Clarion Hallowe’ekend, 30 October 2026

You wait two lifetimes for a bus… (Halloween photos by Roger Close)

A new Market Quarter and tourism on the up – enough ‘ghost town’ already. But this week’s news is dominated by news of an elected mayor and a ruling on Oxfordshire’s councils. A fairy tale ending or a real-life horror story? Read on and we’ll try to clear the mist…

The all-seeing eye did not predict this week…

This week’s long reads

Four Oxford colleges, who between them own 40 shops, cafes and restaurant premises, have a plan to reinvent the city centre as a haven of independent retail. In a Clarion exclusive, we lift the lid on the ‘Oxford Market Quarter’.

Will North Oxfordshire’s new council sink or swim? This week’s decision on council reorganisation casts the north of the county adrift from Oxford. Eynsham councillor and OCC cabinet member for finance, Dan Levy, offers his take on the financial challenge it faces.

This week’s top stories

The future shape of Oxfordshire was decided this week: three councils sitting under a Thames Valley mayor.

In two successive cheese-related announcements, the Government announced that the Thames Valley (that’s Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Swindon) is to get an elected mayor, who’ll take charge of major transport and housing schemes; and that Oxfordshire will indeed be split into three councils, covering an expanded Oxford City, a southern Ridgeway Council also including West Berkshire, and a diminished North Oxfordshire. Let’s take that first…

The decision to split Oxfordshire into three councils has been reaffirmed. Originally announced by departing Secretary of State Steve Reed in the dying days of the Starmer administration (and his career), it was placed on hold by the Burnham government in early September amid threats of legal action elsewhere in the country.

This week, in a post-Budget announcement, the decision got a second ‘ok’ – but with a year’s delay. There’ll be three new councils:

Greater Oxford, with 241,000 residents, comprising Oxford City and neighbouring settlements such as Kidlington, Kennington, and Berinsfield;
Ridgeway, with 429,000 residents, comprising most of Vale of White Horse (Abingdon, Wantage, Faringdon), South Oxfordshire (Didcot, Thame, Wallingford, Henley), and West Berkshire (Newbury, Hungerford, suburban west Reading);
North Oxfordshire, with 265,000 residents, comprising all of West Oxfordshire (Witney, Chipping Norton, Carterton) and most of Cherwell (Banbury, Bicester), but not Kidlington.

Elections will be held in May 2028, and the new councils will take power a year later. That means the abolition of Oxfordshire County Council and the five existing districts. Council employees and assets will be redistributed between the three successors (and for those facing uncertainty and upheaval, we genuinely feel for you).

The three-council plan was promoted by Oxford City Council (Labour minority administration). Oxfordshire County Council (LibDem) had wanted a single council for the whole county, while the rural districts (either LibDem or LibDem-led coalitions) suggested a two-way split. Oxford City Council’s leader Susan Brown was jubilant:

“The government has chosen the right proposal for Oxford, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. Alongside yesterday’s announcement of a Mayoral Strategic Authority for the Thames Valley, this is the biggest change to local government in a generation, bringing more powers and funding to the local level. Together, these changes could transform our economy and deliver the homes and infrastructure Oxford and the wider area desperately needs.”

Oxfordshire County Council was less impressed, its leader Tim Bearder writing:

“I’m deeply disappointed that the government is minded to press ahead with splitting Oxfordshire into three unitary councils, despite the serious concerns we have raised about the impact on public services, costs and accountabilities. A single Oxfordshire council offers the strongest foundation for financially sustainable services.”

The County Council had threatened a judicial review of the Government’s original decision, but has now been told that this week’s announcement is a “fresh assessment”. Cabinet member for transport Gareth Epps was succinct: “See you in court.”

West Oxfordshire, Cherwell, Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire said they were disappointed but welcomed “certainty”. Financially stricken West Berkshire said it was “very pleased”.

OCC Conservative opposition leader Liam Walker called it “a real opportunity to create a council that is more efficient, more accountable and delivers better services for local residents”. Oxford City LibDem opposition leader Katherine Miles countered: “Far-flung villages with closer ties to Abingdon and Didcot are included in Greater Oxford. The Labour administration has failed to build sufficient housing in Oxford, and is now trying to claim the benefits of planned developments by neighbouring LibDem district councils.”

