latest runners to sign up for this year's OX5 Run. Print and design firm Blenheim Colour has announced it will be fielding a team of 12 runners in the five-mile race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace,
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GREYHOUNDS: Pall Mall favourites go crashing
Crash, bang, wallop. That was the fate of the favourites in the William Hill Pall Mall semi-finals at Oxford Stadium on Tuesday. One-by-one they bit the dust with Reading raider Brickfield Class (evens) who had run up a hat-trick of wins here, first
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Easter spirit spreads across county
THE young - and young at heart - enjoyed the Easter spirit as they swapped eggs and scoffed hot cross buns. A host of events took place across the county, including bonnet parades, as school children headed off for the Easter break. Sainsbury's,
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Parking charges to rise
SHORT-STAY parking charges at two East Oxford car parks are to rise. Members of Oxford City Council's east area committee agreed to raise the charge for an hour's parking at St Clement's car park from 80p to 90p. And charges at Union Street car
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GREYHOUNDS: Trainer Stringer forced to quit
Oxford trainer Gloria Stringer, who is not in the best of health, has reluctantly decided to retire. Stringer (pictured), with husband Chris at her side, have been at the track for eight years after moving from Milton Keynes. Good supporters of Oxford
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DARTS: Olly's still aiming for top flight
Despite being at the top of his sport for nearly 50 years, Oxfordshire darts legend Olly Varney still has one ambition left. The 68-year-old from Bicester - an almost permanent member of the county team since his debut in 1975 - has never played in
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Easter spirit spreads across county
The young - and young at heart - enjoyed the Easter spirit as they swapped eggs and scoffed hot cross buns. A host of events took place across the county, including bonnet parades, as school children headed off for the Easter break. Sainsbury's, in
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Parking charges to rise
Short stay parking charges in two East Oxford car parks are to rise. Members of Oxford City Council's east area parliament agreed to raise the charge for an hour's parking at St Clement's car park from 80p to 90p. And charges at Union Street car park
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Neighbourhood group to relaunch
A neighbourhood association for the heart of East Oxford is set to be relaunched. The Inner-East Neighbourhood Association, representing residents of Barnet Street, Catherine Street, Charles Street, Essex Street, Hertford Street, Percy Street, Sidney
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Mums' misery
Carol Reaney says that many mothers missed out on Mother's Day cards because people like her inadvertently underpaid postage (Oxford Mail, March 11). The same happened to me. I sent the Post Office five second-class stamps. The card was delivered
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Fight for light
I have been raising the issue of lighting on the Croft Road recreation ground at Marston, Oxford, since July last year, after collecting 670 signatures from concerned residents. These people said if lighting were to be put in the street sports site,
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Smokers hit the real pub whiffs
I believe your paper has sunk to a low point - your Opinion column, Smoking - the day to stub it out (Oxford Mail, March 12) was a personal, vindictive and possibly libellous piece of 'journalism'. It was obviously written by a pious, pompous, PC, smoker-hater
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On the prowl
A new exhibition has revealed the dramatic hunt for three wolves after they escaped from a popular zoo between Oxford and Kidlington. Gosford Hill Farm, in Kidlington, was the home of Oxford Zoo between 1931 and 1937. Zoo fans regularly caught special
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Chef on a mission to Bangladesh
Oxford's Bangladeshi community has got behind a bid to support long-term victims of last year's devastating cyclone. Chef Muhammad Ali, who works at Karma Restaurant in Oxford Road, Cowley, is planning to go to the country at the end of the month, to
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Out of this world
THE death of legendary science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke saddened his fans around the globe. But for artist Danny Flynn, 49, of Milton-under-Wychwood, it meant the end of a special relationship. Mr Flynn first met the writer at a space festival
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Out of this world
The death of legendary science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke saddened his fans around the globe. But for artist Danny Flynn, 49, from Milton-under-Wychwood, in west Oxfordshire, it meant the end of a special relationship. Mr Flynn first met the writer
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Turbine would damage dreaming views
Moves to build a wind turbine near South Hinksey would damage "iconic views" of Oxford, the city council has been warned. Council leaders have given the go-ahead for a detailed examination of four possible sites for Oxford's first wind turbines - all
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WEIGHTLIFTING: Birinus gold rush
Robert Green and Josh Cox struck gold for the St Birinus School Club, Didcot, at the British Schools' Weightlifting Championships in Birmingham. Green triumphed in the under 16 56kg class at Oldbury Sports College, while Cox took the honours in the
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BADMINTON: West Oxon schools shine
