Archive
-
Date
Death fall inquest told of Leys woman's debts
A GRIEVING widower whose wife jumped to her death from the 74ft Carfax Tower after accruing £25,000 in debts has urged other people with money worries to seek help. An inquest at Oxford Coroners’ Court today heard Patricia Stoute, 61, of Dunnock Way,
-
Date
Pupils get wrapped up in climate debate
SNOW on the ground did not distract children from the serious business of climate change at a ground-breaking conference in Oxford. About 350 children from eight Oxfordshire primary schools heard about different aspects of the threat of global
-
Date
Cleric seen in lingerie shop
Many clergymen these days fail to get round to introducing themselves, citing overwork and the trend towards multi-parish livings. You could say the flock is too large for the shepherd to cope. But this can’t be levelled against the distinguished-looking
-
Date
Our two faiths are not compatible
I would like to respond to Dr Taj Hargey’s measured message (Oxford Mail, December 23). Truth is not always comfortable. John the Baptist lost his head for it, Jesus was crucified for it, and Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley burned for it. As human beings
-
Date
Greens have arithmetic wrong on motoring tax
Sushila Dhall’s contribution to the Oxford Mail’s Issue piece (January 8), was uninformed, ignorant of the facts and, as with many Greens, her statements were very misleading. Had she bothered to check the various parliamentary papers, she would have
-
Date
Not such fun any more, a dog writes
When nature calls, it’s all very well, if you’ve got an indoor loo. But when the snow is two feet deep, what can a short dog do? I thought it was fun, the very first day, when the flakes came tumbling down. It goes without saying, the kids were
-
Date
There is no magic bullet solution
THE issue over what the summit in Copenhagen achieved is a debate set to run and run. The climate talks proved one thing: that no one can agree on a solution. This is obvious when you consider what was at stake. There is no magic bullet solution to
-
Date
We really suffer from a lack of public transport
IN the article by Chris Walker (Oxford Mail, December 30), there was a suggestion by Hugh Jaeger, from Bus Users UK, that Rose Hill suffers from an outrageous exclusion from retail and employment opportunities, and that you need a car to live there.
-
Date
Days when an American played
I WRITE with reference to Des Adderley’s letter (Oxford Mail, December 21). Having been a life-long Headington and Oxford United fan I can remember the American named McIllvenny playing for Headington in 1950. He played in the right full-back position
-
Date
Refurbishment was waste of taxpayers money
I want to express my concerns about the John Allen Centre Play Area refurbishment. Basically, it was a waste of money. We have cheap wooden toys, cheap safety matting, and took away the fence which protected children from dogs, drunks and druggies.
-
Date
‘I wasn’t struggling for cash’, says Ross
THE jury in the trial of a woman accused of stealing thousands of pounds from a youth football club and the Ministry of Defence is expected to consider its verdict tomorrow. Natalie Ross, of Reedmace Road, Bicester, continued giving evidence at Oxford
-
Date
Fury as groper gets a caution
A GRANDMOTHER who was sexually assaulted by a shopper in a supermarket has condemned a police decision to give him a caution. The retired grandmother-of-six was reaching for some biscuits on a top shelf in Tesco at Cowley Retail Park, Oxford
-
Date
Parents urged to vaccinate children against swine flu
HEALTH bosses are urging parents to get their children vaccinated against swine flu. GPs across Oxfordshire are set to begin administering the vaccine to 35,000 children. Youngsters aged between six months and five years will be given the jab, in line
-
Date
SNOW: Ice sparks surge in injuries
Hospitals have seen a surge in ice-related injuries during the recent cold snap. There has been a rise in people with wrist and head injuries at the Horton General in Banbury and Oxford’s John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals since December. The most
-
Date
Brides and grooms: Make a date with the Mail Wedding Fayre
A HOST of information for prospective brides and grooms will be on display at the Oxford Mail Wedding Fayre and Bridal Fashion Show this weekend. Hundreds of brides-to-be, bridesmaids, grooms and families are expected to come along to the event
-
Date
Guitarist Alex turns singer
Farmer and musician Alex James will have his singing talents judged when he takes part in a new ITV show tomorrow night. The Blur bass player, who owns a farm just outside Kingham, will be trained as an opera singer during the six-week series Pop Star
-
Date
Children off on a journey of songs
CHILDREN and their parents went on a journey of classic Disney songs during a fun dance session. Children played pirates, fairies and jungle characters at the class at the Cornerstone Art Centre, in Didcot, today. Class teacher Elly
-
Date
SNOW: Binmen tackle rubbish backlog
