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Clarion Weekend, 27 March 2026

Clarion Weekend, 27 March 2026
Palm Sunday procession at Christ Church in 2024, with Monty the donkey. (Photo by Ian Wallman.)

Abingdon Road flags, council cheese, congestion charge latest, Botley West solar farm, and Banbury – Town of Culture? All your Oxfordshire reading in another packed weekend edition…

This week’s long read

On Tuesday, activists from ‘Raise the Colours’ erected flags along Abingdon Road in broad daylight. In a special investigation, we ask who is behind it – and why their campaign is so controversial.

This morning, following the Clarion reporting, Police & Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said he believes that “a number of potential offences” could have been committed and that he has passed details onto Thames Valley Police to look at.

The dark side of Raise the Colours
Early on Tuesday evening, amid rush-hour traffic, a ‘Highway Maintenance’-branded van was openly stationed on Abingdon Road affixing St George’s flags to lamp-posts. We ask who is behind it – and why the campaign is so controversial. The group, who call themselves Raise the Colours, worked their way along
Oxford ClarionOxford Clarion

This week’s top stories

“Consultees had a full, fair and informed opportunity to have their voices heard and they took it” – the view of the judge who dismissed an attempt to block Oxford’s congestion charge, in a judgment published on Tuesday.

Mr Justice Fordham rejected all three grounds advanced by Open Roads for Oxford Ltd. ORFOL argued the consultation didn’t offer the option of rejecting any charge; that it didn’t draw attention to existing reductions in traffic; and that the equality assessment was too similar to that for the trial traffic filters. The judge said these were “not a viable claim for judicial review… none of them has a realistic prospect of success”, pointing to consultation questions which expressly asked whether respondents thought “there should be no charges at all”.

ORFOL could still take their case to the Court of Appeal, though this is likely to require raising more funds. Court papers state that, by December, the company had raised £55,667, mostly from “a few larger donations from local businesses which support our campaign” as well as an online crowdfunder which to date stands at £11,252.

However, most of this income will go towards their own lawyers: as an ‘Aarhus Convention case’, ORFOL’s liability for Oxfordshire County Council’s legal costs is capped at £10,000, meaning that taxpayers will pick up much of the bill. ORFOL’s directors are Anne Gwinnett, chair of the Independent Oxford Alliance party; Emily Scaysbrook, proprietor of Hoyle’s board games shop and IOA candidate for Marston in May’s elections; and Paul Major, owner of Pens Plus on the High, which was recently listed for sale.

The full judgment can be read at BAILII. Papers are online at the County Council website.

Oxfordshire MPs and parish council leaders present a petition against a Greater Oxford Council to 10 Downing Street this week.

All bets are off for Oxfordshire’s council reorganisation following surprise decisions by the Government in other areas of the country.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Steve Reed confounded expectations by announcing that in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, he had chosen proposals for more, smaller councils. He expressly referred to giving cities space to grow, saying his decision sought to ensure that “outdated boundaries are not constraining growth, particularly in our towns and cities”. Then, in Sussex, he said he was considering a plan of the Government’s own devising, rather than one submitted by local councils.

Oxford City Council was (politely) cockahoop, with leader Cllr Susan Brown suggesting the decision chimed with its own plan for a Greater Oxford Council: “I welcome the government’s decision today to back boundary changes in Norwich, Ipswich and Southampton that will enable their expansion and ensure they have their own voice.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s leader Cllr Liz Leffman, meanwhile, pointed to a Financial Times article (£) published the next day, which argues “allowing cities to take on extra neighbouring areas for short-term housebuilding purposes is not the route to economic growth at scale”. Referencing OCC’s plans for a single unitary council, she added: “The real opportunity lies in taking an approach that reflects the county’s network of science parks, innovation campuses and high‑growth businesses across our towns and rural areas.”

The decision on the future shape of Oxfordshire’s councils is expected to be announced in July. Oxford Cheese Company in the Covered Market is open until 5pm this evening.

