Clarion Weekend, 5 December 2025

Misty weather by Christ Church Meadow. Photo by Roger Close.

Less than three weeks until Christmas yet the news shows no signs of relenting. This week we have breaking news about Oxford–Bristol trains, the latest on Campsfield House, a new Oxford restaurant, and reusing heat from AI data centres. Read on…

Around the city

A 30-year old Oxford resident, imprisoned for taking part in the Palestine Action paint attack at RAF Brize Norton, is entering the fifth week of their hunger strike. Amu Gib is protesting against “the victimisation faced by prisoners accused of taking direct action” for the Palestinian cause. They are one of six prisoners on hunger strike at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey. Supporters say “Their visits have been restricted, phone cut off, put into solitary confinement for arbitrary reasons… Amu was also forcibly taken off their craft job for embroidering Free Palestine on a cushion.” Permanent bodily damage is generally expected to begin after one month. Their trial is expected to start in January 2027.
An Oxfordshire driver has been fined for using their deceased grandmother’s blue badge to park at Templars Square in Cowley. Jessica Holdsworth of Abingdon admitted the offence and was fined £307, plus a victim surcharge of £123 and costs of £911. Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The blue badge system is there for people who rely on it to help them remain mobile and independent. Those who abuse it deny vital parking spaces to people who really need them. We will continue to take enforcement action on this.”
Oxfam is launching its first ever Christmas Personal Shopper Gifting Service at its Oxford Superstore this weekend, for one weekend only. The free service pairs shoppers with in-store experts who help them uncover personalised, sustainable and great value presents. The initiative responds to an insight that 39% of Oxonians feel pressured to overspend this Christmas with 61% seeking more unique, thoughtful gifts. (Oxfam gifts were among our top recommendations in our Christmas shopping guide.)
The first ever vaccine against Lassa fever, a deadly virus endemic in West Africa, is being trialled by the Oxford Vaccine Group. 31 people are to receive a dose of ChAdOx Lassa 1, made using the same viral vector platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. The World Health Organization has identified Lassa fever and related viruses as priority pathogens in urgent need of research and development, due to their potential to cause large outbreaks. By 2070, up to 700 million people may live in regions at risk of Lassa fever. Professor Maheshi Ramasamy, Chief Investigator of the trial, said the study was “a crucial step toward protecting vulnerable communities from the devastating impact of Lassa fever”.
A Cambridge gelato, coffee and pizza shop is coming to Oxford. Aromi, which has three outlets in the Other Place, is to open at 4 Turl Street, formerly a jewellers’ shop. The company is currently recruiting pizza chefs and front-of-house staff. Another gelato shop, Amorino, is expected to open on Cornmarket in the coming weeks. We have been unable to find out whether G&D’s is planning a Cambridge expansion in retaliation.
Arts charity Film Oxford is moving to the reopened East Oxford Community Centre. Film students have made two short films on the history of the Catherine Street site, previously a YMCA boxing club and community 'slipper baths' for homes without bathrooms.
Tourism in Oxford has grown 17% year on year, according to Oxford City Council. Over 9.4m people visited the city centre between September & November 2024 compared to just 8m in the same period of 2023. The figures were released as part of the council's annual Authority Monitoring Report.
Relatedly, a new initiative seeks to brand Oxford as “a destination for independent, luxury experiences”. Essentially Oxford is a collaboration between the companies behind The Store (the hotel in the Boswells site) and the Old Bank Hotel. Simon Drake from The Store said: “Oxford has long been celebrated for its rich history and intellect. With Essentially Oxford, we’re shining a light on the city’s contemporary spirit – its makers, chefs, creatives, and visionaries – who embody independent luxury in their own distinctive ways.” Participating businesses range from Blackwells to Objects of Use, Hoyle’s of Oxford, and Oxford River Cruises.
Oxford City Council's ODS has launched a new waste service for bin cleaning, bulky waste and business waste collections – including outside the city. The council say it is responding to demand for online, flexible booking with transparent pricing. Cllr Nigel Chapman, Oxford City Council: “People want services that are quick, simple and easy to use. OXWaste delivers exactly that. It’s a step forward in making everyday tasks more convenient, while also helping keep our neighbourhoods clean.”
Magdalen College School has again made the Sunday Times’ top school rankings (paywall). The independent school off the Plain was ranked 6th best independent secondary in the south-east, and 20th nationally.
Oxford University Hospitals are celebrating more than 5,000 adult kidney transplants performed since the first procedure in 1975. Sanjay Sinha, OUH consultant, said: “This is testament to the dedication of our teams. We are committed to improving outcomes for every patient.”
“Not another f—ing shelf”: Wooden craft items carved from J.R.R. Tolkien’s black pine tree, which fell in 2014, will be on sale at the Botanic Garden Christmas Fair this weekend. Tolkien would sit and write under its branches, inspired by its patterned bark to create the Ents (tree-men). Professor Simon Hiscock, director of the Botanic Garden, said: “I encourage anyone visiting the garden to take a look at the replacement black pine that was grown from seed from the original. It is doing very, very well and is now a small tree.”

