Clarion Weekly, 16 May 2025

It has been a significant week in the county, and tragic news of a fire in Bicester broke last night; details are emerging as we publish. If you’re here for a digest of the machinations of County and District Councils, of alliances and cabinets, scroll down to Oxfordshire Politics. For the rest, read on.

This week's top stories

Two fire fighters and a member of the public have died in a fire at Bicester Motion, with two fire fighters in hospital. On Thursday evening, 10 fire crews attended an incident at Bicester Motion. Roads were closed around the site and residents were advised to remain indoors with doors and windows shut overnight, the advice lifting at around 6.30 am the next morning. Bicester Motion made the following statement on Friday morning, as we publish this.

“We are deeply saddened to share the tragic news that two firefighters and a close friend of the site have lost their lives. There are no words at times like this, but our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. We pray for the two firefighters in hospital. The bravery shown by the emergency services teams has been overwhelming. We are grateful for all the support and especially the exceptional work by all in such unprecedented circumstances. The strength and kindness of the Bicester community, of which we are proud members, has truly shown itself. The site will remain closed over the weekend as we continue to work closely with the emergency services. Thank you for your understanding at this time.”

Bicester & Woodstock MP Calum Miller commented:

“I am heartbroken to learn that three people lost their lives in the fire yesterday at Bicester Motion. My deep condolences go to the family and friends who are now grieving their loss. I want to pay tribute to the bravery of our fire fighters and emergency services. It is terrible that two fire officers have lost their lives in the line of duty. The death of colleagues will be felt by all in the fire service family, and I am holding them in my thoughts . This is a devastating moment for our community. I know it will express its support and care for all those affected.”

This is a developing story.

Oxford United has signed a two-year extension to stay at the Kassam Stadium. The contract with stadium owner Firoz Kassam will be “for at least one additional year, with an option to extend for one more year conditional on the new stadium being approved”. The agreement states that no further extensions will be possible.

OUFC chairman Grant Ferguson said: “The Club was facing difficult decisions on where to play after our licence expired in June 2026. I would like to place on record my thanks to Firoz Kassam who oversaw the discussions which led to this short-term extension.”

Firoz Kassam said his focus was “on developing the wider site for local people and the city of Oxford, whilst providing the Club with clarity in the short-term”. A decision on the new stadium is expected from Cherwell District Council this summer, with a current target date of 31 July.

Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, welcomed the news:

“We welcome the certainty that this short-term lease extension provides for Oxford United, allowing the Club to continue playing at the Kassam Stadium for up to two further seasons as they progress their plans for a new stadium.

“However, it is regrettable that such an arrangement is necessary. Throughout the planning process for a new stadium at The Triangle, north of Oxford, it has been consistently stated that the Kassam Stadium cannot provide a long-term home for the Club. This underscores the importance of delivering a new, sustainable home that meets the long-term needs of Oxford United and the wider community. With the existing license agreement due to expire in June 2026, this extension offers some security, but it also highlights the urgency of moving forward with the proposed stadium plans.”

Botley West Solar Farm’s public examination began on Tuesday. The first hearing will hear representations from local councils, campaigners for and against, landowners Blenheim and an existing local solar farm.

The ‘Open Floor Hearings’ continued on Wednesday. The ‘Issue-Specific Hearings’ began on Thursday, with topics including the green belt, cultural heritage, transport, landscape, and climate change.

Separately, Low Carbon Hub Oxford’s petition for Botley West is nearing its target of 1,000. The group says 2% of the project’s revenue should be invested directly in the local community. We wrote about Botley West Solar Farm in a long read earlier this year.

The acquisition of land for Oxford’s new 5km flood relief channel has been signed off. The Environment Agency had applied for a Compulsory Purchase Order for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme. Construction will start in late 2026. Robbie Williams, project director, said: “We have now been informed the Secretary of State has confirmed our CPO. This is fantastic news for Oxford and demonstrates the government’s confidence in our plans.”

A former adviser to Ken Livingstone and Jeremy Corbyn has been appointed to chair the Government’s Oxford Growth Commission. Neale Coleman was described by Livingstone as “the mastermind behind the [2012 London] Olympics”.