The decision on whether to approve Botley West Solar Farm has been postponed. Secretary of State Ed Miliband was due to decide by 10 May, but the Government has now pushed the date back to 10 September “to enable my Department to seek further information from the applicant”.

Local MP Calum Miller said: “After months of scrutiny, Ministers have now kicked a decision on Botley West down the road because they still need more information from the developer, and more time for others to respond. That is a clear signal that the Planning Inspectorate recommended against approval.”

The giant solar installation is proposed for an area between Woodstock, Eynsham and Botley, mostly on land owned by the Blenheim Estate. It has been fiercely opposed by CPRE and local parish councils. We looked at the arguments for and against last year.

Leiden looks lovely. (Photo by Jose Zuniga at unsplash.com.)

Around the city

  • Thursday marked 80 years since Oxford was twinned with the Dutch university city of Leiden, in 1946. This was the first of eight twin town links to be established, although the City Council suspended twinning with Perm in Russia in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine. (Leiden is only 25 miles’ bike ride up the coast from the ferry port of Hoek van Holland, and was once home to a newspaper described as “the only one worth reading” by Thomas Jefferson. We feel a Clarion research trip coming on.)
  • The main entrance at the John Radcliffe Hospital has been replaced with new ‘fast action air lock’ doors. Part of a Government-funded public sector decarbonisation scheme, the hospital say the new entrance will conserve energy, reduce heat loss and improve temperature control.
  • An online radio station has been set up by backers of a Littlemore independent politician, playing AI-generated tracks with titles including “Don’t Vote For Trish”, “Hypocrite Queen” and “Labour C—”. The site features an endorsement of David Stares, standing in May’s city council elections. Lyrics to the AI-generated songs contain personal attacks on city and county politicians and campaigners. Fake AI interviews appear to be impersonating Oxford councillors, while choruses include lines like “don’t vote for them, vote Independent or Reform” and “Reconnecting Oxford shining the light”. Around ten tracks play on a loop in recreated pop styles, such as a Taylor Swift-like voice singing “a simple Sunday drive becomes a fiscal landmine”, a hip-hop track “a fiver here, a fiver there, all locked up in eco flair”, and weirdly, a guitar-rock anthem for a Littlemore wasp control company. There is no suggestion Mr Stares was involved with the station. (The libellous content, as well as the frankly terrible music, means we are choosing not to link to the site.)
  • Work is underway on 80 new affordable homes at Mill Lane, Old Marston. Oxford City Council’s housing company OX Place is building the houses as “a contemporary take on the rural character of Old Marston echoing the architecture of the surrounding Conservation Area”. Plans include a new village green along the western edge of the site with “natural play areas for both new residents and the wider community”. For the city council, Cllr Linda Smith said: “These 80 new homes will provide more affordable options for local people.” Local residents have expressed concern about construction traffic. Completion is forecast for late 2028.
  • Entrance fees at the Museum of Oxford in the Town Hall are to be further reviewed, following a petition brought to the City Council on Monday. A debate heard suggestions that Town Hall paintings “that do not support or align with the Council’s values” could be sold, and the income reinvested to support museum costs. The council resolved to ask Cabinet to explore “further opportunities to provide free access to the Museum to local people”.
  • The Government’s decision to ban petrol and diesel car sales from 2030 has caused alarm at Mini Plant Oxford, Monday’s meeting also heard. The factory does not currently build any electric vehicles. The City Council resolved to ask the Government to meet with unions and BMW to discuss the issue and – wait for it – to “seek support for full economic re-integration with the EU, including pursuit of a customs union and European single market membership, in order to minimise friction to trade and employment”.
  • The OxClean Spring Clean 2026 collected four tonnes of litter thanks to the work of 70 groups and individuals across Oxford. 2027's OxClean will be 5–14 March; the group, supported by the Oxford Civic Society, ask residents to mark their diaries for these dates.
  • OUFC say the shirt made in collaboration with the Ashmolean Museum has become the Club's fastest-selling replica shirt, outselling the already record-breaking 2025/26 kit in its first 24 hours. A few shirts still remain and can be purchased online in the OUFC shop.
  • Wychwood School in Oxford has launched AI Futures Oxford – an A-level course in Artificial Intelligence, open to learners across the UK. The programme is described as a “micro school outside normal school hours”, a response to a gap in post-16 education. Demand from employers has raised questions about whether schools are doing enough to prepare pupils for AI-related study and work, particularly as the technology affects sectors far beyond computing.
  • A new theatre company is raising funds to put on their first production at the Old Fire Station. The “mildly amusingly” named Shight Productions, from actor Eloise Sheffield and producer Dan Knight, will stage Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman in September.
  • Botley's Matthew Arnold School has made the national finals of STEM racing. Described as 'F1 in microcosm', the competition has 9-19 year olds design, make and test miniature cars. You can follow along later on the STEM Racing YouTube channel.
  • The Leys Pool & Leisure Centre has officially opened its new outdoor Play Corridor, with residents’ ideas and chalk drawings directly influencing the final design of the walking route that is “designed to encourage children and families to be more active as they move around the centre”.
  • A 50-year old man and a 35-year old woman have been arrested in Cowley in connection with an investigation into terrorist financing, and remain in custody. Thames Valley Police have warned of “an increased police presence while search activity is ongoing”.

