Archive
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Former masonic lodge still lies empty after housing plans are refused
THE future of Oxford’s former Masonic lodge remains uncertain after a company that failed to get permission for housing sold it off. Development company Homespace had hoped to transform 333 Banbury Road into 17 family homes but this was thrown
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Sowing poppy seeds in war dead remembrance
A FIELD of poppies will appear in Barton later this year as a church moves to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. Seeds were planted in St Mary’s Church off Bayswater Road last Thursday in a bid to help the estate remember
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Kids meet a feathered friend
CHILDREN at the junior youth club, run by the Rose Hill Regeneration Project, have had the chance to get up close and personal with Willow the barn owl. The bird’s owner is warehouse worker Glen Easton from Wallingford. He said: “I’ve always been
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‘You bet we don’t want any more bookies here’
MORE should be done to make it harder for betting shops to open, according to Rose Hill councillors and residents. It comes as plans for a second betting shop have been “called-in” by councillors meaning any decision taking will now have to be
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Potter’s head start on an Artweeks’ tradition
A PROUD tradition of pottery in Headington Quarry has been revived ahead of Artweeks. Victoria Hallam has been busy crafting clay heads of residents at Barclays Bank. And the Quarry Road artist has joined a 2,000 year-old tradition of pottery in
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Armed robber threatens staff at post office
TWO men threatened staff and demanded money at a post office during an armed robbery. One of the men was armed with a pole and threatened the cashier, while the other offender threatened a female customer during the robbery in Woodstock Road at
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Swimming pools reopen after closure
THE swimming pools at Bicester Leisure Centre are now open again after both were closed on Thursday due to a blockage in an external drain. An engineer has since cleared the blockage and an inspection was undertaken to give the centre the all-clear
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Judo club will throw weight behind Town & Gown run
JUDO fighters will swap their high kicks and throws for running strides in this month’s Town and Gown charity run. Ten members of the Oxford Judo Club will pound the streets of Oxford during the 10km run on Sunday for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
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New Aldi supermarket to be built after planning green light
A new discount supermarket is set to be built in Chipping Norton after plans were approved today. West Oxfordshire District Council approved the proposal to build an Aldi store in the former Highways Depot site at Cromwell Business Park, off Banbury
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Broken down coach causing queues
DRIVERS are facing delays on the A34 Northbound near Abingdon because of a broken down coach. There is one lane closed between A4183 Oxford Road and A423 Hinksey Hill and queuing traffic. MORE:
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Former Bicester store site plan is approved
THE site of a former Bicester discount store will finally get developed after a third set of plans were approved by councillors. Montpelier Estates has been given permission to build 40 assisted living homes at the former Winners site, in Victoria
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WATCH: Roger Bannister's record-breaking mile 60 years ago
Roger Bannister completed his record-breaking sub four minute mile 60 years ago today at Iffley Road sports track. You can relive his achievement after British Pathe released archive footage via their YouTube channel. MORE:
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Driving instructor caught eating muesli while behind the wheel
A driving instructor was caught by the police eating a bowl of muesli behind the wheel. Officers from the Thames Valley Roads Policing team stopped a man between 8.30am and 9am on Garsington Road. Police spokeswoman Hannah Williams confirmed
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Oxford United offer new contracts to quartet
MATT Bevans and Sam Long are among four development squad players offered new contracts by Oxford United. Bevans, a 20-year-old full back, started 11 games for the first-team this season, while centre back Sam Long made six appearances. Josh
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Celebration night for great minds with all the answers at the Oxfordshire Quiz League presentations
THE curtain came down on the Oxford Mail Oxfordshire Winter Quiz League with the annual presentation evening held at the North Oxford Conservative Club. The county’s top ‘quizzers’ assembled at the club to collect their awards in an evening which
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A34 shut northbound following a collision involving a van and lorry
ONE lane of the northbound A34 has been shut this morning following a collision between a van and a lorry. The collision happened between the Peartree interchange and Kidlington. The ambulance service has been called to the scene and tailbacks
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Oxtopia rides again
Four-minute mile record holder Sir Roger Bannister was one of the guests of honour for the launch of Oxford Castaways 2, a collection of interviews by Sylvia Vetta. The book, her second compilation of articles from The Oxford Times colour magazine
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Going wild in the city
Jo Schofield and Fiona Danks, who live in South Oxfordshire, have devised more outdoor fun, following the success of The Stick Book. Their latest, beautifully produced work, Wild City Book (Frances Lincoln, £9.99), aims to entice youngsters away
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Runaway without trust
War isn’t so bad, thinks 16-year-old Paul Hansen, hero of Robert Rigby's The Eagle Trail, until that unforgettable moment when his father screams “Get away, Paul — Run! Run!” followed by a blast from a German sub-machine gun. Before he can reach
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All set for nights at the museum with after-dark events announced
MUSEUMS are again preparing to open their doors for an annual night-time celebration of learning. Oxford University’s four free museums are among those taking place in Museum at Night next Friday, May 16. The national event – organised by non-profit
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Lots to go at city council
MORE than 200 people are expected to attend the first Oxford City Council auction of 2014. On Saturday the council will put vehicles and equipment up for auction at the Marsh Road Depot in Cowley. There will be more than 75 lots, including
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Charity’s newsletter wins national award
THE Abingdon-based National Association for Able Children in Education charity (NACE) won a national marketing award for its newsletter. The charity was awarded the title at the annual National Membership society MemCom awards in London on Wednesday
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Impact of flood relief channel needs research
May I canvass your readers of a potential pitfall from Oxford’s Western Conveyance plan that has not surfaced in the press coverage. The projected increase in volume flow at Sandford Lock will impact on Abingdon’s flood defences in several ways
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Please can we have our Witney bench back?