The Commission aims to “unlock new development and accelerate growth across Oxford and the surrounding areas”. Its members are central Government, Oxford City and Oxfordshire County councils, Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities, and business group Advanced Oxford. Announcing Neale Coleman’s appointment, the Government said the Commission would work on “unblocking sites already identified for development, assessing areas of potential investment, and bringing councils and developers to the table so they can assemble land faster”. (One of those stories that got rather overlooked in the cut and thrust of the week but, we suspect, genuinely significant.)

And finally, in a departure from our recent political content, two long reads:

• There is so much to love about the county we live in. We took a tour of Oxfordshire via its food, ancient and modern. Featuring Shakespeare, quirky college traditions, French nobility, bun throwing, and beer.
• Also loosely on food, we shared an article about apple ermine moth, which is attacking trees across Oxford. If you have a tree in your garden and has what looks like small spider webs between the leaves, you might want to read the article.

Around the city

• Oxford City Council has so far spent almost £28,000 on legal action defending its decision to progress with a footbridge at Oxpens. The decision was taken to a judicial review at the High Court by Friends of Grandpont Nature Park, where the High Court found in favour of the Council. Figures obtained by the Clarion indicate that £4500 worth of legal advice was taken prior to the orignal decision, and £23,275 defending the decision in the High Court. Friends of Grandpont Nature Park are currently crowdfunding to challenge the judicial review. We wrote about the controversy over the Oxpens bridge in a long read in April last year
• A long-running Cowley Road hardware store could be replaced with a kebab takeaway. A planning application seeks to replace Fred’s Discount Store at no 185, established in 1970, with a Kebab King. 12 objections have been lodged with Oxford City Council so far.
• The Gardeners Arms on North Parade Avenue will reopen this month, reports CAMRA’s Oxford Drinker. The pub has been taken over by Michel Sadones, landlord of the Old Bookbinders in Jericho. The family also runs the James Street Tavern in East Oxford.
• Littlemore Parish Council has responded to resident concerns on safety after dark in the Oxford Road Recreation Ground by installing four solar and wind powered streetlights. The £28,000 cost was funded by a Community Infrastructure Levy from developers towards local infrastructure. The parish council say the choice of lights was in order to avoid additional cost, delay and ongoing running costs from laying a mains cable to traditional mains-powered lamp posts. Each post has a small wind turbine on top, a vertical solar panel column and a built-in battery. We wrote about Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and its cousin, S106, and the fight some councils have had to spend it, in a long read last year.
• A “non-corporate” independent Pride event has been announced for Sunday 15 June at Florence Park, the weekend after Oxford Pride. Oxford DIY Pride’s organisers say they were concerned after Oxford Pride unveiled Siemens Healthineers as a sponsor; they say the company has links to the Gaza conflict. The Oxford Pride announcement with Siemens has now been withdrawn but the DIY Pride event is continuing. DIY Pride says: “The behaviour demonstrated by Oxford Pride has not been respectful to the community. There’s a clear desire for a non-corporate Pride in Oxford and we are here for it.” Oxford Pride itself will take place at the new venue of South Park on Saturday 7 June. There will be no Community Stage this year, with organisers citing budget constraints.

