Archive
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Macca turns up heat on Green
Matt Green could come under real pressure for his place up front for the first time if fellow Oxford United striker Craig McAllister is declared fit on Saturday. McAllister (pictured), who scored after just 51 seconds at Torquay in midweek, then injured
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Roadworks blamed for gridlock
DRIVERS have branded roadworks which brought Abingdon to a grinding halt as the last straw. Queues have built up all week in Drayton Road and Ock Street due to sewer work in Marcham Road. A three-mile journey home took motorist Brian Thomas more
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Ex-firefighter tells jury of blaze
A MAN described to a jury today how he tried to force open the door of a derelict property after seeing flames engulfing the basement at about 4.30am. Adrian Stanmore, an ex-firefighter and product controller of an Oxford dairy, ran to Redbridge Cottage
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Man charged with sex attack
A MAN has been charged following the sexual assault of a 20-year-old woman in East Oxford. Mark Edwards, 42, of Nowell Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, was charged with sexual assault this afternoon. The alleged offence happened at about 2am yesterday in
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Vandals attack flood-hit pub
FOUR men broke into a Witney pub and caused more than £1,000 damage - days before it is due to reopen after being damaged in last July's floods. Police are appealing for information about the incident at the Old Court Inn, in Bridge Street, at 11.55pm
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Burglary 'lowest for almost 20 years'
HOUSEHOLDERS in Oxford are the safest they have been from burglars for almost 20 years, figures released today revealed. According to statistics released by Thames Valley Police, there were 490 fewer domestic burglaries in the city over the past 12
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Councillors condemn Blears
Oxford's Lord Mayor is among a group of city and county councillors who will write to Hazel Blears condemning her "outrageous" comments on Blackbird Leys. The city council's south east area committee, which oversees Littlemore, Rose Hill and Blackbird
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Roadworks get blame for gridlock
Furious drivers have branded roadworks which brought Abingdon to a grinding halt as the last straw. Queues have built up all week in Drayton Road and Ock Street due to sewer work in Marcham Road. A three-mile journey home took motorist Brian Thomas
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Vandals strike at flood-damaged pub
Four men broke into a Witney pub and caused more than £1,000 damage - days before it is due to reopen after being damaged in last July's floods. Police are appealing for information about the incident at the Old Court Inn, in Bridge Street, at 11.55pm
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Ex-firefighter tells jury of blazing house
The product controller of an Oxford dairy described to a jury how he tried to force open the door of a derelict property after seeing flames engulfing the basement at about 4.30am. Adrian Stanmore, an ex-firefighter, ran to Redbridge Cottage when two
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Poppy fields must stay secret
The Government insisted the location of dozens of Oxfordshire fields used to grow the raw materials for heroin must stay secret - to stop people stealing it. The Home Office rejected a Freedom of Information (FOI) request lodged by the Oxford Mail to
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Remarkable cheek
I attended the Oxford Literary Festival for the first time, thanks to the Guild of Food Writers' annual meeting and lunch held at Christ Church, the latter part of the festival. The far-ranging programme was of astonishingly high calibre, the choices
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 69.75 BMW 2788 Electrocomponents 186 Nationwide Accident Repair 127 Oxford Biomedica 21.75 Oxford Catalyst 163 Oxford Instruments 205 Reed Elsevier 652.5 RM 200 RPS Group 302.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Abysmal standard
Since the furore over the desecration of Bonn Square in Oxford erupted, I decided to look at the plans for the new revamp. I was extremely puzzled by what appeared to be four ugly tall poles dominating the scene. What kind of design feature is this?
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Worthy investment
How sad that certain councillors have refused a skateboard park at Cowley Marsh, Oxford (Oxford Mail, April 8). A skateboard park existed for years in Meadow Lane in my ward and provided thousands of hours of innocent fun and exercise for young people
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Lack of integrity
time again approaches when electors find they are inundated with political manifestos, with their pretentious and meaningless content. They are delivered to homes by a virtually invisible source passing the document through the letterbox on behalf of
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ANGLING: It's snow problem for North Oxford!
