Clarion Weekly, 6 December 2024

This week’s top stories

What do you get when the world’s third richest man buys Tolkien’s local? Oxford is about to find out. In a long read, we look into the no-expense-spared plans for the Eagle & Child.

Jericho Wharf has sat derelict for 18 years. Now, the local community has lost patience with the developers – and says it’s time for Oxford City Council to take matters into their own hands. We recount the history of the site and ask what happens next.

We launched an Advent Calendar! We've delved into the archives for our best long reads on Oxfordshire, posting one every day. It's on Bluesky and Twitter – follow along.

Around the city

• Two near-identical motions on congestion in Oxford are to come to next week’s Oxfordshire County Council meeting. The Labour group has put forward a motion calling for a “Congestion Citizens’ Assembly”, while the Conservatives are asking for a “Congestion Commission”. Both motions claim “Oxfordshire motorists could be hit by £57m in fines and charges” and talk about a “workplace parking tax”, saying “[these] are now largely enshrined in the Council’s budget and will take place unless there is a change of administration next year”. The suggested Citizens’ Assembly would be comprised of “Central Oxfordshire citizens” with an advisory group of councillors, businesspeople, academics etc.; the Commission would comprise the latter groups without a significant “citizens” component. OCC’s full council meeting takes place next Tuesday; the Labour motion is scheduled before the Conservative one so more likely to be heard, though both are after a Conservative motion calling for the Government to support farmers and reconsider “introduction of these family farm taxes”.
• The Oxford Trust, which supports local science & tech startups, is to locate itself in the heart of Oxford with new premises designed to nurture the next generation of innovators. The Trust says the new site will provide flexible office space and business support, to foster a creative community. Steve Burgess, CEO at the Oxford Trust said: “The new location of the Oxford Centre for Innovation in Blue Boar Court will not only provide start-ups with the space they need to scale but also strengthen Oxford’s position as a world-class hub for science and technology innovation."
• Oxford City Council is celebrating the completion of 4,145 homes since the start of the Local Plan, exceeding its target of 4,076. 998 of these were affordable homes, many developed by Oxford City Council specialist developer OX Place. We wrote about the very significant challenges in building homes in Oxfordshire in our 'Housing Week' series. While Oxford City has exceeded its current Local Plan targets, in September – in what passes for an earthquake in the planning world – the proposed new Local Plan was rejected by the planning inspectorate. We explained why, and the implications here.
• Oxford featured on a top-50 podcast, 99 Percent Invisible, in the episode ‘15 Minute Cities: Oxford and the Far Right’. The feature looks at the February 2023 protests against traffic policies and the link with the planning principle of the 15-minute city. “While the concept is popular with city planners and walkable-city advocates,” runs the synopsis, “in the last few years, it’s also been the target of right-wing conspiracy theories, protests, and even death threats.”

Around the county

• The Liberal Democrats have retained Cholsey in a South Oxfordshire District Council by-election with an increased share of the vote. Results were: Crispin Topping (LibDem) 62.2%, Alan Thompson (Conservative) 23.7%, Kyn Pomlett (SDP) 7.6%, Jim Broadbent (Labour) 4.7%, Karen Shoobridge (Independent) 1.8%.
• Work to improve footpaths, bus & cycle lanes on the A44 between the Pear Tree interchange & Cassington Road roundabout is now complete. The project is part of Oxfordshire County Council's north Oxford corridor infrastructure improvements programme, supporting forecast Cherwell housing growth. Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure said: “It’s great to see the work complete, which makes walking, cycling and wheeling much safer. These works are part of our commitment to invest in an inclusive, integrated and sustainable transport network.
• The owners of the Cricketers Arms in Littleworth, on the edge of Wheatley, have applied for permission to convert it to a house. It closed in summer 2023 after a period operating as a pub/Thai restaurant. The owners say the pub is “no longer needed nor is it economically viable”. The pub had been up for sale for £350,000 since 2019, but the agents say “The feedback we received from prospective purchasers was that the trading areas of the property are much too limited to be viable given there are three other pubs with food within walking distance.”
• Severe weather caused a sink hole to appear in a major road in the north of the county, say Oxfordshire County Council, who instigated emergency diversions and repair work. They hope that the A361 near Wardington will re-open by the end of the month. It is believed that the sinkhole is a result of the recent flooding of the River Cherwell, causing washout to affect a brick water pipe (culvert) running under the road. Cllr Andrew Gant, Cabinet member for Highways, commented: “This is a stark example of the pressure our road network is experiencing from extreme weather.”