Bartholomew (Eynsham) and Batt (Witney) stole the show in the Oxfordshire Schools Badminton Tournament at the White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre with four titles apiece. Louise Kemp led the way for Bartholomew with a 21-11 victory over Nikita Mistry
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TAG RUGBY: Charlton triumph
Charlton-on-Otmoor celebrate after winning the Cooper Family of Schools' Tag Rugby Festival at the Cooper School, Bicester. In the final of the under 11s tournament, Charlton beat Glory Farm. Eighty youngsters took part in the festival, which was
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HOCKEY: Magdalen claim county crown
Magdalen College School, Oxford, won the Oxfordshire Under 13 mini hockey tournament at Cokethorpe School, Witney. In the final of the competition, which comprised school and club sides, they pipped Rover Oxford 1-0 in an epic encounter. Guy Dixon
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RUGBY UNION: Chippy dreams dashed
Chipping Norton Under 12s' dreams of playing at Twickenham were shattered as they finished third in the south east regional finals of the Emerging Schools rugby competition at Windsor RFC. The Oxon champions (pictured) opened by demolishing Langley
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SQUASH: Aston serve up victory
Aston & Cote were the victors as around 100 youngsters from local primary schools took part in a Schools Squash Festival at Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney. They came out on top from Queen's Dyke, The Batt and West Witney. The festival was the culmination
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SNOOKER: Higgs seals victory
Oracle A edged into the Gentworks Oxford & District League's Bint Cup final after pipping Green Road Club A, writes DAVID WHITE. The contest came down to the final frame with Green Road's Ray Benwell needing a 25-point win over Kev Higgs to seal victory
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BILLIARDS: Oracle are champs
Pete Machonochie compiled a 53-break as Oracle secured the Oxford & District League Division 1 title. Machonochie's effort was the best of the season in Section 2, topping Arthur Coakley's 51 for CCC A last week. Oracle defeated CCC B 3-0 to ensure
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Twins celebrate garden centre's 40 years
Twin brothers are celebrating 40 years at the helm of a family-run business by throwing a party. For four decades Richard and Nigel Wallbridge, 62, who left school at 14, have run Yarnton Nurseries Garden Centre, in Sandy Lane. When they took over
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SWIMMING: City slickers lead the way
City of Oxford's Matt Corbett and Carly Hayles were the big winners - taking home senior and junior titles respectively. Corbett (17) won the 200m butterfly in a county record of 2mins 4.08secs to take the senior championship, and he also became senior
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TABLE TENNIS: Andy's epic win
Andy Misseldine claimed the Oxford & District Association's Division 1 singles title after an epic battle with fellow veteran Karl Bushell at Kidlington Forum. Misseldine (St James) who ousted holder Andrew Flint in his semi-final, gave a tremendous
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Millions watching the detectives
Telly bosses are delighted that the latest series of the Inspector Morse spin-off Lewis drew impressive Sunday night viewing figures. About eight million people watched each of the four episodes, which finished on Sunday, and the large audience share
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TABLE TENNIS: Oxford pipped in cracker
Oxford lost 6-4 to Birmingham in a cracker of a Midland League Men's Division match. Karl Bushell and Andy Misseldine played excellently to win two singles each. They were desperately unlucky to lose the doubles 11-6, 17-15, 9-11, 13-15, 10-12 against
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MARTIAL ARTS: Dark Blues cruise
Oxford enjoyed a clean sweep over Cambridge in the Varsity judo match. The Dark Blues won 4-3 in their clash, with the other victories coming from the City team (a combined town and gown side), the ladies team and an Oxford B side. The City side claimed
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CRICKET: Charlbury are champs
Charlbury sealed the Banbury Indoor League Division 1 title for the first time after beating Oxfordshire champs Sandford by 23 runs. The west Oxfordshire side, who finished ten points clear of Banbury, have now won all three divisions. Charlbury were
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BASKETBALL: Eagles cause upset
Abingdon Eagles caused a big upset to reach the last 16 of the English League's under 18 national play-offs. The South West Conference champions, defeated Premier Division side Plymouth Cannons 59-56 at Oxford Brookes - to the delight of their large
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ANGLING: Robert's ordeal is lesson for all
ROBERT Broadhurst learned a tough lesson when he was arrested by Banbury police while fishing on the Oxford Canal alongside the Castle Key Shopping Centre in Banbury, writes ANDY WEBBER. Robert, who has fished this area many times, got into a heated
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Cameron sorry for road law breaches
WITNEY MP and Tory party leader David Cameron has apologised after he was spotted apparently breaking a series of traffic laws while cycling to Westminster. He was photographed by the Daily Mirror, riding the wrong way up a one-way street, going the
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Police issue rave warning
POLICE in Oxfordshire today warned that they would be robust against people planning to set up illegal raves in the county. The warning follows the first illegal rave this season, in West Oxfordshire, last weekend. A member of the public reported
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United must share it around - Patto