North Oxford AS battled through the snow last Sunday to fish the Oxford Canal at King's Bridge when there was a field of nine anglers. Pegged on the brambles, Dave Scott-Picton scored his third win in as many matches with 6.4.0. He started with bread
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Act quickly on flooding risks
I agree with all that Reid Tutty said in his letter about the maintenance of our waterways, Dredge rivers to cut floods (Oxford Mail, April 4). During the Second World War, Italian prisoners of war were given tasks like these to do and I remember being
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ANGLING: ice work if you can get it!
Jake Wilkerson, from Witney, must be over the moon after banking his first 30lb carp from Linear's Manor Lake at Stanton Harcourt. The fish, known as Cut Tail', registered 39.4.0 and took a Dynamite Baits Source 15mm boilie. Jake, (pictured), who
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ANGLING: Darlow's back in old routine
Members of Farmoor Fly Fishing Club are enjoying a great start to the new trout fishing season on Darlow Water at Hardwick. Early returns show that this could be the beginning of a fantastic year, with catches beyond expectations and not a dry net in
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Bikers’ toy run ready to roll
Big-hearted bikers are set to bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of sick children with a special toy run. Up to 200 members of the Oxford UK chapter of the Harley Owners' Group will ride in convoy from the Harley-Davidson dealership in Wootton Road
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TABLE TENNIS: Forum A make it six in a row
Forum A comprehensively beat Lord Nuffield A 8-2 to secure a sixth successive Oxford & District League Division 1 title - and still have three matches in hand. Karl Bushell led the assault with a maximum, Greg Boone and Fraser Harris followed up with
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Choir helps mark churchyard revamp
A party will mark the end of the latest phase of regeneration at a formerly derelict East Oxford churchyard. A Banbury choir will help mark the occasion by raising their voices to celebrate Evensong following the party at SS Mary and John Church, Cowley
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GREYHOUNDS: Tippit's the tip for tonight!
Tippit (pictured), Tony Magnasco's new acquistion from the Gloria Stringer kennel, looks the part in the A1 over 450 metres at Oxford Stadium tonight.
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GREYHOUNDS: Records go at stadium
Reading raider Jacksheaboy became the latest in a long line of record-breakers at Oxford Stadium when he smashed the 250-metre mark in great style in the Foaides Choice Stakes on Tuesday. The black dog had five-and-a-half lengths to spare over the Nick
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Dads set up estate football club
Fathers in Rose Hill want to create a football club on the estate which will rival the successful Oxford Blackbirds, from Blackbird Leys. Brian Lovatt and Kevin Vaughan aim to revive their estate's fine footballing history by re-forming Rose Hill Football
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GREYHOUNDS: On-song Paddy leads the way
Paddy Curtin took the honours last month with 37 winners to retain his lead in the Trainers Championship. Traps two and three were the most successful last month with 51 winners each, while the rest were trap 1 (42), trap 4 (41), trap 5 (36) and trap
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Keep on running
Today, in the last of our three-part series focusing on amateur runners from Oxfordshire taking part in Saturday's Flora London Marathon, we meet an Oxford University professor, a sixth-former and a vet taking on the 26.2-mile run Sixth-former Tom Freeman
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SQUASH: Nash set for Home Internationals
Mick Nash, from Garsington, will represent Wales in the Home International Masters at over 55 level. Nash has made the team for the event at Nottingham on May 2 and 3 after finishing runner up in the Welsh trials. He had to reach the last four to
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POOL: Lewis leads England to title
Oxford's Malcolm Lewis captained England to victory in the World Seniors Championship at Bridlington, setting a record in the process. Lewis, 48, (centre) became the first Englishman to win world championships with the sport's two governing bodies,
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BILLIARDS: Evans wins Turner Cup
Paul Evans defeated Thame teammate Tom Fletcher to win the Oxford & District League's Turner Cup. Evans received the trophy from his dad John as they became only the second father and son to win the cup - after Jimmy and Nicky Holden in 1979/80 and
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Speed decision angers estate
Campaigners seeking a 20mph zone on an Oxford estate are angry that a quieter area of the city has already been given one. Wood Farm residents have been calling for a 20mph limit for three years but were surprised to see the area around Wytham Street
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University colleges fight bus stops plan
