Clarion Weekly, 25 April 2025

This week’s top stories

Oxfordshire County Council elections are on Thursday. This morning, we released our full area-by-area preview, with details of every single Oxford contest and the highlights from the districts. We’ve also taken a look back at three years of live-tweeting council meetings.

Head over to our long read for everything you need to know – including the 92-year old standing in Cowley, the Olympic rower against proportional representation, something in the West Oxfordshire water, plus we ask if Plaid Cymru are standing in Bicester. (Spoiler: no.)

Still unsure who to vote for? Try our 10 questions to ask canvassers.

“Don’t despair, organise” is the headline for a rally in support of trans rights this weekend. The protest will start at Bonn Square at 11am on Sunday and march to Oxford Crown Court. Organisers say “Sunday's event will be an opportunity to show the city that we will not be silenced. Join us in celebrating Trans joy! Allies, now is the time to show your support.”

Meanwhile, Witney Pride is refusing sponsorship from the Witney Labour Party after Keir Starmer’s comments on transgender women. The committee said: “We are unanimous that the Labour Party has failed both the transgender and the wider LGBTIA+ communities.” The event takes place on Saturday 24 May.

Labour’s candidate for Witney West at the upcoming County Council elections is Georgia Meadows, who is LGBT+ Labour’s national Trans Officer. In a statement this week, she said “I call on the government to give their unequivocal support to the trans community, not through words but through action.”

Around the city

• One good tern deserves another. Local residents have taken action to save one of the most important breeding sites for the Common Tern in Oxfordshire – a raft on Hinksey Lake. The birds’ nest in the floating raft had fallen into disrepair until residents fixed it and added a second, towing it in to place by kayak. The rafts are full of cockle shells which the terns like to nest in. The first common tern arrived as the raft was being towed out, likely having flown all the way from South Africa. The project was the work of local resident Dave Lowe, together with Emma Lenz who observed the colony to apply for funding, and Yan Wong as kayak pilot. The project was funded by a grant from the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment.
• Oxford city centre could have a late-night bar again following an application to reopen the former Cirkus, underneath Gourmet Burger Kitchen on George Street, as the ‘Underground Bar’. Opening times would be 12pm–2.30am Mon–Thu, 12pm–3am Fri–Sat and 12pm–2am Sun. The plans propose “a space where our customers can freely express themselves regardless of gender, race or sexual identity and providing the customers with the alternative music side of night life, where rock, metal, indie, goth music and other genres will add to the aesthetic”.
• Florence Park’s flying trapeze school, sited on a disused bowling green, has been given permanent planning permission. High Fly Trapeze had previously only been given temporary consent, but say that over the last six summers “we have operated without a single complaint”. They are now planning to operate year-round, establish a second trapeze rig, and install a “multi-purpose eco hub” (office and storage) with a turf roof. The operators say ”the presence of more visitors is likely to benefit local businesses such as Flo’s Café”.
• The Oxford Preservation Trust celebrated Shakespeare’s birthday with a parade through the city, led by the Town Crier. It began at the historic Oxford Castle & Prison and ended at the Painted Room, part of a 14th century tavern. This year featured both Queen Elizabeth I and the Bard in drag. The Oxford Preservation Trust conserves buildings and monuments, champions “thoughtful planning” and organises events including this and Oxford Open Doors. For more details and excellent photos of this event, see their Facebook page.

• Oxford City Council is urgently appealing for witnesses after a foal on Port Meadow died when a powered paraglider spooked a group of horses on Sat 10 April. Ten days later, around 7.30pm on Tue 20 April, three paragliders “swooping low and noisily” caused the horses to be “visibly panicked”. For the council, Tom Hook said: “These reckless actions have caused significant distress to the animals and residents and have resulted in the tragic and avoidable loss of a foal. We are asking those responsible to stop this dangerous behaviour, and for help in identifying them.” Both incidents have been reported to Thames Valley Police’s Rural Crime Team, which is gathering evidence; anyone with information is asked to call 101.
• Walton Street’s long-established Co-op is to close. The building at no 42 is listed at Rightmove for £2.5m, including five flats. The second Co-op at 123 Walton Street, near Little Clarendon Street, will continue to trade.

Around the county

• A refurbished sewage treatment works near Wantage will now be powered by 22 new solar panels. The treatment plant which is owned and managed by Vale of White Horse council, serves around 31 properties at the village of Sparsholt. This will save an estimated 2 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Andrew Busby, Vale's Corporate Landlord, said: “This helps the council towards its net zero goals. Most of the electricity needed will now be produced by the solar panels. And on very sunny days we are planning to sell excess energy back to the grid.” We wrote about the challenges of both solar power and sewage within Oxfordshire earlier this year, in our Infrastructure Week series.
• A Public Spaces Protection Order has come into force in Banbury town centre. The order allows police and council wardens to issue on-the-spot fines for street drinking, aggressive begging, and other nuisances.
• A new Blenheim-owned housing development in Woodstock will have a limestone obelisk as its centrepiece. Carvers Alex Waddell and Freya Morris have been commissioned to engrave a series of designs celebrating heritage, community and inclusivity. The stone has been donated by a Somerset stonemasonry and Portland Stone Firms.