BINMEN returned to the streets of Oxford today after bosses deemed some of the city’s roads safe enough for them to continue their rounds. Although some collections have taken place since the New Year, last week’s heavy snowfall hampered many crews’
-
Date
Airbase plan is backed at last
LONG-AWAITED redevelopment plans for the former US Air Force base at Upper Heyford have finally been approved. The news comes just over 15 years after the Americans returned the base to the Ministry of Defence. The North Oxfordshire Consortium – a group
-
Date
Man held after drugs check on Thame and Wheatley pubs
Police were out on patrol in Thame and Wheatley with drugs dog, Benson, in an operation to help crack down on the supply and use of illegal drugs. The operation was carried out in a number of licensed premises and public spaces. Sgt
-
Date
Prolific burglar admits guilt
A burglar admitted breaking in to nine properties in a month. Wayne Axtell, 27, of Spencer Avenue, Yarnton, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court today, where he admitted a burglary in Queen’s Close, Eynsham, on Monday, January 11, and asked for a further
-
Date
Debt-hit Legion club gets another reprieve
AN UNDER-THREAT Royal British Legion club has been handed another stay of execution, but bosses say the cold snap is killing their chances of repaying the taxman. The Marston RBL Club, in Hadow Road, Oxford, had been set to close on Tuesday over an unpaid
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Quins up for crucial clash
There is no doubting the importance of Saturday’s National 3 South West clash between Oxford Harlequins and Old Patesians (2.30). Should Quins win at the Southern Bypass ground, they will give themselves and Chinnor a fighting chance of finishing
-
Date
CRICKET: Umpires chief Reed hits back
The chairman of the Home Counties Premier League’s umpires panel has hit back at criticism of a potential boycott of Aston Rowant by officials, following the fracas there last season when two players came to blows. League umpires were due
-
Date
CRICKET: Rowant called to the Bar
Aston Rowant will open their campaign in Division 1 of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League with a trip to Potters Bar in Hertfordshire on May 8. The Oxfordshire club, who won Division 2 West last season, host fellow promoted side Harpenden
-
Date
Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 26.75 BMW 2855 Electrocomponents 176.3 Gladstone 29 Nationwide Accident Repair 88.5 Oxford Biomedica 11.6 Oxford Catalysts 50 Oxford Instruments 220 Reed Elsevier 507.25 RM 165.25 RPS Group 221.7 Courtesy of Redmayne
-
Date
Ewe know Spring's just around the corner
A COURSE in lambing came just in the nick of time for Roly and Camilla Puzey. The pair, who run Hill Farm, Little Wittenham, near Abingdon, put their skills to use this week to welcome a newcomer into the world. The couple have had the farm tenancy
-
Date
Schools given budget ultimatum
HEADTEACHERS in Oxfordshire are being warned to spend £3.4m they have stashed away or risk losing it. Figures revealed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), showed schools had £12.9m left from the 2008/09 academic year budget.
-
Date
Hospice seeks ambassadors
VOLUNTEERS are needed to give talks to community groups about the work of Oxford’s Helen and Douglas House hospice. The charity has a network of speakers who give short talks to community groups such as schools, Rotary clubs and youth groups which might
-
Date
Grave vandalised a day after funeral
A FAMILY mourning the death of a husband and father have described their horror at finding his grave vandalised just 24 hours after his funeral. George Mustion, who died on Christmas Eve following a long battle with cancer, was laid to rest in Warborough
-
Date
Call to arms to save church hall
RESIDENTS are battling their parish church to stop it building houses on a beautyspot. The parochial church council of St Leonard’s in Watlington wants to knock down the church hall and use land next to the churchyard for housing to fund renovations
-
Date
High-fliers could soon swing through the trees
THRILLSEEKERS could be swinging through the trees under plans put forward to build Oxfordshire’s first high ropes course. Husband and wife team David and Lisa Pointin, of Thames Street, Oxford, have applied for permission to create an adventure course
-
Date
Care home is rated as one of the very best
A CARE home is celebrating being rated one of the best in the country. Rosebank, a 28-bed home in High Street, Bampton, has been awarded a Three Star Award for Excellence by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It is one of just 10 per cent of residential
-
Date
Man admits Eynsham burglary
Police have charged a man with burglary after a house was burgled in Queen’s Close, Eynsham. Wayne Axtell, 27, of Spencer Avenue, Yarnton, was charged with the offence on Tuesday and appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court. Axtell pleaded guilty
-
Date
Girl assaulted in graveyard
A 16-year-old girl was assaulted while walking home along Curbridge Road in Witney. The girl was approached by a man who asked if he could walk with her and put his arm around the girl just before midnight on Friday, police said today.