Two of Oxford University's most prestigious colleges have called for an end to the "vandalism" of the historic High Street by transport planners. All Souls and University colleges claim one of Europe's most beautiful streets is being ruined by pollution
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SNOOKER: Burnet is champion
Clive Burnet won the Gentworks Oxford & District League's Ted Allsop Memorial Cup for the first time after pipping Pete Fenn at Riley Club. Fenn had upset favourite Mick Bennett, a winner of the over 50s event from 2000 to 2006, in the semi-final, but
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SHOOTING: Bridges is pipped
Kirk Bridges, 44, from Witney, came second in the final of the Classic Open at the Royal Berks Shooting School, a nationwide clay pigeon competition with almost 1,000 entries. He was in a three way shoot-off for the handicap first prize and lost out
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Courts target domestic abuse
Specialist courts have been set up to fast-track domestic violence cases through the system. Police receive calls from about 10 victims of domestic violence in Oxfordshire every day. Now specialist domestic violence hearings will be held at Oxford
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Photographers snap up art prize
Photographs taken by a group of adults with learning difficulties who attend Bicester's Outreach Centre shared first prize in an art show. The group, based at The Garth, in Launton Road, were joint winners with fellow learners at Banbury in Oxfordshire
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All-action adventure at arboretum
More than 80 children got their first taste of spring during an activity event to celebrate the new season at Harcourt Arboretum. The children, aged between five and 12, got up close and personal with dozens of varieties of trees and flowers during
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MOTOR RACING: Thrills and spills
Driving and myself have never been the best of companions. From the days I owned a Ford Capri with go faster stripes, my record on the roads has been more chequered than the flag they wave at the end of a grand prix. My boy racer days in the Capri
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Car stolen after homes raided
THIEVES stole a car after breaking into two homes in Lord Elwood Road, Banbury. In the first incident, offenders broke into a house via the front door. Once inside, they searched the ground floor and stole a mobile phone, a cash card, a driving licence
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TRIATHLON: Lidbury's flying start
Oxford triathlete Emma-Kate Lidbury kicked off her 2008 campaign with a win at the Swindon Duathlon. Despite heavy snowfall and freezing conditions, race organisers allowed the event to go ahead and Lidbury was one of 150 athletes to brave the start
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BOXING: Delay KO's Vince
A delayed flight on the return from his honeymoon in Thailand has meant that Oxford Boxing Academy's light heavyweight prospect Vince Sessegnon will not figure in this year's ABA championships. Returning two days late from the Far East prevented the
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SWIMMING: City duo shine in trials
City of Oxford's Sam van de Schootbrugge and Rosie Bancroft recorded personal bests at the Great Britain Olympic trials in Sheffield. van de Schootbrugge entered four races and set new junior county records in the 400m Individual Medley (4.40.65) -
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The Merchant of Venice: The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford
No two plays by Shakespeare present bigger problems for a modern audience over their questionable content than The Merchant of Venice and The Taming of the Shrew. Conduct that seemed acceptable, even praiseworthy, in the playwright's time - Jew-baiting
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Mini voted coolest film car
THE original Mini Cooper has been named the best movie car of all time. A survey of 2,000 movie fans commissioned by Uniroyal tyres saw the Mk1 Austin Mini Cooper S, as featured in 1969 movie The Italian Job, crowned the coolest car on the silver
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Its in-spire-ational
Oxford has acted as a muse for many writers. Consider Alice in Wonderland, much of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited and Dorothy Sayer's Gaudy Night. Here JEREMY SMITH and STUART GODMAN of Waterstones reflect on some of the city's other notable inspirations
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RM wins £53m contract
OXFORDSHIRE schools IT company RM has won a £53m contract with the London borough of Newham. RM, based at Milton Park, near Didcot, will provide Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for 11 years to the borough's Building Schools for the Future
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Shine a Light (12A)
While many rock bands have snatched their 15 minutes of fame then wilted into obscurity, or worse still, attempted to recapture past glories by leaping on the reunion bandwagon, the Rolling Stones have defiantly refused to gather moss for more than 45
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[REC] (18)
