Archive
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CRICKET: Shantry sends Oxford students reeling
A uperb spell of bowling by Worcestershire’s left-arm seamer Jack Shantry sent MCC Oxford Universities slipping to a 130-run defeat in the Parks on Friday. Shantry produced career-best figures of 7-60 off 22.3 overs, as the students, set an unlikely
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Hotel gets £1.5m ‘top to bottom makeover’
HOTEL and restaurant owner Jeremy Mogford is planning a £1.5m makeover at the Old Parsonage Hotel in Oxford. The news comes only weeks after the completion of a £500,000 investment in his nearby restaurant Gees, which underwent a major restoration
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Talented rugby player, 16, took his own life
A coroner has recorded that a 16-year-old rugby player took his own life. Colin Nuttall was found dead by his mother Caroline at the family home in Faringdon on New Year’s Day, just days after his birthday. Dc Stephen Knight, of Thames Valley
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Expanding Unipart sees profits rise to £28m
OXFORD-BASED Unipart has seen its profits rise significantly last year. John Neill, chairman and chief executive of the Cowley-based firm, offered an upbeat assessment after figures showed its operating profit had grown from £8.4m to £28.8m.
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Youth theatre taking to stage to perform classic musical
YOUNG actors are banishing stage fright and perfecting their lines for their latest production The Wizard of Oz. The curtains open for the Oxfordshire Youth Music Theatre’s (OYMT) annual production, on Wednesday. Around 30 singers, dancers
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Trees used to screen controversial flats damaged
TREES planted on Port Meadow to hide the controversial Castle Mill buildings from view have already fallen foul of the wildlife. The 60 trees are being planted as part of the planning permission that allowed the building of the controversial student
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RUGBY UNION: Jones wary of Warriors backlash
Lyn Jones is focused on signing off the season with a win, but the London Welsh head coach is guarding against a response from visitors Worcester. The Warriors have lost their last four games, conceding more than 40 points in each of their last
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Residents object to care unit plan
RESIDENTS and council officers have objected to plans for a care unit in Kidlington. Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association Limited (BPHA) and the Order of St John Care Trust want to build the 54-bed extra care unit on the site of the demolished
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Oxford United announce first pre-season games
OXFORD United have agreed pre-season games against Birmingham City and Coventry City at the Kassam Stadium in July. Lee Clark's Championship side will visit on Saturday, July 20, while United face the Sky Blues a week later. The npower League
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Girl Guides move back in to flooded hall
A GIRL Guide group has reopened its base, nine months after floods devastated the building and destroyed their equipment. The flooding hit the Dunstan Road hall in August while the 6th Headington Guides were closed for the summer, meaning the damage
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Political leaders back the Oxford Mail
POLITICAL leaders have spoken of the importance of local newspapers like the Oxford Mail as we give you the chance to shape this paper’s future. The Mail is planning a series of focus groups later this month for readers to suggest ideas as part
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Bicester WW2 heritage museum plans are grounded
A GROUP has shelved plans for a Bomber Command museum in Bicester after failing to secure the site they wanted. Last month the Ministry of Defence announced the flying field site at RAF Bicester had been sold to Bicester Heritage Ltd. It plans
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Jubilee fund revamps kitchen
AN OUTDATED kitchen at Eynsham’s sports pavilion will be revamped thanks to a £5,955 grant. Sita Trust has given Eynsham Parish Council the money to refurbish the Oxford Road playing field pavilion. The money has come from a special playing
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Panto raises £5,100 for charity
A VILLAGE pantomime has handed out more than £5,000 to 25 different organisations. Launton Village Players staged its 27th annual pantomime, Goldilocks, during the February half-term and raised more than £5,100. Among the organisations to get
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Marine cycles from London to Paris
A ROYAL Marine injured in bomb blasts and gunfire in Afghanistan will cycle from London to Paris to raise charity funds. Adam Clark, 31, from Carterton, pictured, was a heavy weapons operator in 42 Commando and spent seven months in Helmand Province
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Abingdon students walk 63 miles in 24 hours
ABINGDON School students recreated history this week. The 20 sixth-formers re-enacted the feat of 13 students who 50 years ago walked 63 miles from Avebury to Abingdon in 24 hours. Those students were commemorating a large endowment of the
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Undercover police officer helped nail drug dealer
A DRUG dealer has been jailed after he tried to sell crack cocaine and heroin to an undercover policeman. Rudy Pollard, of Lucy Faithfull House, in Speedwell Street, Oxford, was convicted of two charges of possessing crack cocaine and heroin with
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Dark footpath is reclaimed for residents