-
Date
Snow: Waste collections resume in West Oxfordshire
Wheelie bin waste collections have resumed in West Oxfordshire. The district council is following the Christmas and New Year collection schedule, which is one day later than the normal collection day. A spokesman said: "Where roads are
-
Date
Girl assaulted in Witney graveyard
Police this afternoon appealed for witnesses after a 16-year-old girl was assaulted as she walked home from a night out in Witney. At around midnight last Friday the girl was walking along Curbridge Road, towards the Tower Hill roundabout,
-
Date
Snow: Stagecoach noon update
Oxford Tube - running normally Route 1 - running normally Route 3 - running normally Route 7A - running normally Route 7B - running normally Route 7C - running normally Route 10 - running normally Route
-
Date
SNOW: Oxford Bus Company update
OXFORD Bus Company services have almost returned to normal as rain and warmer temperatures has cleared ice from the county’s roads. Yesterday the firm was forced to suspend all services for two and a quarter hours as snow and ice caused havoc on the
-
Date
Lawyer dies in car crash
LAWYER and All Souls College Distinguished Fellow Sir Ian Brownlie has died in a car crash in Egypt. Sir Ian was Professor of Public International Law and Fellow of All Souls from 1980 to 1999. He returned a Distinguished Fellow in 2004
-
Date
Pick And Mix
KATHERINE MACALISTER and sons tuck in and put Yo! Sushi to the test. You’d think my son had entered some kind of ‘eat as much as you can’ competition, had you watched the plates piling up around him at our table in Yo! Sushi. There was
-
Date
Mersey Mission
With its blend of history and modernity and its stunningly transformed city centre, the city of Liverpool is becoming a popular choice for a short break. Author and BBC broadcaster Stuart Maconie takes in a whistlestop tour of some of the highlights of
-
Date
Fasten Your Seatbelt
UP IN THE AIR (15) Comedy Drama. George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, Melanie Lynskey, Danny McBride, Jason Bateman, JK Simmons. Director: Jason Reitman. Unemployment is no laughing matter... although Up In The Air begs to differ.
-
Date
Picture-perfect style
A charming Cotswold house in West Oxfordshire has been restored to picture- perfect style. Photo journalist Stephen Markeson, and his wife Juliana, have lovingly renovated Ivybank at Shilton to create a comfortable family home that reflects
-
Date
Red Hot
JO CAULFIELD, star of the aptly named Radio 4 show It’s That Jo Caulfield Again, is one of the funniest female comics in the UK. Between TV appearances on Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and a dazzling array
-
Date
African beauties
Trapped in the house by cold weather and with little to do outside, I turned to the comforting strains of cricket on the radio. For those of you who don’t know, cricket is my other passion. It was fostered by childhood games where the girls were always
-
Date
Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 26.75 BMW 2845 Electrocomponents 175.8 Gladstone 29 Nationwide Accident Repair 88.5 Oxford Biomedica 11.6 Oxford Catalyst 50 Oxford Instruments 218 Reed Elsevier 506.75 RM 160.75 RPS Group 223.6 Courtesy of Redmayne
-
Date
Get out and go wild
Surviving the snow: The recent snowy weather turned our towns and countryside into a beautiful white wonderland. Of course, snow brings its fair share of problems too, causing chaos on the roads. It’s an even bigger challenge for our wildlife having
-
Date
James Figg: Thame
During my 36 years as an Oxfordshire resident, the name and fame of pugilist James Figg had until last month utterly passed me by. Perhaps, this is not surprising since his heyday in the ring was nearly 300 years ago. Between 1719-30 he was undisputed
-
Date
Recipe: Allotment soup (serves six)