Woodford Way car park in Witney (WODC); conservation work at Blenheim Palace; Connie's at the Museum in Banbury (via Banbury Museum website).

Around the county

Conservative councillors in West Oxfordshire are campaigning against plans to build 70 affordable homes on Woodford Way car park in Witney. Local Tory leader Liam Walker raised a question at this week’s West Oxfordshire District Council meeting asking for the council to “reconsider this site being developed as part of the new Local Plan”. He said: “It’s ridiculous that the District Council want to close this busy car park to build more homes when there are plans for thousands more homes around Witney already.” Party colleague Cllr Thomas Ashby said “to remove the car park due to ‘excess parking in Witney’ is an idiotic idea”.
Witney has over 2,000 free car parking spaces, including a free 590-space multistorey car park. The District Council alone runs six car parks in the town. A WODC survey in 2025 reported that Witney car parks had 72% occupancy, compared to 95% in Woodstock and 100% in Burford.
A former area of military housing in Carterton, now demolished, is proposed for 265 new homes. Taylor Wimpey are proposing two- and three-storey buildings on the site to the north of Upavon Way. The underpass to the town centre would be replaced by a pedestrian crossing. All the houses would be for service families rather than being offered on the open market. The number of homes has been reduced from 316 to 265 following local feedback. Plans are now with West Oxfordshire District Council for consideration.
The canalside café at Banbury Museum is closing, with the owners blaming “the rising costs of hospitality”. Connie’s at the Museum will serve its last cup of coffee on 21 December. In a closing note, they wrote: “Your smiles, conversations and loyalty have meant the world to our team.”
Hook Norton Brewery has created a special beer, JB’s Journey, to help raise awareness of the former Banbury Rugby Club captain and coach John Baker, who sustained a serious injury last November. It will make its debut at Banbury Rugby Club’s next home game and be available in selected local pubs.
Topps Tiles has acquired Banbury luxury home interiors chain Fired Earth for £3m. The deal includes the brand, its intellectual property, website and around £2.5m stock.
The Government has launched a ‘national conversation’ on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which will “put parents’ experiences at the heart of SEND reform”. Oxfordshire County Council recently announced effective progress was being made on SEND reform, after Ofsted delivered a ‘failing’ verdict in 2023. The South East regional engagement event is in Reading on 11 December, while online events run until 14 January.
Yarnton-based electric vehicle motor manufacturer, YASA, is expected to share in a £20m UK/Germany EV technology project led by parent company Mercedes. The Government says it will create 150 new jobs in Oxfordshire and another Mercedes base in Northamptonshire. YASA (which stands for Yokeless And Segmented Armature) was founded in 2009 as an Oxford University spin-out. Its motors power Ferrari and Lamborghini EVs as well as boats and industrial uses. The company this week announced production of its 50,000th motor in Oxfordshire.
Culham Campus, the UK’s first AI Growth Zone, is commissioning a study on the feasibility of reusing the waste heat from its future data centres to provide heating and hot water for the local community – such as the 3,500 homes envisaged in the Local Plan. The recent EXOq proposal for a ‘High Performance Compute’ centre in north Oxford also plans to make use of its waste heat, using Direct Liquid Cooling, working with 1Energy to distribute the heat through District Heating networks. In June, 1Energy was awarded £21m from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund, which added to £100m of private investment will enable it to develop Oxford's first District Heat Network. It plans to begin construction in 2026. Heat networks operate by distributing heat as hot water in pipes from low cost or low carbon sources such as waste heat from industry or data centres, or from large-scale heat pumps.
Blenheim Palace conservators are seeking help in identifying the authors of graffiti on the ceiling in the Great Hall, such as “F. R. Rambone, 292 Abingdon Rd, Oxford, Vacuum cleaner, Feb 10th 1931”. Some date back to the 1840s. Conservator Lizzie Woolley said: “We were amazed to discover this graffiti – we thought we were the first people for centuries to access the ceilings. It would be brilliant to solve the mystery of who these people were, and what they were doing in the Great Hall.”

