Archive
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Give space to books
Sir – For once, I find myself writing not to complain about Christopher Gray’s latest excess, but to address the shortcoming in the home for his two theatre reviews on April 18: the Weekend section. Ever since its redesign some months ago, you
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May Morning bridge-jumpers warned of dangers
MAY Morning revellers risk serious injury or even death by jumping off Magdalen Bridge tomorrow, emergency services have warned. The level of the Cherwell was measured yesterday and stands at just over one metre. A cordon will be in place to
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Box Clever rehearse Rome and Juliet at Oxford High School
STUDENTS indulged their dramatic side when a top production company rehearsed Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at Oxford High School. Nine pupils studying drama got to help out with the Box Clever Theatre production, to run at London’s Unicorn Theatre
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Judge begins summing up in Bullfinch abuse trial
A JUDGE has begun summing up in the case of men accused of child sex abuse in Oxford. Nine men are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of targeting girls aged between 11 and 15 in the city, giving them drink and drugs, and sexually exploiting them
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Superheroes to the party
BATMAN and Robin, Superman and Bananaman were among special guests at an event celebrating Children’s Hospice Week. About 40 children, families and staff members came together at East Oxford children’s hospice Helen House on Sunday for a superheroes
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Burglar jailed for student laptop thefts
A SERIAL burglar who sneaked into two student flats and stole four laptops and a mobile phone has been jailed. Andrew Ryan, of no fixed address, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison on Friday at Oxford Crown Court. He admitted breaking
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Bicester park & ride plans driving forward
PLANS for a new park-and-ride to help tackle congestion problems in Bicester have moved a step closer. Oxfordshire County Council submitted a ‘screening opinion’ for a 500-space park-and-ride off the A41 Oxford Road to Cherwell District Council
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Rail chiefs fight Hinksey bridge veto
NETWORK Rail is to fight an Oxford City Council ruling that refused it permission to replace the railway footbridge linking South Oxford and South Hinksey. The infrastructure company has appealed to the independent Planning Inspectorate after the
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Girls' football gets a bounce from Olympics
THE BEAUTIFUL game was not Team GB’s strong suit at the Olympics. But it was a chance for the world to watch professional women’s football, many for the first time. In the months since, Oxford United Ladies reached the quarter final of the
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Owls swoop into care home
CARE home resident Ron Cox enjoys a visit from Willow the tawny owl. Other residents from Iffley Sanctuary Care Home in Oxford also got the opportunity to hold birds during a visit by Alan Charlett of Al’s Owls. Mr Cox, 86, said: “It was interesting
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Fans strike gold at James Bond film festival
THE spectacular closing night screening of Goldfinger on Friday, marking the end of this year’s eighth annual Oxford Mail film festival, left movie goers and Bond fans alike both shaken and stirred. It proved once and for all that the magic Disney
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Depressed father-of-two took his own life
A DAD-OF-TWO suffering from depression took his own life, an inquest heard. Daniel Button, 35, was found hanged in the garage of his Banbury home by his brother, Ricky Shorter, on January 12. His two sons were due to see him at his home in
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Fundraisers are quackers for duck race
THOUSANDS of ducks bobbed along the River Ock on their way to raising a four-figure sum for two charities. The duck race at Millets Farm, Frilford, on Sunday was organised by Faringdon Rotary Club and was a fundraiser for Respite for Oxfordshire
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Delight as TV chef chips in £23k to help mentor students
