Clarion Weekend, 11 September 2026

Oxonmoot delegates lay wreaths at Tolkien’s grave in Wolvercote cemetary during Enyalië last Sunday. (Photo by Roger Close.)

C.S. Lewis goes glamping, a tourist tax is floated for Oxford, Didcot gets new cycling signs and Debenhams catches fire. Plus your essential events round-up and weekend reading. Starting with…

This week’s long reads

Oriel College is 700 years old this year – the oldest college which still uses the building in which it was founded. Listed buildings expert and Oriel alumna Madeline Odent, and Clarion photographer Roger Close, take a look at the birthplace of the ‘dreaming spires’ – from the Civil War to cutting edge climate policy, via Sir Walter Raleigh and Cecil Rhodes. (Our most detailed long read yet. You may need a whole pot of tea for this one.)

It’s Oxford Open Doors this weekend. In case you missed it, here’s our pick of the must-see attractions – from a hidden medieval room on Cornmarket to hand-printing for kids at OUP.

This week’s top stories

An unexpectedly contentious debate at this week’s Oxfordshire County Council meeting saw the Greens demand stricter infrastructure requirements for new developments – but a Labour councillor described it as “the Greens targeting their NIMBY voters”.

A motion brought by Cllr Emma Markham (Green, Shrivenham), called for OCC to write to Government asking for “housing targets to be matched to genuine infrastructure capacity”, and for OCC to review its procedures for adopting new developments so infrastructure delivery was “timely and efficient”:

“The village I live in has doubled in size. Yet the infrastructure has failed to keep place. The sewage treatment works built in the 1960s cannot cope with the increased demand. Overflows into the local stream occur regularly affecting businesses, residents, and the environment.”

Cllr Ian Snowdon (Con, Didcot West) agreed: “I have spoken in this chamber about the scandal of Great Western Park infrastructure. Years after the development was completed, we still don't have a single road adopted, not a single street light. Sewers are blocked and the stench is unbearable.”

But Labour’s Izzy Creed (Banbury Calthorpe) argued that “The motion doesn't understand how planning legislation actually works. There is no magic money tree for infrastructure. This motion really is about trying to reduce the housing target. Any truly progressive party would want to build more houses, so that we don't have Oxfordshire families trying to bring up children in hotel rooms.” Cllr Susanna Pressel (Lab, Jericho & Osney) said planning conditions could already be imposed: “A Grampian condition means the housing cannot be occupied until the infrastructure is in place. That way you don't hold up the building, and you put pressure on utilities to bring in the infrastructure. Please pause before you vote in favour of any reduction in the targets for housing.”

OCC’s ruling LibDems supported the Greens. Former leader Liz Leffman (Charlbury) said Grampian conditions were not enough, while new leader Tim Bearder (Wheatley), cited the example of Oxford’s new Bayswater development:

“The Environment Agency said to Thames Water: look, we've asked you so many times to improve the Oxford sewage treatment plant, that we are going to put a standing objection into any new housing. Our colleagues on the left wrote to the Secretary of State and said: ‘This is really annoying because we're trying to build loads of houses.’ Apropos of nothing, a couple of weeks later, the Environment Agency lifted their standing objection.”

The motion was passed with 47 votes for (Green, LibDem, Conservative and independents) and 10 votes against (Labour).

Tourists in Oxford. Photo by Roger Close.

Could Oxford be getting a tourist tax? Two years after the City Council first raised the possibility (reported in the first ever Clarion newsletter!), the Government this week announced plans for a percentage levy on overnight stays. But the power will be in the hands of mayors and ‘strategic authority’ leaders – and plans for a Thames Valley authority are currently in limbo.

Susan Brown, Oxford City Council leader (Lab), welcomed the announcement, saying that although £1 in every £6 spent in Oxford came from tourists, this comes with challenges:

“The level of tourism that we have means additional stress on our city, including providing more public toilets, more street cleaning and more litter collections. I warmly welcome the government announcement, which makes it even more important that we all work together to get a Mayoral Strategic Authority as soon as possible.”

Oxfordshire County Council broke up discussions on a Thames Valley mayor when it became clear that the previous Starmer administration was only offering a ‘foundation strategic authority’, a halfway house with no elected mayor. Although the Burnham government claims it has offered all areas a mayoralty, no letter has been published despite requests by the Clarion.