University & research

• Oxford University scientists have shone new light on the origins of water on Earth by scanning a meteorite found in Antarctica in the Diamond Light Source synchrotron X-ray beam at Harwell Campus. The scan showed that material that formed the Earth 4.5 billion years ago, like this chrondite meteorite LAR12252, contained hydrogen, an element of water. This overturns previous theories that the Earth's water had to be added later through asteroid or comet impact.
• Worcester College has acknowledged that it owns a drinking cup made from the skull of an unknown person, possibly a woman enslaved in the Caribbean. The cup was used at formal dinners well into this century but has now been transferred into the college’s archives and removed from access.
• The Blavatnik School of Government has reopened after its closure due to seagulls dropping pebbles on the roof. A spokesperson said: “We are pleased to say that the School is now open, with staff back in the building as normal.” A seagull said: “Caw!”
• Long-distance runner Sir Mo Farah will receive an honorary degree from Oxford University. He joins the eight politicians, academics, and broadcasters announced last month.
• National charity IntoUniversity is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its learning centre in Blackbird Leys. It works with nine local schools, supporting pupils from 7 to 18 with study skills, and arranging visits to Oxford University.
• Oxford University will vote next week on updating the Latin used in its ceremonies to 'avoid the conspicuousness of gendered forms'. The Public Orator explains that “We do not, after all, refer to a woman with a doctorate as a Doctrix of Philosophy, nor a woman with an MA as a Mistress of Arts.” Two academics have objected to the proposal for modernising Oxford's Latin; they will deliver speeches (in English) in the Sheldonian Theatre next Tuesday. The university archly observes that “The Vice-Chancellor has decided that the wearing of gowns shall be optional on this occasion.”

Walking and cycling (and running)

• Athletes of all levels are invited to Bannister Miles to race the historic distance of one mile, through Oxford, finishing at Iffley Road, where Sir Roger Bannister made history. The race takes place on Monday 5 May, and entries close this Tuesday.
• Thame residents petitioned Oxfordshire County Council to support a greenway between Haddenham & Thame Parkway railway station and Thame. The council’s Scrutiny Committee was was reviewing progress of the County’s rail strategy. Haddenham & Thame Parkway is the fifth busiest station in Oxfordshire, but has no safe walking route from Thame itself. The greenway would be a motor traffic free route for cyclists, walkers, runners, wheelers and horse riders, for both commuter and leisure use. A survey organised by Buckinghamshire Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Sustrans in 2019-20 showed overwhelming support for the greenway. Money has been allocated to a feasibility study in the 2025-26 budget, but petitioners pressed for swifter action. Thame Mayor Andy Gilbert asked why there was no sign of a greenway despite greenways featuring heavily in a 2015 rail strategy, pointing to significant support for active travel in Thame. The group committed to “hold the County Council's feet to the fire” and review progress monthly.
• Walton Street Cycles in Jericho is celebrating its 50th anniversary. They say that in its early days, the shop was a “gathering place for cycling enthusiasts, a hub of stories shared over handlebars and dreams of adventures yet to come”. The shop has created a commemorative keyring and is running promotional activities.
• Chipping Norton and Woodstock have had their new walking and cycling plans signed off by Oxfordshire County Council. The plans envisage improved crossings and cycling facilities in the two towns, plus a network of connecting cycling routes from Woodstock.

Trains and buses

• Didcot Railway Centre has received a £184,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the cost of restoring its Engine Shed. Built in 1932, the shed is a Grade II listed structure and is the last remaining example of its type in the UK. Clive Hetherington from Didcot Railway Centre said: “The significance of this restoration project extends beyond the museum. It represents a commitment to preserving a vital piece of national, industrial and transport heritage – a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of a bygone era". Didcot Railway Centre is home to one of the most extensive and significant collections of heritage steam engines and rolling stock in the United Kingdom. Visitors can explore a working shed and walk around and climb aboard the locomotives.
• Oxford could get direct trains to Gatwick and Brighton under a speculative application by Grand Central, sister company to Chiltern Railways. The company wants to run five trains a day from Newcastle via Banbury and Oxford to the South Coast. The “open access” services would begin in 2026 if approval is given by the Office of Rail and Road, which rules on competition and track access. Grand Central already runs inter-city services from London to Bradford and the North-East.
• Bus changes from May 18 could see the 100 bus (John Radcliffe–Blackbird Leys) and 700 (Thornhill P&R–Kidlington) brought together to create a single ‘Eastern Arc’ service from Blackbird Leys to Kidlington, via the hospitals, Summertown and Oxford Parkway, and avoiding the city centre. The Pulhams H2 service from Witney to the John Radcliffe will be extended to Thornhill P&R to compensate. There will also be new Saturday evening journeys on the 44 from Oxford to Abingdon via Cumnor and Wootton.
• More Saturday trains will run from Banbury and Bicester to London from next month. Chiltern Railways is introducing extra services at 09.46 and 10.13 from Banbury “to relieve pressure on heavily used trains”, with an added return at 17.37 from Marylebone.