WHY has the bench been removed from outside of the previous post office in Witney? I can see the need of the postbox, but why did we lost the bench? On that side of the road, the bench was a nice break between The Eagle Vaults and Welch Way
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Bringing magic into the lives of children with disabilities
My background is in occupational therapy, neuroscience and neurodisability and I’m passionate about helping children with movement disabilities. Designing interventions that are fun as well as effective is crucial to achieve the best outcomes for
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Ex-paratrooper spared jail term over banned weapons
AN EX-ARMY paratrooper was spared jail after telling a judge he bought nine banned weapons to use in private security work in Afghanistan. Robert Powell, of Lake Road, Oxford, admitted three counts of purchasing prohibited weapons on September
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Comic strip fun draws big crowd
THERE were plenty of comic capers at the Story Museum this weekend as illustrators met comic book fans. The Pembroke Street museum played host to the second comic book festival organised by Oxford-based comic The Phoenix. The debut event last
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Sixty years on from the day Sir Roger changed athletics
Sir Roger Bannister will listen to today’s tributes with his usual cheerfulness, happy to recount again the story of that day: how he had gone to the London hospital where he worked, sharp-ened his spikes in the laboratory before travelling to Oxford
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Dog show hurdles are a doddle on two legs
THESE girls were showing the dogs how it was done at the East Oxford Fun Dog Show yesterday. Molly Ackland and her friends Anna Beekmayer and Olivia Hartley led the way through the hurdles course at the dog show at the SS Mary and John School playing
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COMMENT: A summer that needs to reunite Oxford United
THERE’S no doubt that this summer is going to be crucial to Oxford United’s future. A season that promised so much, yet delivered so little seems to have left great divides throughout the club. Head coach Gary Waddock has promised a massive
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Six games which defined Oxford United's season
PORTSMOUTH 1, OXFORD UNITED 4 August 3 THE mother of all opening day victories provided the launchpad for an excellent start to the season. Patrick Agyemang headed Portsmouth in front, but Alfie Potter turned the game on its head. The
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Kitson weighs up his options
The sting of missing out on the play-offs with Oxford United could spur Dave Kitson to put off retirement, providing he is able to make a contribution. Last month, the 34-year-old revealed he was considering hanging up his boots this summer.