Around the county

• The Friends of Abingdon Abbey Buildings Trust have been awarded a £4m grant from The National Lottery to restore the Abbey Buildings, which date from the 13th Century. The grant will fund restoration and enhancements including a glass-fronted lobby and retractable seating for the Unicorn Theatre. Gregory Bensberg MBE, Chair of the Trust said "These buildings are part of Abingdon’s story and central to our community. Making sure that everyone can access these, all year round, is the reason this project is needed."
• Local religious leaders came together for a Peace Walk from Churchill's grave in Bladon to light a beacon at Blenheim Palace. The Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire led the commemoration of VE Day on 8 May, with Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, and Bahai representatives. The Lord Lieutenant represents the King in Oxfordshire. The current Lord Lieutenant, Marjorie Glasgow, is the founder of Charlbury renewables company Ridge Clean Energy.
• The national People's Commission on the Water Sector will host a public event at Henley Town Hall on 10 June. Members of the public are invited to join the event to discuss what needs to happen to solve the ongoing water sector crisis and to recommend solutions. Hosted by Henley Mermaids, it is part of a series of conversations about the future of the water sector, set up by Prof Becky Malby & the Sewage Campaign Network, in response to the limited remit of the government’s Water Industry Commission. Jo Robb of the Henley Mermaids said: "The people of Henley have shown their love of and concern for the health of our rivers. Now is the time for action. The People’s Commission will consider all options and enable the public to have their say.” We wrote about the problem of sewage in Oxfordshire in a long read last year. (Some of the best sub-headings we've ever written!)
• Cotswold Wildlife Park, outside Burford, has been named as the Best Zoo in the UK for families. The award by Outdoor Toys factors in visitor reviews and ticket prices. Reggie Heyworth, MD of the zoo, said “We are proud to be regarded as offering such good value for money.” Earlier this week Cotswold Wildlife Park hosted events for World Binturong Day. The zoo hosts one of the biggest groups of this Asian ‘bearcat’ in Britain, with one couple producing eight cubs since 2019.
• Another solar farm is proposed for West Oxfordshire. Ampyr Solar wants to build a 40MW farm with battery storage at Mount Owen, near Bampton. A 36MW farm at nearby Ducklington is already under construction and a 30MW farm is planned for Curbridge. Ampyr have lodged a screening request with WODC.
• Earlier in the week, before the fire, Bicester Motion, the business park focused on the future of mobility, announced a partnership with the Top Gear motoring media brand. The partnership will include Top Gear team and cars at the Bicester Motion ‘Scramble’ motor event, held three times a year. This launched at the April 2025 Scramble, attended by the Top Gear editorial team, featuring the fastest car to lap the Top Gear track, the McMurtry Spéirling, and an Aston Martin Valhalla. We wrote about Bicester Motion, where the past informs the future of transport, last year.

University & research

• More than 100 Oxford academics have signed an open letter condemning Trump's attacks on Harvard University and the subsequent withdrawal of funding. The letter, published in the Financial Times on Monday, expresses solidarity with colleagues at American universities and asserts academic freedom. “The costs of resisting Trump's vindictive campaign are high, but the costs of acquiescing will be higher still. We ask senior Harvard colleagues to stand in solidarity with vulnerable members of their community.” The full text is available to FT subscribers here.
• Policies on climate change are becoming more stringent worldwide, according to a new report from Oxford’s Climate Policy Monitor. Public procurement and corporate compliance increasingly require businesses to align with government objectives on climate action. Thom Wetzer, Associate Professor in Law and Finance and co-director of the Climate Policy Monitor, said: “Even if requirements weaken in certain jurisdictions, as seen currently in the USA, companies operating across borders will still face increasing global compliance obligations.”
• Oxford students will soon be able to experience a simulated cyberattack as part of an MBA module. Researchers at the Saïd Business School say that business leaders are ill-equipped for cybersecurity incidents. (We have not been able to find out whether a simulated seagull attack will also be on offer.)
• The 25th Tower Poetry prize on the theme of ‘Roots’ has been won by Mathilda McKenzie with her poem ‘Fishing in the Stream’. Christ Church administers the competition for young poets aged between 16 and 18. A new stipulation prohibits entries created using AI.
• An Oxford lecturer has proposed a new word to describe negative behaviour in schools, especially by children with SEND (special educational needs or disabilities). Dr Julia Badger distinguishes bullying from ‘counter-connecting’ in a recently released paper.

Trains and buses

• There will be more Sunday buses from Oxford to Cheltenham from 1 June. The Stagecoach S2 service, which currently runs just twice each way (plus one Cheltenham–Witney), will be increased to run every two hours. The service is part funded by Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire county councils, and should prove ideal for walkers wanting a day out with stops in the Cotswold towns of Burford and Northleach.