Oxfordshire politics

Each week we round up what we've spotted our MPs up to, with the caveat that casework and committee work rarely makes the headlines, so it's a snapshot, not a full picture. Together with MPs around the country, Oxfordshire’s representatives have been door-knocking this week for the local elections. Normally we lead with photos, but we found these word clouds, based on speeches made in Parliament, for all our MPs. Any surprises?

Oxfordshire’s LibDem MPs often act jointly, and this week they appealed for MP support for a motion to create a “crumbling hospitals taskforce” to fix the area’s decaying NHS buildings. They singled out the Royal Berkshire Hospital, which although it’s in Reading is used by many Oxfordshire residents. Its cancer centre is 164 years old but reconstruction is not due for at least a decade: every week an operation is cancelled due to power cuts or water supply failures.

In Oxford City, the MPs say, the Warneford Hospital operates out of buildings dating back to the Georgian period. Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley & Thame, told Parliament that “A new Warneford would cost a fraction of the price of a physical health hospital, so why does the [Government’s] revised new hospital programme not include a single mental health facility? No one should worry about dilapidated buildings when they're in hospital.”

• Banbury MP Sean Woodcock was out on the doors in Chipping Norton. He welcomed news of a Consumer Charter for families in military homes; the Defence Select Committee recently reported that two-thirds of military accommodation was “no longer fit for purpose”. Woodcock said: "I am pleased that the Labour government have committed new measures for military families. This will benefit the 491 military families across Cherwell, providing invaluable improvements and support that is very much well-deserved.” He wrote to the Paymaster General to advocate for an improved trading relationship between the UK and the EU, while in Parliament itself he spoke in favour of the New Hospital Plan referenced by the LibDems above. He took Banbury food bank organiser Prabhu Nataranjan to 10 Downing Street to celebrate St George's Day, and went to see Banbury FC win against Redditch.
• Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds was out campaigning for Brad Baines in Isis division in the county election. She met with Falcon Boat Club.
• Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran spoke out in Parliament on active travel, and encouraged people to sign a petition against the use of non-disclosure agreements in universities. On LBC she said she was disappointed not to be on Russia's list of sanctioned politicians.
• Witney MP Charlie Maynard met with Carterton Football Club to discuss redevelopment plans adding a training and coaching school.
• Didcot & Wantage MP Olly Glover led a debate in Parliament to highlight the benefits of encouraging children to walk and cycle to school, and to urge the government to prioritise active travel in its Road Safety Strategy. Glover, who is Vice-Chair of the APPG on Walking & Cycling, said every child should have the opportunity to walk, wheel, or cycle to school safely, highlighting local needs such as a safe crossing over the A415 in Culham for Europa School students. Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran also spoke in the debate, celebrating Cherwell School’s position as no 1 school in the country for cycling thanks to segregated cycle tracks – and lamenting Woodstock Road cycle track funding being lost to the Oxpens bridge. Henley & Thame MP Freddie van Mierlo used his speech to advocate the Haddenham & Thame Greenway (see above). Glover commented after the debate: “It was encouraging to see cross-party support and examples from across the country highlighting how vital it is to give children and families the option to walk and cycle to school, for both public health and the economy.” Active travel enthusiasts may wish to read the whole debate in Hansard, which contains cross party support on active travel & a pavement parking ban, plus bonus gems such as “Friends on the LibDem benches would be disappointed were I not to bore them to tears by wanging on about the Netherlands.”
• Henley & Thame MP Freddie van Mierlo visited Barley Hill Primary School in Thame; was voted in as the vice chair of the APPG for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); and spoke in the debates on the New Hospital Programme and active travel. He visited 10 Downing Street with 10-year old Claudia Fennell, who has gathered a petition with 6,000 signatures supporting the repair of the Marsh Lock Horsebridge in Henley.
• Bicester & Woodstock MP Calum Miller has been out campaigning across the constituency, and was on ITV Meridian's The Last Word and the Spectator's Coffee Shots podcast discussing local elections and more. He secured a commitment from the Government to consider retaining car access for the replacement railway crossing in Bicester town centre. (As part of future East-West Rail works, London Road level crossing is set to be replaced by a bridge or underpass.) In a debate in Parliament he spoke out on housing management companies and opaque charges.