This soup is Thane Prince’s creation and is one of the many delicious soups featured in The Soup Book (Dorling Kindersley, £16.99) edited by Sophie Grigson. This is a great recipe. It’s really easy to make, and if you don’t have all the vegetables listed
-
Date
Timely encounter at a favourite pub
Isn’t life amazing? I had spent days trying to contact Sophie Grigson so that we could discuss the superb new soup book which she edited, but unfortunately the contact number I had was not responding. I therefore listed this as a problem to be sorted
-
Date
It's snow joke
Overheard: A shopper at Milton-under-Wychwood Co-op this week saying: “Its like pre-perestroika Russia. Tramping through the snow to find empty shelves.” But at least the Midcounties Co-operative was coping as well as could be expected. Staff came in
-
Date
An amazing queen sacrifice
The Christmas holidays mark the mid point of the Oxfordshire chess season. An examination of the tables reveals City club making the running in three of the four divisions with Cowley 2 just ahead of City 2 in division 2. Last week, City 1 narrowly defeated
-
Date
Up In The Air
Unemployment is no laughing matter . . . although Up In The Air begs to differ. Directed by Jason Reitman, whose last film was the universally adored Juno, this portrait of a loveless man, who earns his living by flying around America and making total
-
Date
The Secret Love Life of Ophelia: Burton Taylor Studio
Ask any actor which part they’ve found the most demanding and there’s a good chance many will simply say Hamlet. Seen as the bard’s magnum opus, those who’ve portrayed the tortured and brilliantly eloquent Prince of Denmark will tell you just how exhausting
-
Date
La Bete: OFS Studio, Oxford
La Bete flopped when it was premiered in 1992 on Broadway. Viewing this new production, you can see why; the rhyming verse of the dialogue and the fiercely idiosyncra c nature of a number of the central characters mean that this is, at very best, a slow
-
Date
Art and Artists of Abingdon
The archaeological evidence points to Abingdon being England’s oldest settlement and at the time of its great Abbey, it would have rivalled upstart Oxford. Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries dealt a blow to the town from which, one could argue
-
Date
Die Fledermaus: Oxford Playhouse
Revenge, mistaken identity and marital infidelity — these are the essential ingredients of many a play and opera. But few, arguably, have served them up with such liberal helpings of wit and sparkle as Johann Strauss, and Die Fledermaus remains as popular
-
Date
The Snow Queen: English National Opera
Choreographer Michael Corder has ‘freely adapted’ Hans Christian Andersen’s lengthy story, cutting it to its essential dramatic components, and reducing it to a length suitable for an full-evening ballet. On the surface it’s a fairy tale about two children
-
Date
SNOW: Fresh salt due
OXFORDSHIRE is set to receive a fresh delivery of salt for its roads today. Rodney Rose, County Hall’s cabinet member for transport, said road conditions should now improve, but urged drivers to remain cautious. He said: “We have a new load of salt
-
Date
Wines for winter, £74
Feeling a bit nippy? Need something to cheer you up in the depths of winter? Wondering how long it is to spring? On the look out for snowdrops? It’s that time of year again isn’t it? Well, don’t despair because here’s a mixed case of wine to cheer you
-
Date
Stirred by some Martini Asti
One of the qualities I most admire in my mother is her ingenuity. This is, after all, the lady who, after running over my father’s golf clubs in her Saab, popped them into the gas oven in the hope that they would soften sufficiently for her to straighten
-
Date
SNOW: Temperature update
TEMPERATURES are expected to stay at 1°C in Oxford for most of today, but will fall to -1°C by 6pm, the Met Office has predicted. Forecasters have warned of fog and poor visibility from early evening.