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Festival fans get their skates on for all the fun
TEENAGER Jake Soden went out to use the skate park in Chalgrove with friends yesterday. And he ended up taking in the festivities of the village festival. The 16-year-old said he was interested to find classic cars on display. He said:
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COMMENT: Pasty has us puffed up with local pride
GOOD luck to our very own queen of baking Christine Wallace and her Oxford Pasty. Our great county already boasts a number of culinary delights including the Oxford Sauce and Oxford Sausage. Anything that champions local produce, like Christine
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Concerns over ‘scrutiny’ as opposition allowances cut
SCRAPPING some allowances for opposition councillors could damage local democracy, it has been claimed. Oxfordshire County Council has cut the special allowances for most Labour councillors, while senior Conservatives will continue to be paid for
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COMMENT: Cable car plan helps put A40 in the spotlight
YOU may be forgiven for looking twice at today’s date when you read about the latest idea to solve the congestion on our troubled A40. It’s not an April Fool but rather a more creative proposal for easing the traffic. Farmer John Hook has brought
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When it's not all about money
After turning his back on a five-figure salary to set up his own venture in east Africa, Austin Harris earns a fraction of what he once did. But Mr Harris, a student at the Said Business School, couldn’t care less. He is one of a growing number
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Docs' warning over diabetes diagnosis
HEALTH professionals are not diagnosing type one diabetes quickly enough which is putting children’s lives at risk, say doctors. Children who do not receive immediate treatment for the condition are at increased risk of the potentially fatal complication
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Two killed, one injured, in series of weekend crashes
TWO men died in separate collisions on the M40 over the bank holiday weekend. And yesterday a woman was taken to hospital after her car overturned on the A420 at Cumnor. In the first collision, a 61-year-old man was killed after his Jaguar
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Cow loose on the A40
POLICE were called to the A40 yesterday morning after reports of a cow wandering onto the dual carriagewayat Wheatley. Officers arrived at the scene, near the junction with the M40, at about 9am. A spokesman confirmed that the cow was removed
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River death inquest
An inquest into the death of 31-year-old Michael Griffiths will be held today. His body was found in the River Thame near Junction 8a on the M40 in Wheatley on Christmas Eve. Mr Griffiths, from Birmingham, was last seen driving on the northbound
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Bake Off star’s tasty treat is a celebration of Oxford
SHE won the nation’s heart on the Great British Bake Off. And now Christine Wallace is hoping to win over Oxford’s tastebuds with the first Oxford pasty. A mouth-watering combination of lamb, fresh mint, vegetables and red currant jelly encased
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford's run ended by Oldham
OXFORD RL’s two-match unbeaten run in Kingstone Press Championship 1 came to an end at Oldham, who ran out 48-28 winners at the Whitebank Stadium. The home side scored twice in the first ten minutes, first through Michael Ward, after good work
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FOOTBALL: Ardley's dreams of a cup double shattered by Ascot
Ardley Utd 1 (Bridges 10) Ascot Utd 2 (Saunders 8, McLean 68) Ardley United lost out in the Uhlsport Hellenic League’s Bluefin Sport Challenge Cup final to Ascot United at Abingdon United yesterday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. Ardley
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RACING: Australia Day smashes course record
Australia Day (10-1), trained by Paul Webber at Mollington, near Banbury, smashed the Kempton two-mile chase course record with an exhilarating victory under Liam Treadwell yesterday.
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Friends gather to wish pub landlord a speedy recovery
A PUB landlord hit by a car on holiday in Portugal is due to be flown home today. Stan Hawkeswood, who has run the Queen’s Head in Horspath for nine years, will be flown home on a special medical flight to Oxford Airport in Kidlington this afternoon
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RACING: Moss keeps up Case run
Ben Case, who sent out Deep Trouble from his Edgcote stables, near Banbury, to plunder a big prize at Punchestown on Saturday, continued his winning streak with Moss On The Mill (6-1) at Ffos Las yesterday. Kielan Woods partnered the six-year-old
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Aldi wants to open up and join the ‘Chippy set’
A DECISION on whether a new discount supermarket can be built in Chipping Norton will be decided today. Aldi wants to convert an old highways depot in Banbury Road into a shop with 76 parking spaces. The store would create 10 full-time and
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GOLF: Ladies European Tour stars to represent The Oxfordshire owners
THE company which owns The Oxfordshire will be represented by two top Ladies European Tour professionals this season. Trish Johnson and former Solheim Cup teammate Becky Brewerton have signed for Leaderboard Golf as brand ambassadors, especially
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Tuesday, May 6
5:23pm The crowd claps and the bell tolls as the cortege leaves for Oxford 5:20pm Family and friends are throwing flowers on top of the five hearses
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Sports club up for sale
THE Gladiator Sports and Social Club in Iffley Road, East Oxford, will go on the open market for a second time today. The site, including the club building and two flats, was put on the market by owners The Gladiator Trust for £1.25m as a development
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Level crossing is to close for rail work
PEOPLE are being warned that the level crossing in London Road and Charbridge Lane in Bicester will be closed for rail work over a string of dates this month. Network Rail said London Road will be shut on May 8/9/12/14/16 from 7am to 5pm, all weekend
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A41 closed both ways at Bicester after collision
THE A41 is closed both ways at Bicester due to a collision involving two cars. It has been shut since 5.45am between London Road and Ploughley Road.