• A new relief road in Wantage has opened which enables east-west traffic to avoid the town centre. King Alfred Way skirts the new Kingsgrove development. An opening ceremony yesterday, attended by MP Olly Glover, gave cyclists and mobility scooter users a chance to try it without traffic. The opening was delayed from September after last-minute snagging issues were encountered. The Wantage & Grove Active Travel group has praised the “very high quality shared use path alongside the road”.
• Two more battery energy storage systems (BESS) are being proposed for Oxfordshire – one at Yarnton and one near Witney, both close to solar farms. BESSs store energy generated from renewable but intermittent sources, such as solar or wind, for use at peak times. The Yarnton proposal would be on the west side of the railway, near the existing solar farm (to the east) and electricity distribution site. Renewable Connections Developments say it would provide up to 52MW of storage and be operational for up to 40 years. The second proposal is within the planned Tar Farm solar farm, between Witney and Stanton Harcourt. A 40MW BESS would be built on 1.5% of the site, replacing a small number of solar panels. Bluefield Renewable developments obtained permission for the solar farm in June 2023.
• The Witney Flood Group, a charity created by local community activists, has installed a new network of remote river level sensors mounted on gauge boards at key locations across Witney, thanks to council funding. Witney was once again affected by flooding on November 24–25. The sensors are designed to measure high river levels and provide critical data on flow behaviour, transmitting data via a LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) to a website currently under development. Cllr Pete Sudbury, deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “It is inspiring to see communities taking action in this way. When it comes to flood prevention, everyone has a role to play, including the whole public and private sector, and all of us as residents. " We wrote about flooding in Oxfordshire, who is responsible and what actions can be taken, in a long read in collaboration with Cllr Sudbury here.

University and research

• The Bodleian Library has taken digitised books and manuscripts offline because of the risk of cyberattack. Ten databases were switched off last week, removing historic images of music, maps, and manuscripts. Head librarian Richard Ovenden explained: “The British Library had all of its digital domain destroyed as a result of a seemingly small vulnerability acting as a gateway to the broader infrastructure. It is taking them years and many millions of pounds to recover.” He described the Bodleian’s actions as “precautionary, based on risk analysis”. The Digital Bodleian platform remains in operation with over a million images.
• Oxford University Press’ Word of the Year is ‘brain rot’, meaning “Supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially as a result of overconsumption of online material considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
• A plaque is to be erected at 8 New College Lane to mark the college’s role in housing Belgian refugees during the First World War. The Belgian displacement of 1914 remains the largest influx of refugees in Britain history with 250,000 seeking shelter. New College says: “Oxford was a significant destination for Belgian refugees. The episode has been largely forgotten and ignored by academic research, but it does speak to the importance of receiving refugees in need, and the nation's tolerant disposition to do so.” The plaque, which includes the college’s ‘Wykehamical rose’ will be carved by Oxfordshire letter-cutter Fergus Wessel, based in Milton-under-Wychwood. Oxford City Council has granted listed building consent for its installation.
• Student debating club the Oxford Union has elected a new president for the next term, Anita Okunde of Magdalen College. She will be the first black woman to hold the position. The Union celebrated its bicentenary last year and first admitted women as full members in 1963.
• Global healthcare company Novo Nordisk has announced an £18.5m investment into its research partnership with the University of Oxford, funding 20 Postdoctoral Fellows over the next 9 years. The partnership supports research fellows to undertake pioneering early-stage scientific research in diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, rare blood and other cardiometabolic diseases.

Walking and cycling

• Two Oxford City councillors have made the prestigious list of Cycling UK's ‘100 Women in Cycling 2024’. Emily Kerr and Katherine Miles were recognised for their work promoting active travel and cycling in Oxford. Cycling UK said of Cllr Miles that “Her accomplishments include improving cycle parking & promoting cargo bikes delivery solutions. Her relentless determination has led to projects that reduce traffic & inspire a more sustainable way of living.” The citation for Cllr Kerr read: “She's a local councillor who uses her social media influence to push for change in active travel policy. She’s leveraged her platform to benefit people who use bikes and also future cyclists.”
• Monday saw another serious collision involving a cyclist at the Plain roundabout. The incident involving a Heathrow Airline coach happened at 2.45pm: emergency services attended the scene with the bus eventually being moved from the roundabout at 4.20pm.
• Zero emission deliveries in Oxford City are to continue over the festive period thanks to the extension of a partnership between Oxford City Council and Velocity bike couriers, who make cargo bike deliveries for over 18 city centre businesses – including well-established Oxford names such as Hoyles, Walters and Shepherd & Woodward. Transport is Oxford's largest contributor to NOX emissions. City Council deputy leader Anna Railton said “If you are looking to get gifts delivered this Christmas period, why not support a local business as well as the planet? With Oxford bustling during the holidays, this service supports both local businesses & shoppers with a convenient, zero-emission solution.”
• A towpath ‘stoppage’ has been imposed on part of the Oxford Canal after floods from the River Cherwell washed a moored boat onto the towpath. The canal closely follows the Cherwell all the way from Cropredy, north of Banbury, downriver to Kidlington, with their courses crossing several times.