A CELEBRITY TV chef has dished out £22,500 to Oxford’s cookery students. Ken Hom donated the cash to support a culinary mentoring programme at Oxford Brookes University. Under the Bacchus Mentoring Programme, a scheme within the School of Hospitality
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Museum exhibition focuses on the magic of myths and tradition
IN an ancient tradition dating back to 1700, Roger Cox was carried aloft through the streets of Abingdon. Last June, Mr Cox was elected Mayor of Ock Street for the sixth year running, and also as the Squire of Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers
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Besselsleigh: farm charges
Two men have been charged with manslaughter following the death of a man who fell through a roof at a farm. John Binning, 64, from Great Park Farm, Besselsleigh, and James Binning, 27, from Binnings Farm, Besselsleigh, will appear at Oxford Magistrates
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Court date for family accused of animal cruelty
A family accused of animal cruelty at the sanctuary they ran are due back at Bicester Magistrates’ Court on May 8. Angela Russell, 44, her father, brother, three children, niece and carer are all jointly charged with 16 counts of animal welfare
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Trial hears that £220k of drugs were found by suspicious landlord
A LANDLORD who became suspicious that his tenant had moved out found £220,000 of heroin, cocaine and cannabis hidden in the property. Raymond Duckett told Oxford Crown Court yesterday that when he visited his flat in Reliance Way, Cowley, he discovered
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RUGBY UNION: Bulls beaten in final day try-fest
Round-up BANBURY Bulls ended their season with a 54-31 home defeat to Old Laurentians in Midlands 2 West South. Bulls secured a bonus point for scoring four or more tries, while Laurentians finished second in the table. Three quick tries
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Update: Botley Road gas main work should be finished tomorrow but delays until Friday
EMERGENCY work to repair a gas leak at Oxford’s Botley Road is expected to be completed tomorrow but resurfacing work means there will still be delays on Friday, Southern Gas has just admitted There were traffic queues in Botley Road this morning
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Slight dip in county house prices
House prices fell by 0.8 per cent last month, latest official statistics have revealed. Data from the Government’s Land Registry shows the average price of a property in the county now stands at £242,035, compared to £243,985 in February. Prices
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Missing woman
The family of a missing woman from North Wales believe she could be in the Thames Valley. Elaine Beaney, 20, from Chester, left home on Tuesday last week after being diagnosed with cancer of the throat. She was reportedly spotted in Bicester. Call
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Power failure hits city centre
Hundreds of homes and businesses lost power after a fault yesterday. About 600 properties in Worcester Street, Hart Street and Magdalen Street lost their power supply at around 11.45am, but most were reconnected by noon. The remaining 60 to
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Hinksey pool reopens
Hinksey heated outdoor pool opens for the summer season at 7am on Friday. Normal opening hours are 7am to 7pm on weekdays and 8am to 6pm on weekends, though there are some adult-only and members-only sessions. An open day is being held on Saturday
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Vandals smash windscreens
POLICE have increased patrols in North Oxford after eight vehicles had their windscreens smashed over the weekend. The first five attacks happened in Observatory Street, Bevington Road and St Bernard’s Road overnight on Saturday. On the following
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Duck makes new home at Milton Hill Bowls Club
THE NEWEST member of Milton Hill Bowls Club might be accused of fowl play. But this mother duck is refusing to throw in the towel after nesting on the edge of the bowling green. However, “throwing in the towel” is exactly what the bowlers have
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RUGBY UNION: Oxfordshire are battered
County Championship Shield OXFORDSHIRE were hammered 67-12 by defending champions Surrey in their Pool 3 opener at Guildford RFC. Surrey proved too strong for an inexperienced Oxon side, scoring ten tries. Wing George Owen (2), full back