A BUSY alleyway known for graffiti and antisocial behaviour has been transformed in Cowley. Thanks to more than £5,000 of improvements, including installing a new lamp, residents now feel safer using the route. Members of the Clive Road Area
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Man arrested after glassing incident at Oxford nightclub
A man has been arrested for throwing a glass at a woman inside a packed Oxford nightclub. The victim suffered a large gash to her face and was treated with stitches at Oxford’s John Radcliffe hospital before being discharged. Police say Roppongi
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Pub under fire for defying ban on outdoor TVs
AN OXFORD pub has been criticised for vowing to keep showing sport on outdoor TVs, despite losing a planning battle with council chiefs. Cowley Road’s City Arms has lost a bid to keep two TVs fixed to the building and bamboo fencing. But it
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Roll out the barrels for beer festival
REAL ale enthusiasts are set to enjoy a day of fine brews tomorrow at the second Witney Beer Festival. More than 500 people are expected at the two sessions between noon and 5pm and 6pm and 10pm at St Mary’s Church, in Church Lane. It will
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Doctor urges women to ‘run for your men’
OXFORD cancer scientist Dr Naomi Sharma is urging women to sign up to this year’s Race for Life – and help find a cure for the UK’s biggest killer of husbands, brothers and grandfathers. Dr Sharma, 33, is conducting ground-breaking research into
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Bats entertainment: County to host ping pong event promoting elderly fitness
OXFORDSHIRE has been chosen to host a special event for a project that uses a rather unusual way to keep elderly people fit. The Ping Pong Care Campaign is a national initiative aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older people through
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UPDATE: A40 reopens after crash this morning
The A40 has re-opened after an earlier crash. Recovery work has ended and queues of traffic are easing. A two-car collision closed the road between the A429 Northleach and A361 High Street Burford at about 9.30am. Police and ambulance crews
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Dozens to lose jobs as bakery closes
A BAKERY is shutting its doors in Oxford with the loss of more than 40 jobs. Bosses at the Queen of Hearts Artisan Bakery, in Sandy Lane West, Littlemore, say the firm has been losing money and can no longer trade viably. As a result, it will
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Blog: Oxfordshire County Council election count
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Police fine drivers in spot checks
POLICE dished out 30 fines for driving offences during a safety check on the A4074 near Berinsfield yesterday. One man stopped using a mobile phone had no driving licence, no insurance, and a wheel on the car was so worn the inner cord was exposed
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Bodleian gets full set of Binsey Poplars poem drafts
A VALUABLE manuscript by one of the greatest poets of the Victorian age will stay in Oxford, it was announced yesterday. The Bodleian Library in Broad Street revealed it has bought a draft of the poem Binsey Poplars by Gerard Manley Hopkins for
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CRICKET: County's academy boost
Oxfordshire cricket has received a major boost, with the announcement of a major sponsorship deal. KFP Total IT Solutions have agreed “a substantial five-figure, three-year sponsorship deal” to support the formation of the Oxfordshire Cricket Board
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Straw hut fire 'not suspicious'
FIREFIGHTERS tackled a blaze at a straw hut in East Oxford yesterday. The structure was in the garden of a house in Ridgefield Road. Fire crews were called to the scene at just before 6am. To gain access they had to go through the gardens
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'Seeing my life's work go up in smoke was horrific'
THE manager of an Oxford cycle shop devastated by a huge blaze last night spoke about watching his life’s work being destroyed. Keith Gosling worked at Cycle King for 27 years before 15ft flames wrecked the Cowley Road shop on March 31. But
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A40 closed in both directions after crash
THE A40 is currently closed in both directions near Burford. Police are on scene attending to a two-car collision. It is not known if anyone has been injured at this stage. The incident occurred between the A429 Northleach and A361 High
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Significant drop in turnout at county council elections
TURNOUT is down significantly in this year's Oxfordshire County Council elections. Only 31.87 per cent of the electorate turned out, down from 38 per cent at the last county council election in 2009. That translates to 159, 535 people voting
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Crocombe makes Under-20 World Cup squad
OXFORD United goalkeeper Max Crocombe is in the provisional New Zealand squad to play at the U-20 World Cup next month. The 19-year-old is in a 26-man group which will be trimmed to 21 before they head to Turkey, where the Junior All Whites are
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A day in the life
It’s been 50 years since the word ‘Beatlemania’ was coined. I am working on a project called ‘Beatlemania – A Year In The Life 1963’ – a day-by-day account of the Beatles that year. I am looking to hear from anyone who saw them in Oxford (or anywhere
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Apologies over Mr Jones
I CAN only apologise for any offence I may have caused Jack Jones’s family for misunderstanding my briefing prior to meeting him. More to the point, there was nothing in my letter to suggest that he wasn’t a decent individual. As Mr Siret has