Meanwhile, short lets like Airbnb now account for 25% of Oxfordshire tourism stays, according to a survey by the county’s tourism organisation. Experience Oxfordshire asked 416 visitors about their stay this July. Only 39% of respondents visited a cafe, pub or restaurant during their stay; commentators have suggested that short let customers are more likely to use supermarkets than restaurants, compared to hotel guests. (Is there research on this? Tell us!)

Oxford City Council has repeatedly called on Government to give it more powers to regulate short lets, writing: “Oxford is already facing a housing and affordability crisis, and has seen a significant number of properties that might have been used to house families lost to the short let market.”

Parents say their children missed the first days of term because their school bus arrangements had not been sorted out in time.

Oxfordshire’s LibDem MPs wrote to (LibDem-controlled) Oxfordshire County Council about the delays being faced by parents of children with special educational needs (SEND). They said:

“In far too many cases, transport arrangements were still not confirmed the day before the child was due to start school. Parents have faced extremely long waits to reach OCC’s Transport Team by phone and are not receiving responses to written communication. We appreciate the financial pressures following years of Government cuts, but children being unable to attend school is detrimental.”

Labour MPs Sean Woodcock and Anneliese Dodds said they believed there were wider issues with OCC’s Supported Transport service. “The decision to make the [bookable bus] COMET officer redundant has contributed to broader management challenges.” A school bus operator told the Clarion they echoed this concern, saying that previous expertise had been lost at OCC, and that “it’s worse than any year we’ve known”.

The Oxfordshire Parent Carers’ Forum has published a troubleshooting guide for parents of SEND children, and is organising a session for parents to talk to OCC’s head of transport. An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said:

“Across Oxfordshire, the vast majority of the 8,000 plus home to school transport arrangements for families of eligible children, including SEND pupils – who submitted their travel information applications before the deadline – are now in place. The remainder, around 45, are currently being finalised. Less than 1% of those who applied before the deadline are still waiting for travel arrangements to be put in place.”

Around the city

One of central Oxford’s biggest eyesores is finally to be addressed. The former Co-operative Bank opposite the Westgate, derelict for six years, is to reopen as a three-floor concept Chinese restaurant. Jericho architecture practice Lynrace is working on the transformation of 13 New Road. The ground floor will be buffet service and a bar; the first floor, a more formal lunch/dinner service with dim sum and ‘corporate dining’; and the second floor a party/group buffet with karaoke. Lynrace say “our interior concept is centred around atmosphere… a restaurant that feels intimate, comfortable and made for spending time in”. This end of Queen Street is expected to become a stronger visitor destination in the next few years, with a new hotel/restaurant opening in County Hall and Oxfordshire County Council working up plans for the Castle Quarter.
Two doors down the road, St Peter’s College is proposing to buy 11 New Road, opposite County Hall, from Oxford City Council. The college, which already rents the top floor, wants to replace the first-floor nail bar with student accommodation (creating 18 new rooms) while retaining retail on the ground floor. The council currently receives £110,000 rental income per year from the building. A Cabinet meeting next week will be asked to approve the sale, which officers say will give a better return than continued ownership would. St Peter’s say the building “is in need of upgrading both environmentally and from a maintenance standpoint”, and plan to clean, repair and repoint the facades. A planning application is with the City Council for consideration.

The playground at Friar’s Wharf in St-Ebbe’s-by-the-River has reopened, renamed ‘Emily’s Playground’ after Emily Topf Abrams who passed away in 2024, aged 42. Her mother Edna made a generous donation to fund the improvements, which include two new multi-play climbers with slides; a new swing for younger children; a coned rope climbing frame; and seating for families. Oxford City Council also provided funding. Edna explained:

“As my grandchildren, Leo (14) and Alfie (9), often say, we are happy that an event that was so sad and devastating, has created a place of joy. I hope that Emily’s Playground at Friar’s Wharf is a place where children can come together, enjoy themselves, and make happy memories.”