Around the county

  • Banbury is bidding to be UK Town of Culture 2028. The application will highlight Banbury’s outdoor market, thriving community initiatives, popular festivals, grassroots arts and wellbeing projects as well as youth sporting programmes. Henley-on-Thames is also throwing its hat in the ring.
  • Oxfordshire council staff could be paid a Living Wage. A motion brought by Labour and Green councillors to Tuesday’s County Council meeting, and backed by the ruling Liberal Democrat group, called on the council to pay its workers the Oxford Living Wage – the voluntary minimum wage scheme established by the City Council, set at 95% of London’s level. The commitment could be expanded into a wider Oxfordshire Living Wage scheme including council contractors and other businesses. OCC’s Cabinet will take the final decision.
  • Can't park there mate: West Oxfordshire District Council’s plans for building 100% social rent homes on a car park in Witney now include underground residents’ parking and 84 public parking spaces, after a petition and campaign to save the car park led by Conservative councillor Liam Walker and Chamber of Commerce chair Richard Martin. Witney has more than 1,600 free public parking spaces, and the council analysis found that a nearby multi-storey car park has more than 230 spaces available on average. House prices in Witney are now around ten times the average salary.
  • The Conservatives have a councillor on Vale of White Horse District Council for the first time since 2023. Lee Evans, already a county councillor, won yesterday’s Stanford in the Vale by-election. Results were: 🔵 Con 45.9%, 🔶 LibDem 27.2%, ➡️ Reform 18.0%, 💚 Green 7.9%, 🌹 Lab 0.9%.
  • Banbury’s Castle Quay shopping centre is being re-thought to house a the mix of units including “leisure, culture, workspace, and family attractions… to address changing consumer trends”. The centre has never been full since opening in 2000, and suffered from major chain retrenchments in the 2010s. Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County councils are now working on a new masterplan for Banbury, which Cllr Lesley McLean described as “a more modern, experience‑led town centre”. It was recently announced that the former Debenhams site is to be turned into a ninja assault course.
  • The Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, has co-signed an open letter to GB News owner Paul Marshall, a professed Christian, criticising the channel’s stance on climate change. The letter states: “As Christians, we believe the causes of global heating are the direct result of human greed. You have significant responsibility given your portfolio of media outlets which shape the thinking of millions and have a significant impact on public discourse and politics. We are concerned that your past statements are misleading [and by your] personal financial interests in fossil fuels.” The signatories, who include former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, have asked Marshall to meet with them to discuss “the role your media properties are playing in our national discussion about the climate crisis”.
  • Oxfordshire’s road repair programme for the spring has been finalised. The County Council says it will be treating 87 roads between April and June at a cost of £8m, principally through surface dressing to seal the road surface. The work cannot be carried out in wet conditions. Cllr Andrew Gant said: “Reactive pothole repairs are expensive and inefficient. Preventative maintenance, such as surface dressing, is far better value and stops potholes forming in the first place.” Planned work can be seen on an interactive map.
  • Community groups across South Oxfordshire are invited to apply for funding for projects that help the physical and mental wellbeing of residents. A fund of up to £50,000 is available. Previous grants included outdoor furniture for Benson Community Gardens.
  • And in the ongoing saga of road markings at Milton Interchange, local Conservative councillor Ian Snowdon and PCC Matthew Barber have raised concerns that lane markings onto the A34 are still incorrect. The PCC writes that “The new road markings mean that if you’re in lane 2 marked for A34 North, you’re kept in lane 2 having to cross two lanes of traffic to join the A34!” (We’re just looking forward to the Milton Heights cycle bridge…)