Perhaps more so than any other genre, horror shamelessly caters to the ever-changing whims and fancies of its audience. The bogus documentary style of The Blair Witch Project appears to be back in fashion thanks to Matt Reeves' sci-fi romp Cloverfield
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21 (12A)
Dating back to 17th century France, blackjack is a deceptively simple game of luck and skill that remains a firm favourite with gamblers. The rules are simple: take successive hits from the deck, against other players and the dealer, to accumulate the
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Time to go home
Sir - I am in receipt of my new bus pass and very grateful for it. However, I do object to being given a curfew at night - ie I am not allowed to travel after 11pm. I am told this is a busy time on the buses, but although there are always people
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Leatherheads (PG)
Everybody loves George Clooney, but public affection for the actor-writer- director-producer will be tested - though not too strenuously - by this uneven screwball comedy. Leatherheads marks his third directorial outing, and is far lighter in tone than
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Councillors condemn minister's comments
Oxford's Lord Mayor is among a group of city and county councillors who will write to Hazel Blears condemning her "outrageous" comments on Blackbird Leys. The city council's South East Area Committee, which oversees Littlemore, Rose Hill and Blackbird
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Mini is coolest film car
The Cowley-made Mini Cooper has been named the best movie car of all time. A survey of 2,000 movie fans commissioned by Uniroyal tyres saw the Mk1 Austin Mini Cooper S, as featured in 1969 movie The Italian Job, crowned the coolest car on the silver
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Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 69.5 BMW 2860 Electrocomponents 189.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 127 Oxford Biomedica 22 Oxford Catalyst 163 Oxford Instruments 202.5 Reed Elsevier 661 RM 202.5 RPS Group 309 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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College honours top architect
A prominent architect has been honoured by one of Oxford University's most distinguished colleges. Simon Shew, former senior partner at Oxford-based Gray Baynes & Shew Architects, attended a reception and ceremony in the Sutro Room at Trinity College
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Vale won't change bus pass time
Vale of White Horse leader Jerry Patterson is standing by the council's decision not to allow a national bus pass scheme for the over 60s and disabled people to operate from 9am. The new scheme, launched on April 1, means people can enjoy free off-peak
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Shed set alight
FIRE crews were called to a shed blaze late last night in what is thought to be an arson attack. Emergency crews arrived at the shed blaze in Cosin Close, off East Avenue, in East Oxford, at about midnight. They found a shed on fire and the blaze
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Nursing home opens doors
THE Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Hugo Brunner will officially open a new 50-bed nursing home today. Wantage Nursing Home Charitable Trust raised £800,000 to pay for the land on which the new £3m centre sits in Garston Lane, Wantage, which was built
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Shed blaze firebug strikes
FIRE crews were called to a shed blaze late last night in what is thought to be an arson attack. Emergency crews arrived at the shed blaze in Cosin Close, off East Avenue, in east Oxford, at around midnight. They found a shed on fire and the blaze had
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OAPs queue up for bus passes
CONFUSION still reigns over the pensioners' free bus pass scheme that has left hundreds of Oxford OAPs without a ticket to ride. All pensioners eligible for the national free bus travel scheme should have received their passes in time for the
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Final polish
How sad that so many of our traditional skills are disappearing. Foster and Sons is an old-fashioned cobblers that has been providing excellent service to customers for more than half a century. But from tomorrow, the distinctive smell of shoe leather
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Alternative on offer
Sir - In your article Pledge on alternative A-levels abandoned (April 4) your correspondent Jack Doyle writes Henley College is the only institution offering the International Baccalaureate in Oxfordshire. This is simply not the case. St Clare's offers
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City so out of step on bus passes
Oxford City Council has not covered itself with glory over the bus pass issue. While other councils appear to have sailed through the operation, the city has had a bumpy ride. Admittedly, the city has more pensioners and disabled people to deal with
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Sense of history
Sir - I was saddened but not surprised at the news that Nuffield College is to sell Nuffield Place the long-time home of Lord Nuffield. For institutions that trade so heavily on their heritage and world reputation in the academic field, Oxford colleges