The alcohol and tobacco license for Matean Market at 128 Hollow Way was refused at the City Council’s Licensing & Gambling Sub-Committee Meeting. The application had been strongly opposed by Trading Standards, who document successful test purchases of illegal products since 2017. In their submission, Trading Standards said that since 2019, they have secured convictions against seven individuals connected to Matean Market for offences involving illegal tobacco and vapes, and that the premises have a significant and persistent history of criminal and regulatory non-compliance.
In August 2026, a Closure Order was granted against the business following a visit from Thames Valley Police and Trading Standards, during which a hidden knife and “a significant amount of cash" was seized alongside counterfeit goods, and a number of people staying at the premises who had overstayed their immigration status, although during the hearing Mr Vaisi explained that it was a kitchen knife and had been found with a plate. During the raid, a 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing goods with a false trademark for sale/hire, and supplying a tobacco product with packs not carrying a health warning. In May 2026, the previous owner of Matean Market was found guilty of eight offences relating to illegal supply of tobacco and vapes in 2024. The applicant, Farshid Vaisi, said he committed to upholding licensing objectives including CCTV and staff training, although the committee found he was unable to demonstrate understanding of the regulations surrounding alcohol licensing.
Can We Talk?: To coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, Oxford United are launching a brand-new initiative to offer suicide prevention training to grassroots football clubs. The free sessions will be funded by former Oxford United player and Can We Talk? co-founder, Will Vaulks, with additional training also being made available to Season Ticket holders as part of Will and the Club’s drive to ensure the Can We Talk? campaign leaves a legacy.

Cedar Hollow, a C.S. Lewis inspired glamping site in Headington, has won a coveted VisitEngland Rose Award. Cedar Hollow was one of just eight winners across the South East. VisitEngland’s Andrew Stokes said: “The Awards showcase the excellent accommodation available across England. They honour the people behind the businesses who go out of their way to provide outstanding customer service, innovative options for all tastes and budgets and a great welcome for visitors.“
Makespace Oxfordshire is to open community living rooms in Oxford and Abingdon, thanks to National Lottery funding.They are described as “designed with and by local citizens, where people can meet and organise to shape the future of their neighbourhoods & just be together”. The funding also supports a free training and support programme for anyone who wants to transform space in their community, with the aim of "showing a different way of doing regeneration: led by communities, not imposed upon them". (We'll be keeping an eye on this one, not least because this writer still misses the Camerados living room and 'pay what you can' waste cafe near Templars Square about eight years ago…)

Firefighters outside the former Debenhams. Photo by Roger Close.

A fire in the former Debenhams on Magdalen Street on Wednesday caused neighbouring shops to be evacuated. Buses were diverted away from the area. Thames Valley Police believe the fire was started accidentally, possibly by a discarded cigarette. The building is being redeveloped as lab space by the Crown Estate in a £125m scheme.
And finally, in a very occasional series of restaurant recommendations from Clarion readers, the newly opened Sanco restaurant cafe in Headington promises to be Oxford's first 'nutrition-led whole foods kitchen'. The cafe aims to "offer a healthy alternative for people balancing work, family life and health goals", and it might even get us to finally try a green juice. A Headington resident tells us:

“It’s very close to the bus stop for the Oxford Tube and the Airline bus (Headington Shops). We really like this place and want to spread the word. It’s led by Marley Joseph who believes strongly in good nutrition for a healthy life from experience of two bouts of Lymphoma – once when he as 19 and secondly in 2021 when he was in the JR for the whole Covid period undergoing treatment.”

Around the county

A new Place Board for Carterton offers “a real opportunity to think differently about the future of the town”, according to West Oxfordshire District Council’s Cllr Liz Leffman (LibDem). Carterton South is the poorest area of West Oxfordshire with an average household income of £36,300 after housing costs. Thousands of new houses are planned for the area and its adjoining parishes such as Brize Norton. The Place Board will bring together local councils, businesses, schools, and community organisations to “agree priorities, coordinate projects and make a stronger case for funding and investment”. The board is due to hold its first meeting in October. Carterton is currently represented by three Conservatives, two LibDems and one Reform councillor on WODC.
A residential care home in Headington and another in Chipping Norton could be closed under a proposal being considered by Oxfordshire County Council and the Orders of St John Care Trust. They say demand has reduced over time, but that the council pays for care beds whether they are used or not. The Trust, working with another housing association, provides 16 care homes across the county; OCC currently funds 508 of the 878 places provided by OSJCT. The council says it “wants to help people with lower levels of need to stay independent and live in their own homes for as long as possible”. Banbury MP Sean Woodcock (Lab) said he was “deeply concerned by the proposed closure”. Consultations are now open into the proposals: Henry Cornish, Chipping Norton; Townsend House, Headington.
Animal magic? A Bicester resident, Claire Brenner, who opposes the proposed asylum centre site says that nearby are 13 bat species, great crested newts, otters, polecats and 188 records of protected wildflowers including one so rare it has its own county recovery plan, according to Thames Valley Environmental Records. She says that as it is being fast tracked through a Crown Development Process, the environmental scrutiny is lacking: field assessments normally take about a year to complete:

“This isn’t a minor oversight. It’s the difference between a report that says a landscape is empty of wildlife and the reality that it supports one of the richest concentrations of protected species in the district – including a species the MOD’s own land helped bring back from local extinction.”