Walking and cycling

Residents in Haddenham and Thame are calling on authorities to end the 25-year wait for a greenway (walking & cycling route) between the two communities. A petition with over 4,000 signatures has been submitted to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire county councils.
Alongside the petition, residents have shared testimonies highlighting concerns about safety, accessibility, and the lack of viable alternatives to car travel. Many describe the current road route as “dangerous”, “impractical,” and “not suitable for families, pushchairs, or mobility users”. One resident noted, “I would love to cycle to the station but it’s simply not safe,” while another said, “Our children didn’t have a safe route to school — hopefully our grandchildren will.” Others described the greenway as “smart investment” and “long overdue after decades of discussion.”
Thame Town Councillor Helena Richards said: “The scale of public support demonstrates how urgently a safe, sustainable connection between Haddenham and Thame is needed. A dedicated greenway would strengthen local connectivity, improve safety, and support healthier, low-carbon travel.”

Charity begins at home

The Earth Trust at Wittenham Clumps is fundraising to help Oxfordshire wildlife thrive over winter, by caring for green spaces and the habitats that creatures depend on. Until 8 December, donors have offered to match donations up to £10,000. Details.
Oxford City Farm is installing new cameras following a break-in and theft of £2,200 worth of pork. They note that “These extra cameras will also hopefully let us get video of some of the wildlife here on site, including foxes and badgers.” Donations are still open.
Wild Oxfordshire says over 97% of species-rich grassland has been lost. They're working to reverse this decline and connect the remaining areas of grasslands. They work hyper locally with communities to enable residents to improve spaces for wildlife. Until 9December, any donations via the Big Give will be doubled.

A Ceremony of Carols; the Old Parsonage in Iffley; the Botanic Garden Christmas Market.

This weekend

Tell Your Dog I Love Them (£), Saturday, Mostly Books, Abingdon. Get your dog sketched and a book signed.
Shadow sculpture exhibition, until 25 Jan, Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock. Illuminated sculpture trail by Biennale exhibitor Will Budgett.
Ramsden Christmas Market (£), Saturday. The largest covered Christmas market in Oxfordshire, in a lovely Cotswold village just north of Witney. (On the X9 bus from Witney, Charlbury or Chipping Norton.)
St John the Evangelist 125th anniversary, Saturday, New Hinksey. Dedication festival, afternoon tea, architectural lecture, and folk concert.
A Ceremony of Carols (£) by Benjamin Britten, Saturday 7.30pm, St Michael & All Angels, Summertown. Time… for a cool sharp harp. (Hopefully not actually sharp.)
O Be Joyful (£), University Church, Saturday. The City of Oxford Choir sings carols old and new.
Frost Fest, Magdalen Road, Saturday. Events include a Christmas Jumper Parade at 10am, carol singing at noon, and Christmas light switch-on at 3pm, plus Santa visits, a lantern workshop and live nativity.
Proof Christmas Market, Proof Social Bakehouse, Kennington, Saturday 8am-1pm. Local arts and crafts, choirs and croissants.
Botanic Garden Christmas Fair (£), Saturday/Sunday. Meet Mother Christmas in her grotto in the garden.
Iffley Old Parsonage Open Day, Saturday/Sunday. See inside this Landmark Trust property next to Iffley church. Free, booking recommended.
Christmas Tree Fair, Sunday, South Oxford Adventure Playground. Choose your tree online or in person and pick it up with a mulled wine or hot chocolate. Bicycle delivery available!
Fighting Back: A History of Disabled People's Resistance, Sunday, Friends Meeting House, St Giles'. Panel discussion for Disability History Month with Ellen Clifford, author of The War on Disabled People.