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Inventive architecture
Sir – Leonard Blavatnik is man enough not to be deflected from trust in his architects by Mr Hornby’s playful jibes (Letters, April 18). It seems that the latter’s utterly appropriate reaction to the Port Meadow fiasco has so fired his humours for
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Hold up on Botley Road due to gas main work - and scheduled to last until Friday
THERE are severe hold-ups for traffic on Oxford's Botley Road due to more work being carried out at its junction with Ferry Hinksey Road. Reports are of traffic queueing back west along the Botley Road to the A34 sliproad and up to West Way junction
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MOTORSPORT: Marussia tight-lipped in FA cash debate
Banbury-based Marussia are refusing to be drawn into a debate over prize-money with Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Ecclestone has stated from this season only F1’s top ten teams will be allowed a share of the prize fund, which is to rise
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RACING: Butler in BHA steroids probe
Gerard Butler’s Newmarket yard is at the centre of a British Horseracing Authority investigation into banned steroids. Butler, who trained at Churn Stables at Blewbury, near Didcot, for nine years up to May 2008, told the Independent that four
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Girl 5 'took enough drugs to floor a man'
AN ALLEGED child sex victim has a “clouded memory” as she often took enough drugs to “floor a grown man”, the Old Bailey heard yesterday. The trial of nine men suspected of running a child sex gang in Oxford also heard the witness was not “exploited
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HOCKEY: Young Fisher honoured
Sam Fisher, the first boy from Oxford HC, to receive international recognition, received a special award at the club’s junior presentation night at Oxford Brookes Sports Centre. Fisher, who represented England in the Under 16 European Championships
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Need news of steamer
I’M TRYING to find any information, or pictures, of a large yellow paddle-steamer which I remember being parked by Folly Bridge as I walked across to school as a child. This would have been in the early 1970s. If there is any information out there
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Celebrate St George
ST GEORGE’S Day must be a public holiday. It is time now that we revisited the issue of having a bank holiday on the day our nation should be celebrating its patron, saint. Saint George is one of Roman Catholicism’s 14 Holy Helpers regarded as
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Help us save lives
LAST year, 173 people were killed and 111,000 injured in the UK workplace. Just one death is far too many, so these numbers remain concerning. In February 2012, a worker died after an accident with a forklift truck at a Banbury builders’ merchant
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Too elitist over cox
It’s a bit unfair, and perhaps ‘elitist’, of Marilyn Smith to excuse a report of swearing by Oxford cox Oskar Zorilla (ViewPoints, April 26) – who obviously knew he was “wired for sound” during this year’s University Boat Race – and then attempt to
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RUGBY UNION: Promotion joy for Grove
Grove 29, Trowbridge 10 GROVE will play in South West 1 East next season after winning an entertaining play-off at Cane Lane. Although Grove outscored Trowbridge by six tries to two, this Southern Counties shootout was far from one-way traffic
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor secure sixth place
National 2 South CHINNOR sealed sixth place in the table with a match to spare after a 27-13 home victory over Launceston. This is the highest finish in Chinnor’s 50-year history and victory at Shelford in their final match would take them
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford claim sweet victory
Oxford RL climbed to third in the table after holding on to beat Oldham 18-16 at Whitebank. The narrow victory was particularly sweet for Oxford head coach Tony Benson, who was at Oldham last season along with several of his players. Half-back
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Box charge is criminal
TWO weeks ago my food recycling box went missing. My next-door-neighbour had a ticket stuck on his refuse box saying he had to dispose of his food waste properly. I rang the council and explained my box was lost and could I have a replacement.