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Precious commodity
Sir - As a long-term rheumatology patient of over 25 years at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, I was horrified to learn of the recent failure to achieve Foundation Status. This hospital is a very precious commodity; a brand new state-of-the-art building
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Vital services
Sir - I was appalled to read that specialist services at the NOC may be in jeopardy. This would be disastrous for patients such as myself who have relied on this particular hospital for treatment for multiple joint replacements. Without the help
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Centre of excellence
Sir - It may not be widely known that the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre routinely provides services to a much wider area than Oxford city and Oxfordshire. There are out-reach clinics in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. I am extremely
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Jewel in NHS crown
Sir - As a medical student who has worked part-time as a health care assistant at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre for the last year, I would like to add to the praise directed at the hospital, and the fears for its future (Report, April 4). In addition
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Attractive prospect
Sir - I very much agree with your correspondent Deborah Manley (Letters, April 4) that serious consideration should be given to the city council making space available at the Ferry Centre at a suitable rent for a Post Office. The city chief executive
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Welcoming area
Sir - I was delighted to read Susanna Pressel's optimism (Letters, April 4) about solving car park problems and would like to add the following observations. The car park in Walton Well Road is intended to be used, as their previous known names suggest
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Stick to your guns
Sir - It seems perfectly possible that the rat Mr Lubowiecki saw on Easter Sunday "marching across" his patio (Letters, April 4) would have done so irrespective of whether his refuse collection is weekly or fortnightly. Councillor Jean Fooks is to
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Scientific evidence
Sir - The remarkable news recently has not been so much that sophisticated DNA tests have proved the presence of poison-resistant rats in Oxford, but that Jean Fooks has denied this both to your reporter (Report, April 4) and in writing. It is scarcely
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Waste of money
Sir - Re: £13m traffic cuts deal blow to High. Thank God. Whoever was the appalling spendthrift who thought up the idea of expensive stone, wider pavements and bus bays on one of the few streets in Oxford city and surrounds which needs neither?
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Undeniable truth
Sir - I feel that I must reply to the letter that appeared in The Oxford Times (April 4) from a range of people who have strong links to Oxford High Street. Each of the people who signed the letter no doubt have a deep attachment to what is undoubtedly
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Road to nowhere
Sir - Can the A40 cope with several thousand more houses at Witney? Oxfordshire's Local Transport Plan 2011-16 says congestion on the A40 between Witney and Oxford is among the worst in the county. Gridlock between Eynsham and Wolvercote causes rat-running
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New town would cast deep shadow
Sir - The Government's plans for eco-towns are certainly stoking up some interesting debate. David Eldridge (Letters, March 28) says one would hope that by the time such eco-towns are built, the government of the day would have the sense to have planned
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Prospect of losing centre is dire
Sir - The future of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre should be of concern to us all (Report, April 4). The NOC is deservedly world-famous, well managed, and financially efficient. The 'case' for closure or merger centres on financial practices that
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Uncertain future
A glance at the letters on the page opposite will give some indication of the depth of feeling that is welling up in the face of the threats faced by the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. The world-famous specialist hospital may see its services taken
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Hail a young hero
We are often accused, unfairly we feel, of focusing on the more negative aspects of the news, particularly when dealing with young people. So we are delighted to relate the story this week of schoolboy Carl McKenna, who, while on work experience with
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Family marks Win's 100th birthday
FAMILY members said a big thank-you to a "brilliant mother", as she celebrated her 100th birthday. As Beatrice 'Win' Brown toasted her health today she was joined by four generations of her family plus staff and residents of Townsend House residential