Walking and cycling

• Hundreds of people, including small children, rode through the streets of Oxford on Sunday to demand ‘Safe Streets’ in Kidical Mass – a family-friendly marshalled ride. Four feeder rides converged on Gloucester Green for a ride around the city. Participants included children on scooters and balance bikes, babies and dogs in cargo bikes and older children on tagalongs or pedal bikes, plus parents, grandparents and supporters. Younger participants told the Clarion it was their first experience of riding through the city centre. Onlookers cheered the peloton as it passed.
  The ride was organised by Cyclox, and is part of Kidical Mass demonstrations around the world. The riders were greeted at Gloucester Green by Lord Mayor Mike Rowley. Among the riders were councillors Andrew Gant, Anna Railton, Roz Smith, Katherine Miles and Emily Kerr representing city and county divisions from across Oxford.
  In an outbreak of cross party consensus, after the event, Cllr Smith (LibDem) commented: “Onlookers cheered the ride through the streets as we went through Oxford. There were all ages cycling – children on balance bikes some amazing family cargo bikes plus grandparents, like myself! We need more of this across Oxfordshire and together with my LibDem colleagues at city, county and parliamentary level, we will continue to campaign for safer streets across the county.”
  Cllr Railton (Labour), who attended with Lord Mayor Mike Rowley, said “Lovely to take part in this ride through Oxford, highlighting the need for safer street for everyone. It's about kids’ safety, kids’ independence, kids’ health and about making a city that works for them too. Big thanks to Cyclox for organising it.”
  Councillor Kerr (Green) said: “Just so lovely to be cycling through Oxford centre on a marshalled ride where kids felt safe to do so. It really showed what it could be like if we continue infrastructure improvements to make walking and cycling the easiest option. Also I was thrilled to see so many young people helping out with the ride - safe streets are for all ages.”
• Ideas for walking and cycling improvements around Eynsham are being invited by Oxfordshire County Council. It is starting to draw up a Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan for the village and surrounding settlements.
• A study of residents’ perceptions of the East Oxford Low Traffic Neighbourhoods has found “overall moderate levels of support” and that residents are now “using their cars less and walking and cycling more for short journeys”. The study was carried out by Oxford Brookes’ School of Built Environment. It found “a multiplicity of perspectives” but noted that LTN supporters “recognised the difficulties for people more reliant on using a car” while opponents “recognised the need to reduce traffic in towns”. 30 residents of varying backgrounds, within the LTNs and on boundary roads, were interviewed. A majority of respondents agreed the LTNs had discouraged them from driving. Participants also scored the LTNs highly on “decreased my feeling of danger from road traffic”, “decreased the level of air pollution in my street” and “made it more safe to cycle”. The report, by Tim Jones and Nurgül Yardim Meriçliler, can be downloaded from the Oxford Brookes website.

Oxfordshire politics

It has been a big week across city and district councils, not to mention parliamentary politics. Frankly this could be a newsletter on its own this week... Here we go...

Oxfordshire’s Conservatives have formed an alliance with Oxford’s anti-LTN Independent Oxford Alliance party and one independent. The “Oxfordshire Alliance” will sit together as a grouping on Oxfordshire County Council with 12 councillors, equalling Labour’s total. The second-largest group on the council is designated the official Opposition. Its leader receives an extra £13,824 annual allowance, with Shadow Cabinet members receiving £3,456 each.

The OCC constitution is silent on what happens if two groups tie for second place. Portsmouth City Council is currently in the same situation; the council’s chief executive is reported to have asked the two groups to resolve the situation between themselves, failing which it will be decided on a coin toss. OCC’s other councillors are 36 LibDems, 7 Green, 1 Reform, 1 Henley Residents Group.

The IOA's statement (representing their one councillor David Henwood) said:

“This collaboration offers significant benefits, including a stronger collective voice for our constituents and a shared understanding of the diverse needs across Oxfordshire, while preserving each member’s ability to vote independently.”

But the Labour Party was less impressed:

“By joining the Conservative Group at County Hall, these so-called Independents have revealed their true colours, showing once and for all that a vote for the Independent Oxford Alliance is a vote for the Conservative Party.”