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Same sex marriage
THE rally organised by The Coalition for Marriage held in Witney (April 30) was very well supported and sent a clear message to David Cameron that his vote for gay marriage will cost him dearly in the next general election. The national spokeswoman
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Touting for education
SO, Education Secretary, Michael Gove visits Abingdon and cheerily tells us that: “Oxfordshire is now under a leadership that wants to put educational excellence at the heart of everything it does.” Don’t we all, Mr Gove but Oxfordshire has in
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Thank you to choir supporters
Thank you for publicising Kennington and District United Church Choirs’ performance of An Afternoon of Grand Opera on Sunday at The Holywell Music Room. The Music Room was full to capacity and it really was a grand occasion. Feedback was a
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Fish migration is better with new hydro scheme
I WRITE in response to Nigel Plunkett’s letter (ViewPoints, April 26), regarding the potential impact on fish of the new hydro- scheme at Osney Lock. Assessing the scheme’s overall impact on local ecology, including fish, was a key part of the
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ROWING: Abingdon junior girls claim treble
Following a long winter’s training Abingdon Rowing Club’s junior girls romped home to three victories at the Birmingham Regatta last weekend. The day started well for Abingdon at Edgbaston Reservoir, with Bethan Stutt and Gabriella James beating
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford bid for first home victory
Oxford could go top of the Kingstone Press Championship One table if they beat fellow newcomers Hemel Stags at Iffley Road on Sunday (3). Hemel come into the game on the back of three straight wins, while Oxford look to record their first success
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CYCLING: Boddy sprints to Cheshire glory
Thame's Karla Boddy sprinted to victory in the Cheshire Classic Road Race, just weeks after signing for her first professional team. The 27-year-old got up by inches to land the prestigious event, joining an impressive list of former winners which
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TENNIS: Dumas double in vain for North
North Oxford suffered their first defeat of the season in the AEGON Team Tennis competition. North were beaten 8-4 by South West East leaders Halton, despite the efforts of Pierre-Antoine Dumas. Dumas won his singles and then teamed up with
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COMMENT: Where’s the justice?
PART of the duty of a court is to pass sentences that act as a deterrent to others. So, can we really expect that other criminals who fancy robbing a shop will look at the suspended sentence handed to Shane Bishop and immediately abandon their plans
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Sentence for robbery ‘sends out the wrong message’
A SHOP owner has said a man who robbed his heavily pregnant store assistant should have been sent to prison. Shane Bishop, of St Helen’s Mews, Abingdon, has avoided jail after he admitted targeting a Spar store on March 31 this year. The 30
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HM should abdicate
QUEEN Beatrix of the Netherlands has decided that at the age of 75 and after 33 years on the throne it was time for her to hand over to a new generation. I am given to wondering whether our own Queen should not follow suit? Given that Queen
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Death of nasty policies
I WONDER if the large numbers of people who held parties or celebrated Mrs Thatcher’s funeral were nasty or perhaps just misguided? Thatcher lied to parliament about UK military help to the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, later acknowledged by John Major
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CABBAGES & KINGS: Unthinkable not to get up for May Day merriment
WHAT sort of idiot gets up at four in the morning, drives 35 miles to Oxford just to hear a choir sing for a quarter of an hour from a tower – only to get crushed by a load of inebriated students? The question, put in this soulless fashion by a
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Repatriation of troops next week
The repatriation of three soldiers killed when a bomb hit their Mastiff armoured vehicle in Afghanistan on Tuesday will take place next Thursday. The bodies of Corporal William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint, of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment
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Oxford United cull dozen
OXFORD United are in for a busy summer after taking the bold step of telling almost half the senior squad they will not be offered new contracts. Damian Batt, Michael Duberry and Peter Leven were among a group of 12 players released following face-to-face
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COMMENT: Standing up for principles as a guiding light
YOU may or may not agree with him but in Dr Tim Hands, the master of Magdalen College School, at least we have someone prepared to speak up for his beliefs. Dr Hands has criticised the Education Secretary Michael Gove, accusing him of pushing through
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Rita Ora hot right now at fashion launch
STYLE queen Rita Ora posed for pictures as fans, photographers and fashion designers swarmed around her at Bicester Village yesterday. The Hot Right Now singer was in town to support up and coming fashion designers at the village. She launched
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Is education reform ‘political meddling’ or the best decision for children?