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Jones was a decent man
I’M NOT quite sure what Jack Larkin Jones’ family will think of Ian Cummings’ assumption that he was a Lord. The principled socialist that he was, he turned down his peerage. He was awarded the CH, (Companions of Honour) and MBE for services to
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Oh, what a circus it is for the city council jugglers
IN REPLY to Betty Woodley’s letter (ViewPoints, April 26), I would like to point out that we now live in a multicultural society, regardless of whether she likes it or not. There are issues regarding immigration, however, that don’t deflect from
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ON YER BIKE: Using a bike to charge up an electric event
They say that if you develop the cycling habit from a young age, it sticks with you for life. I recall learning to ride in a sunny Sydney suburb in the 1970s. My teacher was our neighbour, the wonderfully named Durn Dart, a rough diamond who’d
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Big Issue: Penal Reform
Should the Government remove Legal Aid funding for prisoners suing the prison system? No, Mark Gettleson, campaigns and communications manager, Howard League for Penal Reform Prisoners’ access to Legal Aid has already been restricted to prevent
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RUGBY UNION: Burrows relieved to close out win
CRAIG Burrows admitted it had not been easy watching from the touchline, despite Grove’s 19-point victory margin over Trowbridge. His side can now look forward to local derbies against Witney and Oxford Harlequins after securing promotion on home
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RUGBY UNION: Battling Hawks set up title decider
National 2 South HENLEY Hawks ensured they will take the title with victory over Worthing on Saturday after a 32-8 success at Shelford. Hawks scored two late tries, despite being down to 14 men, which earned them a crucial bonus-point victory
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Pub Quiz League: Winter season ends on a high
THE curtain finally came down last Thursday on yet another marvellous season in the Oxford Mail-sponsored, Oxfordshire Winter Quiz Leagues. The North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown) graciously provided the venue for the night, which comprised
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Bullfinch trial: Day 51
Good morning. Today we continue with our coverage of the Bullfinch child sex abuse trial. Judge Peter Rook is to begin summing up this morning on day 51 of the #Oxford child sex exploitation trial. — @Ben_Wilkinson_ 30 April 2013
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Fair attracts dedicated followers of fashion
PEOPLE with a passion for vintage fashion packed Oxford Town Hall on Saturday. A vintage fashion fair was held in the historic building and everything from decadent dresses to pretty parasols was peddled to fashion fans. Said Business School
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Wright wants to play at higher level
Jake Wright has set his sights on playing at a higher level, but the Oxford United captain has no intention of leaving this summer. The 27-year-old found a new level of consistency over the past nine months and there was no surprise when the centre
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Police station counter closes
THE front counter at Bicester Police Station will be closed from today for four weeks while repairs take place. Police officers will remain stationed at the building, but people will have to travel to Kidlington for over-the-counter services.
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City centre drug clampdown to continue
DRUG dogs will become a familiar sight near the pubs and clubs of Oxford city centre. Police say they are to step up night-time economy operations over the summer months. Crime figures for Oxford yesterday revealed an increase in drug dealing and
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‘Teacher inspired me’ says Broadchurch star
BROADCHURCH star Jonathan Bailey has paid tribute to his former English teacher for inspiring his acting career. The 25-year-old former Oxford schoolboy, who played newspaper reporter Olly Stevens in the smash-hit crime thriller, also said reading
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Cancer sufferer has her wig stolen
A CANCER sufferer has been left shaken and housebound after burglars stole her wig. Moyra Oram did not leave her house for more than a week after thieves stole her £300 short blonde wig from her Drayton home. The 55-year-old mother has been
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Queen Street shut overnight for repairs to road
ONE of Oxford’s busiest shopping streets closed overnight to allow repairs to be carried out. Pedestrianised Queen Street was closed to buses and emergency vehicles from 8pm last night until 6am this morning so engineers could carry out the repairs
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Crash wrecks bus shelter
A BUS shelter was demolished after a van collided with it in the early hours of yesterday. Police and paramedics were called to Woodstock Road near the Oxford Motor Village at 5.27am. The driver of the Mercedes van had to be freed from the
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It's all Wright on the night at Oxford United's awards
JAKE Wright’s outstanding season was reflected as the Oxford United captain won half the trophies at the end of season awards. The centre back was named the supporters’ player of the season, while he was also the choice of the U’s squad at Sunday
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Crime statistics: Overall drop hailed but serious sex offences and drugs on rise