Meanwhile, the party groups have been electing their leaders:

• Liz Leffman has been confirmed as the leader of Oxfordshire County Council’s Liberal Democrats following a vote in their councillor group. Neil Fawcett has been elected as deputy leader. Appointments to the council’s Cabinet will be set out in the coming week. The leader of Oxfordshire County Council is elected at the annual meeting on May 20, but the LibDems’ overall majority on the council makes it a formality that their group leader will also be the council leader and able to appoint their cabinet. Liz Leffman, who is councillor for Charlbury & Wychwood, said “I am delighted to have been re-elected leader of the Liberal Democrat group, following our fantastic election result last week. I look forward to working with my Liberal Democrat colleagues to serve the residents of this great county.” Neil Fawcett (Abingdon South) was most recently cabinet member for Corporate & Community Services. He said: “We will work hard to invest in front-line services by making backroom savings, protect our county's environment and invest in fixing our roads after a decade of Managed Decline under the Tories.”
• Liam Walker, councillor for Hanborough & Hailey, has been confirmed as the new leader of the Conservative group. Former group leader Eddie Reeves is no longer on the council after losing to the LibDems in the Cropredy & Hook Norton division.
• The Green Party on has confirmed Ian Middleton (Kidlington East) as its leader with Emily Kerr (Bartlemas) as deputy, completing the set of group leaders. The Greens now have seven seats on the council, up from three previously.
• South Oxfordshire District Council has become solely Liberal Democrat-controlled, dissolving the LibDem/Green coalition which has been in power since 2019. The LibDems currently hold 21 of the 36 seats, with 8 for the Greens, 3 Henley Residents, 3 Labour and 1 Conservative. Green leader Andrea Powell said “It has been a privilege to be an active part of a dynamic and forward-thinking administration. As we progress towards replacement of SODC with a Unitary Authority, we will work constructively with all other members and look forward to being a challenging opposition.” LibDem council leader David Rouane said “Together, we have championed sustainability and turned around the council’s finances. With only two years left before the council is dissolved, we need a renewed focus on our priorities to ensure they are delivered in an effective and timely way.”
• A revised Oxford City Council Cabinet has been announced following Cllr Louise Upton’s appointment as Lord Mayor 2025/6, precluding her from being in the cabinet. Planning roles will be taken on by Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, and transport liaison by Cllr Anna Railton.

Outside the council, politicans have been sharing summaries of their weeks, and we've cherry picked the most interesting things our elected representatives have been up to:

• Matthew Barber, Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner, has been working on knife crime, rural crime, and cyber crime.
• Banbury MP Sean Woodcock attended a roundtable discussion with the National Farmers’ Union, marked VE Day, and held a constituency surgery in Banbury and much more. He asked a question in Parliament about overcrowding on Chiltern Railways
• Didcot & Wantage MP Olly Glover wrote an article for Compass Online arguing that people voting Reform are doing so out of deep dissatisfaction - and suggested what the progressive parties need to do to win these votes back. In Parliament, he asked a question on the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman (video here). He asked a question in Parliament on speeding up rollout of EV charging points. He's been appointed to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Committee, participating in a month-long review of the government’s new bill on planning legislation. Regular Clarion readers know of Olly Glover's interest in infrastructure; he wrote an article for us on transport infrastructure for our Infrastructure Week series.
• Bicester & Woodstock MP Calum Miller was on BBC Question Time talking about the need to tackle climate change and reach Net Zero (video here) He also met with members of the US Congress – interestingly, his post didn’t say of which party… – to discuss the importance of a strong US/UK trade relationship.
• Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds celebrated two surgeries in her constituency being set for a refurb under a new government scheme. And she ran the Town & Gown.
• Henley & Thame’s Freddie van Mierlo chaired the first meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fatherhood, and spoke in Parliament on behalf of one of his constituents against red tape introduced by Brexit.
• Witney's Charlie Maynard is the MP for Britain’s biggest air base at Brize Norton so VE Day celeberations were a major part of his week. After a driver crashed a car into Costa Coffee in Carterton, he asked residents not to share footage on social media, but rather with police.