-
Date
Assault convictions overturned
A HOUSEHOLDER who spat in the face of one policeman and headbutted another has been cleared by top judges because the officers had no right to enter his Oxford home. High Court judge Mr Justice Collins expressed sympathy for the officers involved
-
Date
SNOW: School opening hours
Here are the latest adjusted opening hours for schools in the county. Use your computer's search facility (ie Ctrl + F) to find your school. Aston & Cote Church of England Primary School (Bampton)School will open 10 am Thursday 14 January
-
Date
Snow: Flash floods fear grow
Flash floods could hit Britain as the big freeze turns into the big thaw, forecasters have warned. Warmer temperatures and heavy rain are forecast across England on Saturday - before temperatures are set to plunge again. Motorists faced
-
Date
SNOW: 8am buses update
The Oxford Bus Company is running a normal service on almost all its city and county routes this morning. Park-and-ride routes and the Oxford Espress and Airline coaches are also running well. The following alterations to services remain
-
Date
Oxford United manager Wilder says no let-up
Oxford United boss Chris Wilder admits there’s no let-up in the intensity during training because when his team do return to action after the Big Freeze, they want to “hit the ground running”. The players trained hard on the softer area of the Kassam
-
Date
Water returns after overnight repairs in Jericho
THAMES Water engineers completed overnight repair work on a fractured main at 6.30am today and water was turned back on to the neighbouring homes. The pipe was located on Walton Street just outside of The Big Bang restaurant, near the corner of
-
Date
Buses on the move at long last
THE developments for Oxford’s bus system announced today will certainly revolutionise the city’s public transport for the better. The elements have all been touted or promised in the past but it is good to see it all in first gear and about
-
Date
It's A Cracker
JEREMY SMITH talks ballet with artistic director of The Nutcracker Sergei Bobrov. THE Russian State Ballet of Siberia returns to Oxford after an acclaimed tour in 2009, bringing to life four of the world’s most beautiful and popular ballets
-
Date
Cold Comfort
The price may be right but there’s something lacking as RICHARD BELL discovers at a new venue at Oxford Castle. I’m assuming the snow will not have disappeared by the time this article is published, and I’m hoping you’ve all enjoyed the
-
Date
Sonic Boom
Tim Hughes looks forward to a show by a band tipped to be among the stars of the year – the deliciously different Chew Lips. IN THE words of Lennon and McCartney: Listen, do you want to know a secret? We’re only two weeks into the new
-
Date
Discover what the Romans did
What have the Romans done for us? As the revolutionaries in Monty Python’s Life of Brian pointed out, not much — apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths
-
Date
On the buses
At long last Oxford is on the verge of delivering a sensible transport policy where buses are concerned. It has taken a change of legislation, but it now appears the city can achieve joint ticketing on its main services and a sensible timetable that avoids
-
Date
No disgrace
The Henley MP John Howell is not known for his over-the-top statements but he excelled himself this week when he described as ‘a disgrace’ the decision to hold the General Election counts in the Henley, Wantage and Oxford West and Abingdon constituencies
-
Date
SNOW: Thousands missing out on cash for heating
HALF of the Oxfordshire pensioners who are entitled to extra money to help pay their winter heating bills are missing out. People receiving a number of benefits are entitled to an extra £25 cold weather payment when temperatures fall to 0C
-
Date
Party On Dudes
Tim Hughes steps into the brash, hedonistic and badly-behaved world of Iglu & Hartly. HARD partying Californians Iglu & Hartly can’t help landing themselves in trouble. Take last year’s South By Southwest festival in Texas, when frontman
-
Date
Town council tax to be cut
BICESTER taxpayers will see a reduction in the town council tax precept next year. Town councillors have reduced their slice of the council tax “cake” by £1.92 per household to £95.40 for a Band D property. Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District
-
Date
Stay in Haddenham
Sir – Was Mr Bradnack writing tongue in cheek about the Christmas lights, or is he really a Scrooge? (Letters, December 31). Christmas starts on Christmas Day until January 6 or even, according to the church calendar, February 2 — Candlemas. The
-
Date
Lights in the sky
Sir – In response to Ms Lasenby’s letter (January 7) regarding the sighting of UFOs on New Year’s Eve I would like to reassure her that they were probably fashionable Chinese lanterns from a nearby celebration that she saw floating over East Oxford
-
Date
Insulting to Mr Gray
Sir – Could you please confirm that Christopher Gray’s restaurant reviews are indeed parodies as one of your readers appears to believe (Letters, January 7)? Whilst I would argue that the reviews are all too often complimentary with only minor quibbles
-
Date
Pool has a future
Sir – Ian Smith is of course correct when he states (Letters, December 31) that it’s necessary to act quickly to preserve swimming pool provision in Oxford. It is unfortunate that years of Labour neglect have left Temple Cowley pool in a less than
-
Date
Opportunity to create
Sir – In response to various letters and the ongoing debate concerning the Radcliffe Observatory site, it would be nice to have some idea of the process of how these big developments go through the wringer and get decided upon. What exactly was