Oxfordshire Stand Up To Racism are calling for action from the police following an attack against a man in Bicester on Saturday. A recording shows a member of a group calling itself ‘Men of Megin’ tackling a man to the floor and holding him in a choke hold. Racist abuse was being shouted at the young man as he was attacked. The attack took place at a protest by ‘Bicester Says No’ campaign against the planned asylum detention camp just outside Bicester. ‘Men of Megin’ is a Lincolnshire group that claims to support men experiencing bad mental health, but were at the Bicester site protesting against the presence of asylum seekers, say SUTR. Vice-chair Ian McKendrick added: “This is clearly a racist attack and it was vicious. We call on the police to arrest the clearly identifiable man and get justice done. Racist abuse and violent racist attacks have no place in our local community.”
Two Surrey men have been arrested in connection with the Kidlington fly-tip – bringing the total number of arrests to six. The 21-year old and 43-year old have been released on conditional bail pending further investigations. The clean-up concluded last month, having removed 22,100 tonnes of commercial and household waste. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said: “These arrests are another step towards delivering justice for Kidlington residents, who have had to put up with the dumping of disgusting waste.”
West Oxfordshire District Council is to consult on changes to the maximum stay at Witney's Marriott's Walk car park, creating 50 more 12-hour (free) parking spaces. The council says they are intended to support people working in and around Witney town centre, particularly those with varied working patterns.
Meanwhile in the ongoing row over building housing on the Woodford Way car park opposite, Witney Chamber of Commerce says that the sloping nature of the site suggests that sinking the base level would allow parking to be retained on the ground floor, with housing above. They concede that “this is likely to cost more”, but chair Adrian Bullock told the Clarion he thought parking could still be offered free: “We would expect that, alongside a social housing company, a private developer could be brought on board and deliver a mixture of social and private housing. We think it would deliver more parking, more social housing, and private housing which isn’t part of the current proposal at all.”

Pooches at the Palace. (Photo via Blenheim Palace.)

Calling all Instagrammers: Blenheim's Formal Gardens, Great Court and Walled Garden are now open to your four-legged friend until Sunday 4 October. On 3 and 4 October the Palace will host Dogfest (please send pics). Then Halloween comes to Blenheim from 22 October until 1 November, an after-dark trail with light displays, immersive entertainment, and plenty of Halloween surprises along the way, from the Spider's Lair to the Pirate's Wreck (booking required). And finally, less Instagram, more Instamatic; your last chance to see this exhibition of royal photography since Queen Victoria on its national tour, which started at Kensington Palace. The exhibition closes on 27 September.

Walking and cycling

The Road Safety Foundation is carrying out research to understand how neurodivergent children of all ages and young people aged 16-24 experience roads and streets. They'd like to hear from parents and young people to help them with their research. We don't often link to a survey, but this one has strong links to Clarion reader interests: improving road safety for a wider range of people. There are four survey versions, for parents and carers (neurodivergent / neurotypical), and for young people themselves (neurodivergent / neurotypical). Each takes 10-15 minutes.
49 new walking and cycling signs are being installed around Didcot, funded from housing developments. Vale of White Horse District Council says it hopes the signs will encourage residents to walk and cycle more.
A dazzle* of new zebra crossings is proposed across West Oxfordshire. Carterton will get new crossings on Alvescot Road, Burford Road and Wycombe Way; Witney will have a new one on Witan Way, near the industrial estate; and Aston will get one across the B4449 Cote Road, by the village hall. In addition, Oxfordshire County Council is proposing a new toucan (cycle/pedestrian) crossing over the A417 in Harwell, linking the village to the Winnaway cycle path towards the Harwell Campus. Consultations are open on OCC’s ‘Let’s Talk’ portal.
* A dazzle is the collective noun for zebras, an allusion to the effect of their stripes in a large group. The collective noun for toucans is a ‘durante’, after American entertainer Jimmy Durante and his particularly large nose.