But where exactly is Greater Oxford? The Government decision threw an unexpected curveball towards the research powerhouse of Culham and the village of Wheatley. The City Council’s three-council submission to Government extolled the benefits of including them in Greater Oxford, highlighting “Culham, the UK’s first AI Growth Zone” and how “most of Wheatley’s residents have regular work, family and leisure connections in the city”.

Yet it appears not to have included them in the list of parishes to be annexed, and Government is now taking this at its word – putting them firmly back in Ridgeway. The decision letter notes: “We have identified that the July decision did not reflect the parish schedule in Oxford City Council’s formal request. For the purpose of this fresh assessment, we have assessed the modification in the formal request.”

Culham is a prize for any council, not just for its research industry but for the thousands of houses planned. South Oxfordshire leader Maggie Filipova-Rivers (LibDem) said she welcomed the decision, which brings it together with neighbouring Abingdon and sister tech cluster Harwell. We expect this one to run and run.

And there’s more! The Thames Valley is to get an elected mayor – for Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Swindon, but not Buckinghamshire. A detailed proposal will be published in December and then go out to consultation. Elections will be held for the new mayor in May 2028. The elected mayor is expected to take on responsibility for strategic housing and transport issues, while day-to-day works stay with local councils.

The decision, announced as part of the Budget, is a flagship project of former Manchester mayor, now Prime Minister, Andy Burnham. Seven other mayoralties were announced in places like Lancashire, Devon and Wessex, the last-named clearly not including Alfred the Great’s home-town of Wantage. Recent election results suggest the Thames Valley vote could be a close contest between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, with the Supplementary Vote system (which offers voters a second choice) adding extra uncertainty.

Mayoralty discussions had previously been derailed when Steve Reed (him again) suggested that the Thames Valley would only be eligible for a ‘foundation strategic authority’ without an elected mayor, upon which Oxfordshire County Council’s LibDem leadership pulled out of talks. The Burnham government reinstated the offer of an elected mayor, though councils complained they had been given just two days to submit their case. (We are steadfastly ignoring speculation that a certain dilettante Oxfordshire farmer might stand for mayor.)

Bicester Village. (Photo via Value Retail.)

Tourism in Oxfordshire is on the up, with Bicester Village and Oxford city centre drawing the crowds. The annual Economic Impact of Tourism in Oxfordshire report found that in 2025, Oxford secured £327m of day-trip spend and £452m of ‘staying’ spend – while Cherwell, home to Bicester Village, won £353m of day-trip spend but only £87m of staying spend.

Overall, Oxfordshire tourism increased by 3% to 26m visits, generating £2.47bn for the local economy and supporting 43,000 jobs. Overnight visits by UK residents also increased by 3%, vs a national 2% decline, while overnight visits by international visitors increased by 5%. Visitors appreciated the history (81%) and heritage (52%) of the county. A “significant number” of local residents aired concerns about the impact of tourism on traffic, the environment, and quality of life.

Spotted at Templars Square on Wednesday.

Around the city

Oxford loves its libraries. 45% of residents used a public library in the last year, the fourth highest rate in the UK. And Oxford leads the country for 'digital engagement', such as borrowing e-books or reserving books via an app. Demographically, nationally, those who are trans, bisexual or ‘other sexual orientation', Buddhist or Hindu are most likely to visit a library. Cllr Neil Fawcett for OCC said: “I am delighted to see our libraries leading the field in this way. The team have worked hard to improve the service and to ensure that everyone feels welcome and safe. We continue to invest in Oxfordshire's libraries and see significant increase in usage every time we do.”
Six men have been sentenced following an incident in Oxford where a car was used as a weapon, as a result of which one victim suffered a broken leg and ongoing mental health issues. The affray in South Park followed an altercation outside a Queen Street bar in September 2025. Thames Valley Police report: “The group got in a car and the driver, Romario Qatja, headed straight for the affray victim and his friends; the victim jumped out of the way, but another man in his 20s was hit, breaking his leg. Qatja then reversed towards the man with a broken leg but missed.” Detective Inspector James Mather added: “We will never tolerate such offending in Oxford, as it puts those involved and the general public at greater risk of suffering serious harm. We will be relentless in our pursuit of those involved in serious violence.”
Oxford has ranked as the most challenging location for home sellers, placing 48th out of 48 towns and cities across England and Wales. The findings highlight a stark affordability gap in the city, where average house prices stand at £467,000 against median annual earnings of £36,517, a house-price-to-earnings ratio of 12.79. The research, conducted by regulated property buyer Good Move, assessed 48 of the largest towns and cities across England and Wales using Land Registry, ONS and Rightmove data.
City BBQ joint Burnout BBQ is opening a branch on George Street. Starting from a truck in Summertown, it grew a loyal following and expanded into the Westgate.
Anti-congestion charge campaign organisation Open Roads For Oxford Ltd has applied to be struck off and dissolved, following the failure of their judicial review against the charge. The application was lodged on 23 October, before the company had filed any accounts. Although ORFOL raised “almost £85,000”, its directors (Emily Scaysbrook from Hoyle’s, Paul Major from Pens Plus, and Independent Oxford Alliance chair Anne Gwinnett) admitted that “one significant pledge ultimately fell far short of what had been promised”, resulting in a shortfall of £14,000 in legal costs.