Dates for your diary

• Chadlington Beer Festival on Saturday 31 May is a friendly beer festival in this lovely corner of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. There are buses from Witney, and Chipping Norton, or it’s a three-mile walk over the fields from Charlbury railway station.
• Just down the road, the 13th World Aunt Sally Singles Championship will take place on 28th June during the annual Charlbury Beer Festival. Players will compete for a first prize of £100. Triple World Champion Roger Goodall will defend his title. Aunt Sally is a traditional English game, in which players throw sticks or battens at a ball, known as a 'dolly', balanced on top of a stick; traditionally, a model of an old woman's head was sometimes used. Particularly popular in Oxfordshire, in France the game is called jeu de massacre. The Charlbury Beer Festival is one of the largest independent one-day beer festivals in the country; organisers expect to attract up to 3,000 people for what they say is a family friendly day out, with music, food, activities and an ‘unrivalled’ selection of 60 real ales from around the country.
• Party for the Planet, celebrating local action to fight climate change and restore nature. Thu 5 June, Broad Street, Oxford, 4-8pm on UN World Environment Day. Live music, food and drink, guest speakers and stalls, the event will kick-start Great Big Green Week – the UK’s largest celebration of positive action to protect the planet.
• The dry weather continues for another week of college garden shows, including The Tempest, Tue 20 - Sat 24 May, Magdalen College and Fiddler on the Roof, Wed 21 - Sat 24 May, The Queen's College.
  
  

This weekend

• Ukraine in angels’ memory forever. St Michael & All Angels Church, Lonsdale Road, Summertown, 17 May 1-3pm. A charity exhibition of white angels in memory of the children who have died during the war in Ukraine (2014–2025). Programme includes song, dance, candle lighting and a moment of silence. Free entry. Donations will go to help children affected by the war.
• Angel of Peace is also the name of The Sixteen’s concert at SJE Arts on Saturday at 7.30pm, taking its title from a Will Todd piece but with more from Arvo Pärt, John Taverner and Hildegard of Bingen.
• ArtWeeks continues across the county. We’ll pull out just one of the many events: the Sylva Foundation Wood Centre in Long Wittenham will be opening its doors, and their tenant community of skilled craftspeople will be exhibiting their work making with wood. The House of Wessex will be open with the living history society Wulfheodenas demonstrating crafts including weaving and metal work.
• King of New York Huey Morgan, ex-Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Radio 6 Music fixture, is at the O2 Academy on Saturday night… in case you need an alternative to Eurovision (the Clarion editorial team is divided on this one).
• Witney Festival of Food & Drink is in St Mary’s Church on the town green from 10am to 5pm – an easy bus ride from Oxford.
• Beer and Bach anyone? The Goldberg Variations in the Lamb & Flag on Sunday at 5pm, courtesy of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

Oxfordshire’s independent media

• Edible Reading reviews Jeremy Mogford’s restaurant Gee’s: “There was a big pile of salad, because this starter cost fifteen pounds and they had to find ways to distract a paying customer from realising that this wasn’t in any way what they had ordered.”
• Bitten Oxford reviews Rosa's Thai on George Street (it's going on our list).
• The Oxford Sausage recollects “adventures with my mother and a Morris Oxford”.
• Cherwell takes aim at Oxford as a 'semi pedestrianised city' and also visits Najar's Place on St. Giles
• Oxford Scientist says “health is more than medicine” and highlights the importance of good urban design.
• The Oxford Blue raves about Real Kungfu Noodle on the Cowley Road.
• Muddy Stilettos shares the best things to do in the county in May.
• Hybrid, from Brookes, looks at how thanks to TikTok, divination has become cool again

Notes from Clarion HQ

We were having a reasonable week, news trickling in at a sensible pace, on track for a ‘normal’ newsletter, and then BAM! Wednesday hit. Story after story about politics, alliances, appointments, LTNs, Oxford's growth. If you've patiently got through to the end of this bumper issue, well done! As ever, if you've found the newsletter helpful or interesting, please do share it.

We'll close with an update on Magdalen's newest fellow (?), a grey kitten called Ozymandias, on whom we reported two weeks ago. He has arrived at Magdalen and he… seems very comfortable. Thanks for being here, have a good weekend, and see you next week.