This weekend

Cocktails on the Clumps (£), Fri, Little Wittenham. Autumn drinks and cheese toasties on the hillside. Bike parking available at the Earth Trust Centre (on National Cycle Network 5).
Oxford Open Doors (free), Sat/Sun. Drop in to see inside the buildings that make Oxford, from the Divinity School to the Mini plant, and much more.
East Oxford Farmers' Market 20th anniversary, Sat, East Oxford Primary School. Tiddly Pommes, Crudges Cheese, Bibury Trout, Sue's Hats, Jason's Books, and more.
Outdoor chess, Sat, North Parade. Drop into the market on Church Walk between 12 and 2 p.m. for a casual game.
Barton Live (free), Sat, Underhill Circus. Oxford Contemporary Music present a free family festival headlined by beatboxer Rocco.
Model Railway Club open day (free/donation), Sat, Collinwood Road URC. Try your hand at operating a model railway layout in celebration of the Oxford & District Model Railway Club's 60th anniversary.
Binsey Fête (£cheap), Sat, Binsey Lane. With the intriguing promise of 'Luddites Corner'.
Come and Sing Fauré’s Requiem (£), Sat, Dorchester Abbey. Perform in the twelfth-century abbey. Under-18s welcome with adults.
Rory Bremner (£), Sat, Amey Theatre (Abingdon). The impressionist and satirist, with supports.
Sea Songs & Shanties (donation), Sun, White Hart (Wolvercote). Annual fundraiser for the RNLI, with Monkeyfists, Never Mind the Rowlocks, and Man Choir Mutineers, followed by an open session. Fancy dress encouraged.
Steeple Barton Chase (free/£), Sun, Barton Abbey. 5K, 10K, or fun run in aid of St Mary's Church.

This week

Lilith: The Other Side of the Story (£), Tue, Burton Taylor Studio. With storyteller Katy Cawkwell.
Saria Callas (£), Wed/Thu, Burton Taylor Studio. A play about a land where women are forbidden from singing – not a dystopian fantasy, but modern Iran.
Woodland anthology reading (£cheap), Thu, Abingdon Library. 'Words weave a welcome to the woods', in this case Radley Large Wood, purchased by St Hilda's College in 2022.
Sustainable Foraging (£), Fri 18, Shotover. Half-day foraging course as part of the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s centenary.

Coming up

Next weekend: Oxford Canal Festival (Sat), Abingdon Heritage Weekend, Lark Rise to Candleford celebration in Fringford (Sat).
Booking is open for IF Oxford (previously the Oxfordshire Science Festival), returning for its 35th year in the last two weeks of October, including the school half-term break. Pay-what-you-decide events from smells to superconductors are planned, from Oxford North to Blackbird Leys. Highlights include robotic dog racing and drone football; a children's novel about The Dawn of AI in ‘New Oxford’; explorations of colour in glass and art; and an evening at Fantastea investigating the cultural history of tea.

Oxfordshire’s independent media

The Oxford Sausage meets the gardeners of Cripley Meadow Allotments
Little Oxplorers has a weekend guide for Open Doors and Heritage Weekend. Not to be missed if you have Mini Clarions.
Ox in a Box loves the White Rabbit by Gloucester Green. (Now we'll never get a table.)
Bitten Oxford has breakfast at Dirty Bones which somehow involves an Oreo milkshake and we're not judging, just jealous… but if someone can write a list of child friendly brunch places that'd be ace. Thanks so much.

Notes from Clarion HQ

We have long been intrigued why the Westgate hasn’t led to a ‘halo effect’ for nearby premises – perhaps a result of Oxford’s strange land-ownership patterns and colleges who operate in timescales of centuries, not months. The former Top Shop sat unused for years, only recently becoming a shiny Waterstones. Now the old Co-op Bank is at last to come back into use. Perhaps the forlorn-looking Bonn Square and St Ebbe’s Street could be next for a glow-up? (And then there’s the mystery of the Liaison restaurant on Castle Street…)

Enjoy Oxford Open Doors. As always, we’re at news@oxfordclarion.uk for your tip-offs and observations. See you next week.