Nature is healing. In our favourite news of the week, a photo thread by Cllr Anna Railton (Lab, Hinksey Park) recounts how Manzil Way's crumbling COVID memorial has been shielding a walnut tree, probably planted by a squirrel. While there are plans to create a more permanent COVID memorial in Manzil Way, the City Council’s tree team are protecting the walnut tree by staking and mulching it. As Cllr Railton said: “There's an old adage ‘thorn is the mother of oak’, where thorny hedgerow protects young oak saplings while they get established. Here, a community memorial on one of the busiest roads in Oxford did the same for a walnut tree.” Awww.
Good news and an interesting job: Oxfordshire’s Climate Cafes are expanding to include a new cafe at the East Oxford Community Centre on Cowley Road, and another in South Oxford. (We wrote about them last year.) They've also been supporting screenings of the People’s Emergency Briefing, a documentary about the climate emergency fronted by Chris Packham and Mike Berners-Lee. The Climate Cafes have been awarded a Community Action Groups grant to engage with people who may be harder to reach: they're recruiting for someone to help with this work, and if that's your bag, here's the job description (or email oxfordshireclimatecafes@gmail.com).

Around the county

A stained glass panel commemorating Banbury’s twinning with Hennef, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is being restored by the town’s community workshop. Banbury Shed volunteers are crafting a new surround for the panel, rescued from Hennef’s 1912 town hall when it was decommissioned in the 1990s. Banbury and Hennef have been twinned since 1981 and regular exchange visits take place. Banbury is also twinned with Ermont, in the northern suburbs of Paris.
A Healthwatch survey of 850 people has found significant health inequalities in rural Oxfordshire. People who said their finances were “not comfortable” were three times more likely to report poor physical health. Residents said a lack of affordable housing, limited public transport, and few local opportunities for jobs, education and training, were all challenges. The report's recommendations include better GP, dental and mental health services, as well as enabling people who most need support to access it.
Boutique hotel chain Crazy Bear, owners of a hotel in Stadhampton, have gone into administration for the second time in two years. All reservations are cancelled. Crazy Bear, known for its eclectic room design, had 23 boutique bedrooms, two restaurants, a bar, terrace and meetings and events spaces.
The acting Bishop of Oxford says the church “can do much better” following a meeting with survivors of abuse. The event, at the University Church, heard that the Church of England needs to confront difficult truths and better support survivors in their recovery. Around 100 people attended the event. One panellist from the Oxford Survivor Group asked: “I wonder if the church is brave enough in this, our generation, to be vulnerable, to seek to lay aside the fear that often plays a part in safeguarding interactions. I sincerely hope so. I need to believe so.”
The Bishop of Reading (part of the Oxford Diocese), Mary Gregory, said: “It is difficult to find the words to sum up the complexity of what we heard. Any brief quotation or soundbite just can’t do justice to the years of pain we bore witness to, or to the depth of anger at the Church’s failure to properly attend to survivors.”
The Chequers in Chipping Norton has won Fullers’ inaugural ‘Publican of the Year’ award, from among the pubco’s 154-strong tenanted estate. A backstreet pub popular with visitors to the town theatre, the Chequers claims to be the oldest building in Chippy and was called the Anchor until 1794. (The Clarion endorses it as a fine market town pub, though would advise you not to drink too much before enduring the twists and turns of the S3 bus back to Oxford.)
It’s the weekend, and that means local markets and an abundance of glorious local autumnal produce. West Oxfordshire shoppers have given the recently revamped Witney and Chipping Norton charter markets a thumbs-up with a 95%+ approval rating. Cllr Duncan Enright for WODC said: "Our markets are part of what makes our towns great places to live and visit. We want our markets to keep growing and evolving. That’s why it’s so important we keep listening to shoppers and traders, so we can make our markets even better.” And if you can't get to Witney or Chipping Norton, a reminder of our Market Directory for Oxfordshire, the most comprehensive listing of markets in the county. (Volunteer powered, free, and no ads!)