Night ride for the Thame–Haddenham Greenway; Witney’s Walking Bus; the Thames Path at Benson.

Walking, cycling and boating

  • Benson Weir walkway on the Thames Path, closed since 2022, reopens on 1 April. The walkway was closed after structural surveys showed its supports were no longer safe, due to corrosion and impact damage. Since then, the Environment Agency has been rebuilding the structure with new radial gates, a new fish pass, and a new wider path. While this took place, the Thames Path was diverted via roads (including the busy A4074) to cross at Wallingford Bridge instead.
  • Bike rides for your diary: Kidical Mass, the family bike ride, returns on 10 May, with feeder rides from across Oxford. Organisers Cyclox are looking for marshals: email contact@cyclox.org if you're interested. On 8 May, The Great Day Release Escape is a team challenge route from Tap Social in Botley to HMP Bullingdon organised by XO Bikes, a business (like Tap Social) created to employ prison leavers. You will experience “the bedlam of release from prison with impossible tasks that often come along with a stressful day”. Before that, on 18 April, a community ride will remember Headington journalist and cyclist Jonny Ives, raising money for Sobell House.
  • A group of riders lit up Thame last Friday in a night ride in support of the Haddenham–Thame Greenway, asking for consideration of all potential riders in its design. A public consultation on the scheme is expected later this year. Co-organiser Sarah Green said: “The greenway will make a huge difference to local people – especially young families like mine who want a safe, traffic-free space to cycle, scoot, and run. It will also benefit commuters heading to the station.”
  • Monday saw the launch of a Walking Bus in Witney – “much like a normal bus route but on foot”, encouraging children to walk to school. The first route is to Witney Community Primary School, but West Oxfordshire District Council says there is the potential for more routes in the future. For WODC, Cllr Rachel Crouch said: “It was such a lovely morning seeing children chatting, smiling and enjoying the walk together. It’s a simple idea, but it makes a real difference. Families can spend time together, children arrive ready for the day, and we all benefit from quieter, safer streets.” A volunteer who joined the first walk said: “It made the morning feel much calmer and more enjoyable. It’s a great way to start the day, and it was lovely to see the children feel part of something.” A schoolchild taking part in the Walking Bus added: “It’s like an adventure!”
  • The much appreciated water tap at Sparsholt Firs on the Ridgeway, a godsend for generations of Ridgeway walkers and now cyclists on King Alfred’s Way, has been refurbished and reinstated. The tap is a memorial to 14-year-old Peter Wren, who had walked the Ridgeway and loved the countryside. Peter was tragically killed in an accident on Christmas Eve in 1978 while cycling to sing in his local church in Sarisbury Green, Fareham.
  • The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, which is restoring the old canal from Abingdon to Swindon and Wiltshire, has launched a 25-year vision. By 2050, they hope to have reinstated the canal through Oxfordshire from Abingdon to Wantage, and established an footpath/cycleway along the full length of the line.
  • Fancy becoming a lock-keeper? The Environment Agency has opened recruitment for seasonal lock-keeping jobs on the Thames.

Books

Four recommendations for the Mini Clarions in time for the Easter holidays, from Xander at Magdalen Road's Caper bookshop.