OXFORD United manager Darren Patterson is urging others in the side to chip in with some goals - to take some of the weight off in-form Matt Green. Green has notched five goals in ten starts, but only Barry Quinn and Michael Howard have also found the
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Pupils get the point of history
BUDDING historians at a Kidlington school took a step back in time to learn about the Tudor period. About 80 pupils at Edward Feild Primary School dressed up in Tudor dress, handled imitation weapons, sampled Tudor dishes and learned about everything
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Church celebrates with eggs and buns
CHOCOLATE eggs and Hot Cross Buns will be enjoyed as part of Oxford Community Church's (OCC) Easter celebrations this weekend. The OCC, which meets weekly at the Kings Centre in Osney Mead, will be spreading the messages of Easter through family fun
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Paedophile sentencing goes to Appeal Court
ANOTHER sentence passed by Oxford judge Julian Hall on a sex offender is being taken to the Court of Appeal. The Solicitor General has asked the court to reconsider a three-year supervision order Judge Hall handed to a child molester in January, on
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Pupils finally join the club
AN Oxford primary school has finally opened an educational after-hours school club after a four-year wait. Botley Primary School, in Elms Road, opened the weekday club this week because it believes there is a shortage of childcare in the area - although
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Simple options
Sir - I was fascinated to read in Keith Mitchell's letter about proposed eco-towns (February 29), that tramways are viable in towns of far less than 15,000 homes. How much greater would be the benefit to us and to the environment if Oxford and its
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Shops gamble
Sir - It is disappointing to see Capital Shopping's idea of what their flats by Castlemill Stream will' look like in your paper. The outcome of last December's public inquiry into whether or not Abbey Place housing, for vulnerable and disabled people
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Boon to residents
Sir - The survey you quote (Report, March 14) which definitively states that Oxford hotels are amongst the most expensive in the country is a boon to the city's residents. We should all be intent on pointing out to potential visitors that Oxford is
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Keep trains running
Sir - First Great Western's response to the Transport Secretary's (Warning Issued, February 29), must be welcomed. Refurbished "turbos" and improved information screens to explain late and cancelled services will no doubt make passengers feel much better
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Eco-town fight
Sir - The parish of Weston-on-the-Green has formed a pressure group called "Weston Front" to resist any attempt to site an eco-town adjacent the village. We are told by Government that any decision will be subject to full public consultation and will
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Astonishing work
Sir - I was heartened by your report on the post office's plans for closures in Oxfordshire and the city. It is striking that there are no plans to close any post offices in North Oxford - there are no post offices left to close! This is in large
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Increased danger
Sir - Keith Mitchell (Letters, March 14), leader of Oxfordshire County Council, criticises the rebuilt junction 10 of the M40 because it "creates huge queues". He adds: "I am not sure whether this was a catastrophic miscalculation on the part of Highways
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Christian mission
Sir - I am writing to clarify certain points in your recent piece on St John the Evangelist, Fernham (Church might apply for alcohol licence, February 29) which contained a number of unfortunate inaccuracies. As the article said, we were delighted
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Landscape defaced
Sir - The council boasts that it has struck a good deal for Oxford on bus shelters (Report, March 14). It will get 180 across the city, free, if they carry advertising hoardings. The advertising company is interested, of course, not in bus shelters
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Judge faces another legal challenge
Controversial Oxford judge Julian Hall is having another sentence for a paedophile taken to the Court of Appeal. The Solicitor General has asked the court to reconsider a three-year supervision order Judge Hall handed to a child molester in January
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TA looks for new officers
THE Territorial Army is on the lookout for officers and is holding a special taster event on April 5. Anyone aged 18 to 30 who is keen to learn new leadership skills, is physically fit, with A-Level qualifications or equivalent, is invited to call
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Storage solution
Sir - John Greaves, a letting agent, wrote (February 29) saying that commercial use of the buildings at Upper Heyford was a 'common sense option'. On March 7, you reported the 'pressure' from the South East England Development Agency on Cherwell District
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Residents win parking rethink
PEOPLE in East Oxford are celebrating a key victory in their campaign to end parking chaos in streets off Cowley Road, Oxford. The East Oxford Safe Streets campaign fears children are being put in danger by commuters parking on pavements. They were
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Man lay dead for a month
A MAN'S body was thought to have lain decomposing in his home for a month before it was discovered, a coroner heard. Anthony Heath, 45, had not been seen for more than three weeks by neighbours, who raised the alarm. When police arrived at his house