Walking, cycling and boating

The belated advent of autumn has led to restrictions being relaxed on Oxfordshire’s waterways. Locks on the River Thames will no longer be chained up overnight. The Oxford Canal has been reopened to passage throughout, though the Canal & River Trust is keeping water levels under review.
The Green Lane Association, which principally represents 4x4 drivers who enjoy off-roading on unmetalled roads, has defeated an attempt by Oxfordshire County Council to restrict motor traffic on an unpaved byway near Wantage – but on a technicality. OCC had agreed a restriction forbidding traffic on Cornhill Lane over 1.6m, but then wrote 1.5m into the published Traffic Regulation Order. The High Court overturned the order with OCC’s agreement. Cornhill Lane is an ancient trackway bypassing East Challow to the west and is just 1200m long. Motoring organisations like the Green Lane Association and the Trail Riders’ Fellowship habitually object to highway authorities’ attempts to restrict passage on byways and unclassified county roads.
‘Wake me up before you row row’: The latest in the ‘Poems along the Thames Path’ series has been unveiled at Goring in South Oxfordshire, paying homage to former local resident George Michael. Poet Robert Seatter used lines from Michael’s songs in a short verse, ‘Because the River Becomes an Ocean’. The poem is linked from a QR code on a small sign installed beside the lock. The programme of 30 poems, from the source of the Thames in Gloucestershire to the estuary at the Isle of Grain, was commissioned to celebrate the path’s 30th anniversary.
Government measures to tackle the use of illegal electric motorcycles by delivery companies don’t go far enough, next week’s Oxfordshire County Council meeting will hear. A motion says that delivery platforms are “tacitly supporting” modified bikes which can reach high speeds without pedalling. The motion, by Cllr Brad Baines (Lab, Isis), says the “National Work-Related Road Safety Charter to improve compliance by employers will not be strong enough to address the menace caused by such vehicles”. It asks Government for beefed-up powers against illegal modification kits. The motion cites “substantial public concern and risk is caused by use of illegally modified e-bikes, mopeds and private e-scooters which are not authorised for public roads”. It also asks e-scooter operator Voi to improve parking, and Thames Valley Police to increase enforcement activity.
A bike thief has been jailed for 34 months following a series of bike thefts across Oxford, including the e-bike belonging to Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran. Andrew Hurtault was arrested after stealing a bicycle from University College. He is also banned from possessing any mechanically propelled vehicle unless it has been registered with the police, and possessing any tools or implements capable of damaging locks or removing bicycle parts while in a public place. PC William Matthews said: “Hurtault was a prolific offender who targeted bicycles across the city, causing inconvenience and financial loss to numerous victims. Thanks to CCTV evidence and the swift action of officers, he was identified, arrested and brought before the courts." Layla Moran added: “I am very grateful to the police for catching Andrew Hurtault. Special thanks to my constituents who provided some leads following my posting the story online – I am pleased that as a result the CCTV on The Plain is now working again. Sadly, this type of theft is all too common.”
Residents of Station Road in Grove have launched a petition for a 20mph limit, saying that pedestrians and pets are constantly at risk due to motorists treating the straight road “like a racetrack”.