  • Unexpected Guests, Mariajo Ilustrajo. A wonderfully illustrated book about a family of mice living happily under the floorboards getting the shock of the lives when they discover some very unusual houseguests: humans.
  • Ruthie, Esmé Shapiro. Ruthie is a prince (a dog) who has it all! He lives in a castle and is beloved by his queen (his owner). But when a chance to escape presents itself, Ruthie soon finds exploring isn't all it's cracked up to be…
  • Solo, Neil Clark. Outside Solo is quite shy, but inside are magic worlds and rocket submarines. Discover the power of the introvert!
  • Mo’s Stick, Fiona Lumbers. Mo is sad… her favourite stick is gone! It could take Mo up to the stars and across the sea, and no other stick will ever be as good. But was it the stick that was special, or could it have been Mo's wild and wonderful imagination?

This weekend

  • Bite!, Saturday, Cornerstone Didcot. The 'first and only public appearance' of Oxfordshire’s Banksy, the prankster known as @Athirty4 (exhibition continues to 25 April).
  • Stainer’s Crucifixion, Saturday, St Mary’s Church, Banbury. The Victorian Passion that’s come full circle to be respectable once again.
  • Choruses from The Rock, Saturday, Corpus Christi College. 'Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?' Free performance of T.S. Eliot's pageant play (booking required).
  • One-day singing workshop, Saturday, Lewknor. A “wonderful day of song”, plus haven’t you always wanted an excuse to get off the Oxford Tube at Lewknor Turn?
  • Palm Sunday Procession, Sunday, St Aldate’s. From the Memorial Garden to Christ Church Cathedral, singing hymns and led by a donkey.
  • Cutteslowe Park Miniature Railway (£), Sunday. The ride-on railway reopens for 2026. (‘Ride on’ for Palm Sunday, did you say?)

Music for Holy Week at Blackfriars – the Sherborne Missal at the British Library. And Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

This week

  • Family Fun: Pets & Their People, Tue 31 Mar, Weston Library. Meet guide dogs and print animal poems at a free family drop-in event.
  • Passia (£), Tue 31 Mar, St Mary Magdalen. The story of Good Friday sung from the perspective of five women at the foot of the cross.
  • James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross, Tue 31 Mar, 7.30pm, Christ Church Cathedral. Stunning modern music for Holy Week, performed by the Cathedral Choir and Britten Sinfonia. Entrance free, no booking required. (But turn up early!)
  • Reflections on Holy Week, Tue 31 Mar, 7.15pm, Blackfriars Priory (St Giles). Choral music (and congregational singing) at Oxford’s community of Dominican friars.
  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (£), 1-4 Apr, Oxford Playhouse. A truly scrumptious production from Oxford's Musical Youth Company. Rated age 5+ for Child Catchers.

Oxfordshire’s independent media

Ozymandias update

An occasional update on Magdalen's favourite furry fellow.

All images via Magdalen President, Dinah Rose.

If some of this newsletter has required a trigger warning, something to warm the heart at the end. We are delighted to inform readers that Ozymandias' fame has spread to the pages of Country Life, where he appeared in a feature on cats with jobs. Please also do feast your eyes on this sonnet composed in his honour: “that Colossal mog, cloaked in grey hair”. You're welcome.

Notes from Clarion HQ

It’s been a busy week (not least thanks to writing flag stories late into the night…), which meant our volunteers didn’t have the time to live-tweet either Monday’s City Council meeting or Tuesday’s County Council meeting. We’ve covered the main news above, but we were delighted to see Green councillor Emily Kerr taking up the baton on Tuesday and live-bleating from inside the council chamber. (One quote: “Anyway, I'm feeling a bit like the Oxford Clarion here but honestly, that's quite a good thing.” Aw, shucks.)

We did find a few minutes, though, to revise our Clarion poster – as requested by readers, a simple sheet you can pin up on your community noticeboard or in your office canteen to tell people about us! Download it here.

Have a lovely weekend and we’ll be back on Tuesday.