OXFORDSHIRE’S education boss has criticised the headmaster of a leading Oxford private school who accused ministers of meddling. Dr Tim Hands, Master of Magdalen College School, launched a withering attack on national curriculum coalition policies
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Fingerprints found on a bag of drugs, court told
A LETTING agent could not account for keys to a flat where £500,000 worth of drugs had been found, a court heard. Mark Johnson, of Weymann Terrace, Cowley, and Michael Krah, of Stowford Road, Barton, Oxford, both deny conspiracy to supply heroin
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New era dawns for 'robust' U's
The writing was on the wall for the majority of the dozen players released by Oxford United yesterday when chairman Ian Lenagan spoke of the need for “robust” players last week. It came up several times in interviews following the announcement
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Oxford United start rebuilding process as 12 players are released
Oxford United are in for a busy summer after taking the bold step of telling almost half the senior squad they will not be offered new contracts. Damian Batt, Michael Duberry and Peter Leven were among a group of 12 players released following face-to-face
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Another day of road mayhem on A34 and A420
MOTORISTS faced gridlock misery around Oxford for the second day running yesterday after another spate of incidents combined to cause traffic chaos. A three-vehicle crash on the A34 between the Pear Tree interchange and Kidlington and a roof fire
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RUGBY UNION: Henley one win from title joy
The equation is simple for Henley Hawks tomorrow – beat Worthing at Dry Leas and they will be National 2 South champions. Hawks trail leaders Worthing by two points, but any victory will see them at least match the Sussex side’s tally. And
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Dozens of firefighters tackle thatched roof blaze
MORE than 50 firefighters were battling a blaze at a thatched cottage next to the A420 in Besselsleigh as the Oxford Mail went to press last night. Fire crews were sent to the cottage on the A420 at the entrance to the village at 5pm. Police
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Bullfinch judge: Silence ‘does not indicate their guilt’
JURORS have been told not to “jump to conclusions” about child sex suspects who did not defend themselves at the Old Bailey. Brothers Akhtar and Anjum Dogar did not give evidence against charges including rape and arranging child prostitution.
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UPDATE: Firefighters still at scene of thatched cottage fire this morning
FIREFIGHTERS are still at the scene of a thatched cottage fire this morning. The A420 at Besselsleigh has reopened after flames last night caught hold of the entire thatched roof. The fire has been controlled but firefighters were still monitoring
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Votes are in and now the count begins in county election
BALLOT papers for Oxfordshire’s next county councillors are being counted today. Voters went to the polls across the county yesterday, and mixed reports on the turnout were received. While some politicians remained confident of a higher-than-expected
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Elections 2013: Ray Jelf wins Hook Norton
RAY JELF has won the Hook Norton ward for the Conservatives in a Cherwell District Council by-election. The results are posted here.
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Elections 2013: Two Lib Dem victories and one Tory in Vale
THE Liberal Democrats have won two of the three seats up in by-elections on Vale of White Horse District Council plus both Abingdon Town Council posts. Andrew Skinner has won Abingdon Peachcorft and Catherine Webber is the new councillor for Marcham
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Mum wants 'big sisters' to mentor girls on alcohol
A CONCERNED mum has set up a support group to help young women deal with drinking problems, but it has a rather unusual name. Wash My Pink Jumper is the brainchild of Kym-Marie Cleasby, 50, of Witney, who was inspired to act after watching her
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Fill your house with books urges top author Pullman
MAKE sure you have lots of books in the house. That is the number one tip from bestselling Oxford author Philip Pullman on how to get your child reading. Mr Pullman, author of the award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy, was speaking to the
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SCALES OF JUSTICE
Monica Kangethe, 32, of Evenlode Drive, Didcot, convicted of drink-driving on the A4074 on May 24. Had 122 micrograms in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35 micrograms. Community order made with two-month curfew requirement and told to pay
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Workers take plunge for hospital
Staff will be seen abseiling down the side of Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital on Sunday, May 12, to raise funds. Daredevils are invited to join them, provided they can bring in £100 in sponsorship, while the less sure-footed can watch from below
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Elections 2013: Labour retains its two by election seats
LABOUR last night comfortably retained its two Oxford City Council seats in by-elections caused by the resignations of Antonia Bance and Joe McManners. Susan Brown is the new councillor for Churchill ward, while Michele Paule won Rose Hill &
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Update: A420 is open this morning following thatched cottage fire
THE A420 at Besselsleigh has been reopened overnight following the thatched cottage fire.
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Elections 2013: Conservatives score early hat-trick
THE Conservatives enjoyed a clean sweep in three district and town council by-elections held in West Oxfordshire yesterday alongside the county council polls. While counting of the votes for seats on the county council will take place later today
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Do not squeeze transport hub
Sir — I hope that the last service that the Gloucester Green bus station will do this city is to remind planners of the folly of settling on a seemingly expedient solution to a transportation problem. Gloucester Green is too small, too far from