This weekend

• Red Renaissance, Phoenix Picturehouse. Sun 27 April, 7.10pm. Step into the heart of Ukraine’s cultural soul with the UK premiere of a powerful musical theatre performance filmed live at Kyiv’s iconic October Palace, which brings to life the voices of Ukraine’s literary visionaries in the face of Soviet oppression. Tickets.
• Family Cushion Concerts at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building (St Hilda’s) are an Oxford institution; the next one is this Sunday. Bring your little ones. (And your cushions!)
• Trinity Term is underway and that means the cycle of choral music restarts this weekend. Here are the term’s music lists for Christ Church Cathedral, Magdalen, New College and Merton as a starter. (Howells’ Magdalen Service at Magdalen itself… unmissable.)
• Gardens are blooming with spring flowers, yet few veg have come out to play for it is still the hungry gap. Oxfordshire is in full flower, and there are some wonderful gardens open for viewing this weekend under the National Gardens Scheme. (The Clarion garden editor has their eye on this group of gardens in North Oxford.) If produce is your thing, consider visiting one of Oxfordshire's fabulous markets; the stallholders need support through the hungry gap and beyond. Our directory is here.

Dates for your diary

• Oxfordshire Artweeks. 3–26 May. Artists' open studios and pop-up exhibitions across Oxfordshire.
• Be a Chorister for an Afternoon. Sat 3 May. The world-class choir of Christ Church opens the cathedral doors to boys in years 2, 3 and 4 who like to sing. Booking required.
• Kyiv Unbroken. Thu 8 May, 6–8pm, Nissan Lecture Theatre, St Antony’s College. Film screening and Q&A with director Phil Strongman on this documentary about Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan revolution and the artistic energy it unleashed.
• Templars Square turns 60. Sat 10 & Sun 11 May. Templars Square celebrates 60 years since it opened as Cowley Centre, with walking tours, classic cars, and “larger-than-life mascot” Templeton. (Not to be confused with Templars Shopping Park on the other side of the road.)
• Entangled Tales: ‘Making queer history since the 1960s’. Tue 20 May. Mansfield College's first professor of LGBTQ+ history, Matt Cook, will deliver his inaugural lecture. Free to attend and open to all.
• Reflections of an Accidental Media Owner. Tue 20 May, 7pm, Holywell Music Room. Former GB News investor, Spectator owner, and philanthropist Sir Paul Marshall in the Pharos Spring Lecture.
• Bill Bailey. Comedian, musician (and former Strictly Come Dancing star) Bill Bailey will perform at Cornerstone Arts in Didcot this September for “a night of musical genius and madcap whimsy”. Tickets went on pre-sale this week.
• Mansfield Public Talks: This term's free talks at Mansfield College have been announced, including “The actual most dangerous speech in the UK” and “The right to a liveable planet”.

Oxfordshire's independent media

• The Oxford Sausage took a walk along by the Cherwell.
• Bitten Oxford visited Ramen Corner on the High Street.
• Ox in a Box reviews Jericho Comedy at Common Ground.
• Cherwell reports that Queen's College has submitted planning applications to add the names of three German alumni soldiers to its World War I memorial. It also ruminates on “college chapels in progressive Oxford”, concluding that “what is attractive about Oxford chapels – the music, the architecture, the community – remains attractive regardless of declining religiosity”.
• The Guardian might be stretching our definition of “independent” a little, but we enjoyed this look at Graven Hill, the self-build development outside Bicester.

Notes from Clarion HQ

This time next week, counting will be underway for the County Council elections. We’ll be posting live on our Bluesky account: if you’re not already there, now would be a great time to subscribe and follow us! We’ll also send out an email when the results are clear.

Election fever takes many forms. A reader kindly posted our 10 Questions article on Nextdoor, the Silicon Valley-run ragebait ‘neighborhood’ site that makes Facebook look like a harmonious haven of peace and tranquility. Should you ever wonder why we’re anonymous, the ensuing thread proved a great illustration. We went outside to hug a tree instead.

In the run-up to the general election last year, we posted two explainers on how the day works: first, what happens on polling day; then, how the count works. A few details differ for the county elections (69 divisions, and more inexperienced candidates, makes it rather more manic…) but we hope you find them informative.

A final thank you to our friends at Oxvote, who shared their calculations with us while we were putting together our election preview. For climate-minded voters, punch your postcode into their site for a local recommendation.

Whether you’re standing for election, campaigning, voting, or simply trying to get as far from it all as possible, have a great final week. See you next Friday.