-
Date
Selfish action
Sir – I hope the idiots who tore up a number of saplings and scattered earth all over the new play area at Marriotts Walk shopping centre, Witney, are proud of themselves. Their pathetic, selfish actions must have given them some sort of twisted gratification
-
Date
My dad is no drug smuggler, says daughter
THE daughter of a man charged with trying to smuggle more than £1m of cocaine out of Peru last night insisted: “He couldn’t have done it.” Father-of-two Alan Rae, 39, of Faringdon, is facing up to 15 years in one of the world’s most notorious
-
Date
Irresponsible waste
Sir – Mr Payne writes (Letters, January 7) that it is “tradition” to leave Christmas lights on until Twelfth Night. That does not prevent it being an irresponsible waste of our resources. His “traditions” do not necessarily benefit our planet. Extravagant
-
Date
Silver-haired voice
Sir – As a committee member of the Oxford Pensioners Action Group (OXPAG) may I use these pages to reach the ‘silver haired’ readers of your papers. OXPAG will be having its quarterly meeting later this month in Oxford Town Hall to which all retired
-
Date
Natural waste disposal
Sir – On January 7, I saw a red kite flying low over my back garden in East Oxford, less than two kilometres from Carfax as the crow flies, and it was going that way. As these little fellows were an essential part of the refuse collection scheme of
-
Date
Small price to pay
Sir – In arguing against a speed limit of 40mph for a country road, your correspondent (Letters, January 7) presents his case entirely from a driver’s perspective. A specific hazard sign may (but often may not) reduce speed at a specific spot, but
-
Date
Help English language
Sir – Between appointments at the John Radcliffe Eye Hospital today I sought refreshment at the in-house Cafe (‘We proudly brew Starbucks Coffee’). The proudly brewed coffee comes in three sizes: ‘tall’, ‘grande’, and ‘venti’, which the helpful assistant
-
Date
Historic bus deal for city
BUS companies are to sign a groundbreaking deal that will cut the numbers of buses in central Oxford by a quarter, paving the way for the pedestrianisation of the city centre. More than £10m will be invested in a fleet of low- emission double-decker
-
Date
Smaller flood schemes
Sir – As you reported on Christmas Eve, the Environment Agency has announced that the flood protection scheme, to protect Oxford from floods so severe they only occur once every 75 years, has been postponed indefinitely. Disappointing, but not surprising
-
Date
Hats off to rail service
Sir – The recent snows have seen motorists stranded, schools and even some shops closed, bus services suspended and deliveries of food from Sainsbury’s withdrawn. Yet the half-hourly train service from our local station has generally been maintained
-
Date
Typical winter weather
Sir – Last week it snowed quite heavily in Oxfordshire and it was cold. It is typical winter weather. I notice in mainland Europe it is also cold and life goes on as normal. However, since Tuesday, January 5, the following things have occured and I
-
Date
Central Oxford Wakes to No Water
Homes through out Jericho are with out water due to a fractured water pipe on Walton Street. Thames Water crews are currently working on the pipe. Water was turned off at 3:45 AM. They expect it to be turned on before 9:45 AM.
-
Date
Trains on time
Sir – I am an infrequent rail traveller and it was with considerable apprehension that I planned to go from Charlbury to Edinburgh on the Wednesday before Christmas and return on the Sunday after. However I am pleased to record that the trains were
-
Date
Time to think ahead
Sir – Let’s organise some plans for next time! It is all very well to moan about the weather; it’s a British pastime and hobby. All local roads and shopping areas have been icy and dangerous but if each of us had bought a couple of 50 kg bags of salt
-
Date
Postal problems
Sir – The current breakdown of postal services in rural areas is partly the fault of householders. Many of them seem to consider it normal for deliveries to be made through the door, even if it is at the end of a long drive. This is expecting too much
-
Date
Hoary old myth
Sir – I was disappointed to read The Great White Out — County is Covered (Report, January 7) Bicester solicitor Jonathan Freeland repeat the hoary old myth that householders clearing ice and snow from their property and property frontage leave themselves
-
Date
Keeping paths clear
Sir – The practice of putting many tons of salt on to roads and pavements (so-called gritting), as a de-icing strategy, cannot be environmentally desirable. The salt eventually ends up on soil and in water-courses. It is also unkind to vehicles, can
-
Date
Cost of icy falls
Sir – Today (January 8) pavements are still treacherous in Oxford, both in the centre and suburbs. It has snowed in Oxford in 2007 and 2008, as well as now, so snow is not an occasional occurrence. Your front page article with comments from the county
-
Date
Service with a smile
Sir – Waitrose is wonderful! With delivery orders on the books and icy weather condition so that customers are trapped in their homes, do they cancel all deliveries? Absolutely not — they phone to warn of delay, they put two drivers on board (with
-
Date
SNOW: 6am public transport update
OXFORDSHIRE'S main bus operators are aiming to operate as near-normal a service as possible today but are warning passengers that there may be changes at short notice due to the risk of icy roads. The Oxford Bus Company was operating full timetables