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Fantasy building
Sir - I was pleased to read your editorial (March 14). The University of Oxford damages its reputation by such spin. Nothing new is on offer to the public in the proposals for the New Bodleian. There is already an exhibition space in the Old Bodleian
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Club appeals for Beatles photo return
A PHOTOGRAPH of the Beatles in Oxford is believed to have been taken as part of a student prank. The photo, which shows the Fab Four and a young Jeffrey Archer at Vincent's Club in 1964, went missing from the club, in King Edward Street, after the
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Wasted space
Sir - Last Friday, rummaging round the Marston Flyover to the Northern bypass and on the turn off to Islip and up to Elsfield, as part of Oxford Civic's Society's OxClean Spring Clean, on the right of the turn to Islip there is a litter dumping gateway
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Roadtest: Blue is new green
VOLKSWAGEN has always struck me as a car maker that epitomises common sense. The firm's cars have always been a byword for reliability and quality, while remaining relatively affordable. So with an increasing demand for cleaner, more efficient vehicles
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Litter shame
Sir - I was very distressed to read Reg Little's report last week that Oxford City Council is unwilling to keep the bypass clear of litter because they think it's too expensive. What this implies is that we are all going to have to stand by and watch
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Sharper feel
HONDA'S iconic S2000 has been refreshed and is on sale in the UK. New suspension settings make the two-seater more exhilarating to drive, thanks to improved handling and performance characteristics. The underbody tweaks include re-tuned dampers, uprated
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Bright future
BRITAIN'S best-selling MPV, the Vauxhall Zafira, has undergone a few changes to coincide with the coming of the new 08 number plates. There is now extra chrome detailing on the Zafira's radiator grille, new foglamp surrounds, revised rear lamp clusters
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Back to square one
Sir - It is likely your paper will be covering the successes of running the OxClean event last weekend. We in South Hinksey managed to collect 42 bags of rubbish using our own equipment, collection vehicles and roadwork protection signs and bollards
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Citizens do care
Sir - May I through your columns thank everyone involved for their magnificent efforts last weekend in support of OxClean Spring Clean 2008? That some 1,500 volunteers should have turned out in the wet to brighten up the city emphasises how strongly
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New guide to Emerald isle
If you haven't yet taken the car across to Ireland for a tour, then do. It's a family-friendly country, still full of charm despite becoming European-ised, with masses of scenic driving routes. And for a tour guide, take the new Philip's Ireland
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Concern on access to NHS data
Sir - I am writing to express my concern about the lax use of NHS IT resources in Oxfordshire in relation to the requirements for confidential access to patient-identifiable data. It is my understanding that one of the conditions that was agreed between
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Fun-loving Fiesta given fresh looks
IF you have not owned, or driven one yourself, you will know someone who has. Not for nothing is the Fiesta Ford's most successful small car, with more than 12 million of them sold since it was first introduced in 1976. Now the Blue Oval is out
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VW's classy coupé breezes in
VOLKSWAGEN says the new Scirocco is the most dynamic and technologically advanced production coupé it has ever built. The car mixes distinctive coupé styling, a practical hatchback boot, a transversely-mounted four-cylinder engine channelling drive
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Coupé spices up Megane range
RENAULT says there will not be a traditional three-door hatchback version of the new Megane - instead the range will gain an exciting coupe based on the concept coupé unveiled at Geneva. Renault design director Patrick Le Quement said the car would
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Transport schemes face £13m cut
Transport schemes across Oxfordshire are in disarray after changes in Government funding left the county council with a £13m shortfall. Plans to improve bus services and refurbish Oxford's historic High Street will be hit, along with road safety programmes
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Church thieves strike again
ANOTHER Oxfordshire church has been raided by lead thieves. Lead and metal has been stripped from more than 40 churches in the the county in the past 12 months, including All Saints Church in Didcot, St Francis Church in Cowley, Oxford, and St Mary's
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'New' Ashmolean is taking shape
HIGH winds meant that this precious moment in the 400-year history of the Ashmolean Museum had to be speedily rearranged. Putting Dr John Hood, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, high above St Giles' with a trowel in his hand, was simply too risky
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Beaver settles in on Thames
Four hundred years after beavers in England were hunted to extinction, a European beaver has set up home on the Thames outside Oxford. The beaver has offered the clearest proof that the species can survive in the Oxfordshire countryside, by living in