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OAPs queue up for bus passes
Confusion still reigns over the pensioners' free bus pass scheme that has left hundreds of Oxford OAPs without a ticket to ride. All pensioners eligible for the national free bus travel scheme should have received their passes in time for the start
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Half the woman I used to be
JANET Ball is half the woman she was after losing more than ten stone in a life-changing transformation. Miss Ball, 39, from Rawthey Avenue, Didcot, was forced to ask for a seatbelt extension on a flight to Amsterdam five years ago, because
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Traders fear effects of development
TRADERS in Bicester claim they are already facing financial hardship because of the plans to redevelop the town. Parking has emerged as a big issue for traders and shoppers ahead of the start of work later this year on the £70m town centre redevelopment
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Studio aims to help homeless
THE OFS Studio in Oxford is to be refurbished, thanks to a £2.3m grant to help the homeless. The arts and leisure complex between Gloucester Green and George Street, formerly known as the Old Fire Station, is to house a new centre providing performance
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Festival mixes music and science
MUSIC, science and literature are set to come together for Oxford's newest festival. Oxford May Music will be a six-day festival of concerts and lectures, running from Wednesday, April 30, to Bank Holiday Monday, May 5. It is the brainchild
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An uncertain future
WITH building work stretching across the site, patients arriving at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre surely assume that the specialist hospital is entering an exciting new era. The new reception area sits within an impressive circular glass atrium,
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On the run for charity
Today, in the second of a three-part series, we meet more amateur runners from across Oxfordshire who are all taking part in Sunday's Flora London Marathon CHLOE Russell's boyfriend James Cowan, who had Type 1 diabetes, died of severe hypoglycaemia
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Teen nominated for national award
A TEENAGER who raised more than £15,000 for Oxford Children's Hospital is in the running for a national award. Andrew Baker was nominated for Britain's Most Inspiring Fundraiser Award organised by charity website everyclick.com. The 19-year-old started
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Spy survey
A FIFTH of women have admitted spying on their partner's emails and mobile phone messages in an Oxford survey. The Oxford Internet Institute quizzed 2,000 online users about their relationships. Results showed 20 per cent read partner's emails and
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School gets speed check
ALMOST a quarter of drivers clocked in a recent police speed check were travelling over the 30mph limit in Curbridge Road, Witney. The laser checks were requested by Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, which had complained about the danger to children
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Sat-nav battle steps up a gear
DAMAGE to a 200-year-old bridge in Oxfordshire is being highlighted as part of a national campaign to stop drivers blindly following satellite navigation directions. The dashboard technology is diverting growing numbers of heavy lorries on to country
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Eco-town plans Florence-style bridge over A34
A bridge over the A34, based on the world-famous Ponte Vecchio in Florence, is set to be the centrepiece of a controversial Weston-on-the-Green eco-town. Developers behind the massive estate - dubbed one of Brown's Town's' after it was revealed as one
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Summertown set for summer of delays
PREPARATORY work on a project to improve road safety and ease traffic congestion in Summertown is due to start on Monday. In a bid to reduce accidents, a new pedestrian crossing is to be built near the Dew Drop Inn, in Banbury Road, and a 20mph speed
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Road show
AN EXHIBITION featuring a replica 1950s petrol pump and hundreds of documents relating to the history of road transport will run at Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage, from April 28 to July 7. The exhibition is curated by motoring writer Nick Baldwin
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Major plans for Old Fire Station
THE OLD Fire Station, in Oxford, is to be refurbished thanks to a £2.3m grant to help the homeless. The arts and leisure complex between Gloucester Green and George Street is to house a new centre that will provide performance classes for homeless people
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Special people
Three cheers for the parents of children with special needs who have won a four-year battle to get post-16 education in the county's special schools. Until now, Oxfordshire had been the only county in England without post-16 special needs education