(It’s a fabulously busy time of year for markets, concerts and theatre, and the inimitable Daily Info is your essential guide as ever.)

This week

The Shop Around the Corner (£), Tue 9 Dec, Iffley Village Hall. Christmas romcom from 1940, presented by Iffley Film Nights.
Carols for Ukraine (donation), Tue 9 Dec, St Barnabas, Cardigan Street. 'Carol of the Bells' and other Ukrainian classics in the ornate Jericho church.
Ghost Stories for Christmas (£), Tue 9 Dec, Curio Books. Two storytellers hold court in the basement bookshop.
Slade Park Fire Station open evenings, 9/10/13 Dec, Horspath Driftway. Firefighters and Father Christmas.
COVID and the Decline of Children's Literacy, Wed 10 Dec, Florence Park Community Centre. Free talk by local charity ARCh (Assisted Reading for Children).
Supermarket Scrooge (£), 10-24 Dec, Pegasus Theatre. Emily Scratchett is working in Scroogeways on Christmas Eve. Puppet pantomime from Wild Boor Ideas. Suitable for ages 2-7.
The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s (£), Wed 10 Dec, Blackwell's. Panel discussion with Paul Cornell about the Marvel comics.
Bodleian Carols, Thu 11 Dec, 1pm, Divinity School. The librarians' choir performs for readers and the public.

Books

We asked Xander Cansell from East Oxford’s Caper to give us his recommendations on recently published local authors, or on local subjects. No affiliate links; please support your local bookshop!

Little Books of Trolls/Dragons, Carolyne Larrington. The emeritus Oxford professor explores two key figures of European folklore, the troll and the dragon, tracing the earliest stories we have about them up to the present day. Trolls are mostly thought to be stupid and menacing, but what do you do when you discover you've married one? Dragons are a nuisance in your neighbourhood, but folk learn to live with them until their demand for cows and maidens becomes unsustainable.
Pompette Cookbook. Recreate French classics from the Summertown restaurant at home. Or just read about them and then go eat them there.
The Notted Island, Katherine Child. One for the Mini Clarions. Before 1861, the world was black and white. As Colour reached the end of his job, world weary he stopped to rest on Last Island, the last uncoloured place. The people of the island are believed to be the reason for this and seek to better themselves, in the hope that Colour will recognise their efforts and bring colour to the island.

Oxfordshire’s independent media

The Oxford Sausage searches the city centre for Beaumont Palace.
Little Oxplorers is now posting weekend guides for the kids and they are highly recommended.
Ox in a Box might have found the ultimate Oxford December treat as it reviews a festive afternoon tea on the rooftop of the Ashmolean.
Makespace Oxford says that Oxfordshire might seem wealthy, but “too many people are being left behind”.
The Oxford Blue reckons urban foxes are “Oxford’s cleverest companions”.
The Witney Gitzette (still a parody) reports “Ginger-haired Epstein correspondent to ‘rough it’ in Cotswolds mansion”. Put your cuppa down before reading.
Bitten Oxford reviews the Tiny Teahouse on Magdalen Road. Very niche, very lovely.
Left Foot Forward is a national publication, but one of its directors is Oxford Green councillor Chris Jarvis, and this week he wrote about the Your Party conference. Includes phrases such as “…once she had broken her boycott of the founding conference of the party she was founding”.

Notes from Clarion HQ

With Kidlington in the news for Britain’s biggest illegal rubbish dump, we put out a call for positive news from the village. Wild Oxfordshire contacted us with details of their rewilding project, simply called Wild Kidlington. They’re creating hedgehog highways, recording a ‘patchwork nature reserve’ across the village, putting up swift boxes, and more. Here’s a short film about the project.

It’s a reminder of how much there is to love about our county, whatever the headlines elsewhere might be. Have a great weekend at the Christmas markets, carol concerts, book readings and (many!) other events – see you on Tuesday.

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