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RAF Abingdon air crew remembered with poignant wartime plaque
SEVENTY-THREE years after a plane crashed into a house in North Oxford, a plaque remembering the four victims has been unveiled. A Whitley 5 twin-engined bomber, which was based at RAF Abingdon, crashed in Linton Road on May 4, 1941, during a training
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MOTORSPORT: Struggling Plato slips down to fifth
OXFORD’S Jason Plato struggled in the third round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championships at Thruxton. The MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save driver finished a disappointing sixth in his first race, seventh in the second and failed to finish
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Director shoots revealing new film on Nat King Cole
A FILMMAKER has been given unparalleled access to legendary singer and pianist Nat King Cole for a documentary about his life. Jon Brewer, 64, from Old Minster Lovell, has directed the feature-length documentary Nat King Cole: Afraid Of The Dark
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DARTS: Palmer and Krabben go for repeat
Last summer’s finalists Preben Krabben (Goodlake Arms) and Kidlington Green’s Joe Palmer are among the last eight in this season’s Greene King ODDA Winter League men’s singles play-offs at Marston British Legion next Tuesday (8.15pm). They will
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Farmer suggests a cable car solution to A40 traffic woes
THE morning commute from Witney to Oxford can be a trying experience. And drivers on the A40 have long been begging for relief. Today will see the beginning of Oxfordshire County Council’s four-phase transport strategy, starting with a £2.5m
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‘Let green savings benefit charities’
COUNCIL savings made from household recycling should go to charity to encourage more re-use in the home, councillors have said. A study said Oxford City Council should give some of the money it keeps by avoiding landfill taxes to charity. The
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CPS retracts its untrue claim about the Oxford Mail
THE Crown Prosecution Service twice made an untrue allegation about the Oxford Mail in court over its coverage of an Operation Bullfinch case. In October last year, it instructed barrister Neil Moore to tell Oxford Crown Court Judge Patrick Eccles
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Cyclists saddle up in aid of young breast cancer group
HUNDREDS of cyclists made their way through South Oxfordshire to raise money for Coppafeel, a charity which encourages young people to check for breast cancer. Riders of all ages and abilities took part in the Classic Oxfordshire bike ride on Sunday
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Blackfriars Hall repairs ‘could improve quad’
AN OXFORD college is to carry out “significant” repairs to its priory after water leaks caused salt stalactites to form. Blackfriars Hall in St Giles has requested permission to waterproof its cellar and to also improve what it calls the “unsightly
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Castle cocktail bar to become big chain pub
A COCKTAIL bar in Oxford is to be turned into a large chain pub. Stonegate Pubs, which owns the Living Room at Oxford Castle Quarter, closed the venue today. The premises will undergo a £226,000 renovation and become a Slug and Lettuce pub.
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MOTORSPORT: Harvey's last-lap triumph
DIDCOT karter Elliot Harvey took the honours with a thrilling last-lap victory in the x30 Tour at the Pfi circuit in Grantham. In Saturday’s practice session, the St Birinus School pupil was never out of the top three, despite running old tyres
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Working men’s club toasts Liz’s 30 years in charge
MEMBERS of a working men’s club raised a glass to mark 30 years of Liz Tyrer-Lavelle pulling pints behind the bar. Didcot’s Marlborough Club is now the home to three snooker teams, three darts teams, a table tennis club and is the home of Didcot
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MOTORSPORT: Walkinshaw in top seven again
CHIPPING Norton’s Fergus Walkinshaw finished seventh in round nine of the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Super Cup at Thruxton. His success, which was the FW Motorsport team’s second top-seven finish of the year, came in the final race of the day, after
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MOTORSPORT: Powell bobs up for third place in F3
OXFORDSHIRE’S Alice Powell said she was determined to ‘keep at it’ after finishing on the podium in the second race in the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series at Rockingham Motor Speedway. The 21-year-old, from Sarsden, near Chipping Norton
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MOTORSPORT: Brabham bags two wins and a Thruxton record
Sam Brabham followed in the family tradition at Thruxton over the weekend as he clinched his first two Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship race wins while setting the Formula Ford lap record. The 19-year-old from Sibford Ferris, near Banbury,
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More girls are prepared to take on Scouting challenge
THE number of Scouts in Oxfordshire has continued to rise with more than 400 joining the movement in the past year. An annual census shows there are 7,905 members in Oxfordshire compared with 7,500 in 2013. And that is about 50 per cent on
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Chance to have say on mental health services
FORMER and existing users of Cherwell’s mental health services are invited to share their views at a forum today. People who have been helped by the North Oxon Adult Mental Health Teams or who have spent time on an inpatient ward are encouraged
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Play equipment upgrade could cost £140k
A BLUEPRINT to develop an award-winning park in Bicester is needed, it is claimed. Bicester town councillors were given a preview of the type of play equipment that could be installed in Garth Park, off Launton Road, but it could come with a £140,000
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Outdoor gyms press ahead with latest fitness funding
A PARK in Blackbird Leys has been awarded £16,000 to complete a trio of fitness trail refurbishments. Gillians Park, off Dunnock Way, has been awarded the grant, which will go towards installing outdoor gym stations and finishing off green space