This weekend

Rejoining Europe (free/donation), Fri, New Road Baptist Church. Public meeting with Labour MP Chris Curtis and LibDem councillor Katherine Miles. Because we haven’t had enough constitutional upheaval for one week.
Sounds from the Basement (£), Fri, Museum of Oxford. Solo shows from Mount St. Helen and Dolly Mavies.
Barricane (£), Fri, Common Ground. Gothic harmonies to lead into Hallowe'en.
Haunted House of Improv (£), Fri/Sat, Burton Taylor Studio. 'Scared scriptless'.
Mas & Pan Workshops (free/booking), Sat, Fusion Arts. Steel pan and masquerade for Cowley Road Carnival. Age 8+.
Arches and Spires (£), Sat, Oxford Town Hall. Oxford's Welsh male voice choir joined by Froncysyllte choir. (Well done to the Clarion reader who spotted the ‘arches’ are those of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, just along from the Welsh choir’s home village.)
Alexander Balanescu (£), Sun, Charlbury Memorial Hall. The leader of the eponymous string quartet presents ‘A Journey With My Violin’ in aid of refugee relief.
Wyrdsister Comedy (£), Sun, The Library Pub. 'Folk-comedy variety show' for Samhain.

This week

Idrîsî Ensemble (£), Mon, Oxford Town Hall. Choral music from the medieval Mediterranean.
Next Customer, Please! (£), Tue-Sat, Burton Taylor Studio. Tales from a corner shop.
Vision Zero event (free), Wed, Broad Street. See what a lorry driver can't see in their blind spot. Road safety event with mobile bike mechanic and free bike locks.
Accessible Colour (free), Wed, Oxford Brookes. Public lecture on colour blindness.
Iphigenia at Aulis (£), Wed-Sat, Oxford Playhouse. This year's Oxford Greek Play, in English, in a Celtic setting. Free pre-show talks Wed-Fri.
Oxfordshire Otherwise (£), Thu, Fusion Arts. 'Ley of the Land' and other experimental film and music from deep in the county.
We, the Hated (£), Thu, Ultimate Picture Palace. The story of Just Stop Oil activists trying to stop the planet burning, appropriately scheduled for Bonfire Night, followed by director's Q&A.

Ghostbusters at Templars Square. Do you think someone read our article on the Traffic Filters?

Oxfordshire’s independent media

Cherwell takes a tour of every single one of the Bodleian libraries (there's more than just one!), and worries if students can still afford to choose colleges.
The Oxford Sausage looks at dahlias in University Parks.
Edible Reading reviews Django’s Smokehouse in Didcot. Worth reading just for the phrase “Prosecco-gargling permagrifters”.
Daily Info reviews ‘The Gang of Three’ at Oxford Playhouse.
Little Oxplorers has your Halloween guide for the mini-Clarions.
The Witney Gitzette has a blistering take on West Oxfordshire politics.

Notes from Clarion HQ

We allowed ourselves a wry chuckle – scratch that, a disbelieving guffaw – at some of the council statements today. West Oxfordshire’s leader Andy Graham, for example, says the Government decision provides “greater certainty about the future of local government in Oxfordshire”. Did he read the same decision we did?

Because ‘clear as mud’ is the phrase that springs to mind. Yes, there’s the Culham/Wheatley kerfuffle. But more than that, we’re in the dark as to what Oxford’s new council will actually do. The elected Thames Valley mayor will take on the hard stuff – strategic transport and housing. The Oxford Development Corporation, which the Government seems determined to establish, will make non-trivial planning decisions for the city and thereabouts. That leaves Greater Oxford Council as a delivery body for Government policy on social care and SEND, plus bins and rubber-stamping UPVC ~~conservatories~~ orangeries. Oxford’s biggest decisions will be made outside Oxford. The Minister calls this “stronger community engagement”. Right now we’re struggling to see it.

But we’ll attempt to bring clarity to the issues in the coming months – that’s part of why we’re called the Clarion. We’re already crunching the numbers to figure out how tomorrow’s Oxfordshire is likely to take shape. And starting with Cllr Dan Levy today, you’ll see the county’s politicians sharing their contrasting thoughts in future Clarions.

Back to Halloween! We had an absolute scream photographing this issue. If it managed to raise your spirits (or at least didn’t leave you completely ghosted), conjure up some magic and share it around. If it didn't, or even if it gave you goosebumps, drop us a line at news@oxfordclarion.uk. Have a hauntingly great week, and we'll see you on Tuesday for more stories, fair and foul.