RAPE, serious sexual offences and drug crime have all risen in Oxford despite an overall drop in crime, it was revealed last night. Police hailed the city’s annual crime figures which also show big reductions in burglary, violent crime and the
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The secret gardens for sun worshippers
Last weekend gave us a hint of summer. Temperatures barely touched 20 degrees and Oxonians responded by leaving their houses and movie theatres to join the al fresco crowds outside. Girls in shorts rode up the High Street on their bicycles. Young
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Night at the museum is a Chinese cracker
A CELEBRATION of all things Chinese transformed an Oxford museum. Both modern and traditional culture were celebrated at China Night in the Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, on Friday. The evening featured everything from lion dancing and
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Candidates all set for a battle at ballot box
BATTLE lines have been drawn ahead of the fight at the ballot box for a place at County Hall. On Thursday, all 63 seats in 61 Oxfordshire County Council divisions are up for election after boundary changes reduced the number of councillors serving
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New look needed at station site
Sir – Your articles last week promoting the concept of an integrated bus and train station for Oxford were both welcome and timely. What you didn’t mention was that in 2004 the county council, with some real foresight, gave consideration
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Sensational building
Sir – I completely disagree with the negative views of the proposed Blavatnik School of Government, expressed by Mr Paul Hornby in your letters column (April 18). I believe the proposed building is, architecturally, a sensation and if the reality
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Making amends
Sir – A quarter of a century ago, the University of Oxford wrongly refused Margaret Thatcher the academic recognition rightly accorded to several earlier Prime Ministers. As a then candidate for election to the city council, I well remember the
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Toll bridge constraints
Sir – I read the article last week about automating the toll collection at the Swinford Toll Bridge with equal interest and concern. Andy Duval will be aware of the theory of constraints commonly known as bottlenecks. In my observations of the
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Slow web speeds
Sir – Villagers in Dorchester-on-Thames have conducted a door-to-door survey to gauge just how poor their broadband service is. Over 270, or more than 65 per cent, of all 400 households and businesses in the village responded emphatically that
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Wonderful show
Sir – We went to the Abingdon Operatic Society’s production of Oliver! in the Amey Hall in Abingdon School. It was amazing, the whole production was wonderful. Judy Henman, Drayton
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Sparkling design
Sir – Re Paul Hornby’s published letter on the proposed Blavatnik building next to St Paul’s Church Jericho. He notes two modernish buildings which he suggests respect surrounding urban framework. The first Minster Court (not Towers) is
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Rus in urbe
Sir – On a recent almost spring-like day, my wife and I walked down the River Thames from Wolvercote to Port Meadow — mostly on land owned by the city, it has to be said. Hardly had we started, when eyesores began to appear on the skyline:
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Anywhereshire
Sir – Some of us may still remember our county, just after the Second World War, and even after the addition of the old north Berkshire, when our Oxfordshire’s superb city, towns, very rural villages, countryside and glorious landscapes were tranquil
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'Quick fix' not needed
Sir – As a Carterton resident, your correspondent, Mr Paul Hughes (Letters, April 18) must surely know that the proposed Carterton East development will be located within 500 metres of the Aircraft Servicing Platform (ASP) at RAF Brize Norton.
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Sleepless nights
Sir – West Oxfordshire district councillors are being pressurised by the Government to find suitable sites for new housing in West Oxfordshire. Some appear to be of the view that the “least worst” option for new housing in Carterton is to the east
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Bats will be killed
Sir – I am grateful for Mr Stebbings’ clarification of his points (Letters, April 11). Mr Stebbings says he does not understand why the presence of bats should restrict the railway’s more frequent use of the tunnel. Neither do I. The reason all
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Power station flats
Sir – Dominic Utton is correct to praise the cooling towers of Didcot A (Off the rails, April 11) as an iconic local landmark. Why do they have to be demolished along with the ancilliary office building? Surely, with some imaginative modification
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More hospital parking needed
Sir – Re ‘moronic attitude’ (Letters, April 11): I expect you have had many letters in agreement with Benjamin Dean who wrote the epistle (Letters, April 11) about parking at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. I would like to add my voice, as
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Part of M40 closed due to accident and oil spill
THE M40 southbound just before Junction 6 at Lewknor has been closed following an accident. The accident, involving a car and van were involved in the incident at around 4.15pm and as a result there is an oil spillage which is being cleared