Trains and buses

• The route of this year's Christmas Light Bus has been revealed. On successive Saturdays in the run up to Christmas the illuminated bus will travel Oxfordshire, playing classic Christmas tunes and spreading festive cheer.

Oxfordshire politics

This week, we devote the politics section to the major issue of the week – the free vote in parliament on the Assisted Dying Bill.

The arguments for and against are complex and nuanced, and each of Oxfordshire’s MP set out their reasons for their vote in great detail, having consulted with constituents at length. We've linked to their statements where they’ve been published, so you can see the full picture on what was clearly a very difficult, and in some cases, deeply personal choice.

• Sean Woodcock (Lab, Banbury) voted against the bill on the grounds he didn’t believe the court system could cope with the extra workload, and hoped safeguards would be strengthened in a redraft of the bill to enable.him to vote for it at the next stage. His full letter.
• Layla Moran (LibDem, Oxford West & Abingdon) voted for the bill, in order to “continue the important national conversation”. Speaking in parliament she shared the words of constituent Tracey, who has stage 4 cancer, and is worried about "the prospect of a cruel and painful death". After the debate she said:“The message from patients, families, and the sector is clear: we need to do better on palliative care. I hope that, whatever the outcome of this Bill, we get a firm commitment from the government to improve funding, quality, and access to palliative care. As I said to the Health Secretary – the gauntlet has been thrown down. It is now for the Department to take action.”
• Charlie Maynard (LibDem, Witney) expressed concern that the legislation might be expanded at a later stage, risking pressure being put on those with a terminal illness. He voted for the bill, hoping that it could be refined at the committee stage, reserving his right to vote against it at the final reading. His full letter to his constituents is here.
• Calum Miller (LibDem, Bicester & Woodstock) voted against the bill. Despite personal experience of his father's traumatic death due to lung cancer, he said that concerns around the ‘lottery’ aspect of healthcare and current underfunding of palliative care, plus a potential change in relationship between a patient and their doctor, outweighed his lived experience. His full letter is here.
• Anneliese Dodds (Lab, Oxford East) voted against the bill. Mental illness is included within the criteria facilitating access to assisted dying. Her contention is that everyone who suffers from mental ill health deserves a chance to recover, or have their suffering reduced. Her full letter is here.
• Freddie van Mierlo (LibDem, Henley & Thame) voted for the bill, on the grounds that he believes both that an individual should have full control over their own body, and that the status quo is unacceptable. He believes the safeguards put in place would be sufficient. His full statement is here.
• Olly Glover (LibDem, Didcot & Wantage) voted for the bill. Glover has previously spoken about the lived experience of a constituent whose relative with Motor Neurone Disease had travelled to Switzerland to end their life, but they were unable to accompany them in support. In a statement to the Clarion Glover said: “During the debate last Friday, I felt privileged to have been present to listen to so many well-reasoned and cogent arguments from both sides of the issue. Ultimately, it was those arguments that convinced me that the concept of providing a terminally ill patient with a choice over their death is one deserves further consideration, so I voted in favour of the bill going forward. The coming months will now provide MPs with the opportunity to scrutinise and refine the measures as the Bill progresses through Parliament.”

One final coda on an entirely different subject. This week, a private members’ bill reached the Commons asking for proportional representation in local and national elections. The motion was brought by LibDem MP Sarah Olney and, as you would expect, Oxfordshire’s Liberal Democrat MPs went through the lobbies in favour of it. But with them was Banbury’s Labour MP, Sean Woodcock. He said: “I support changing our electoral system so that more citizens feel that their vote matters. I look forward to seeing more detail from the Bill's sponsors on what changes might look like ahead of a second reading.” The vote passed by 138 to 136, meaning the Banbury Labour MP's vote was crucial to it passing. Private members’ bills rarely make it onto the statute books, and indeed Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded to LibDem leader Ed Davey's call saying PR was “not our policy“ and “we won't be making time for it”, adding “Can I just gently add that his party didn’t do too badly under the other system as it is?” – a nod to the LibDems’ seat haul under First Past the Post this July.

This weekend

• Magdalen Road Frost Fest, Saturday 7, 10am-4pm. Resident-organised festival to support independent retailers in East Oxford foodie hotspot. Christmas shopping, Santa Christmas jumper parade, Santa's Grotto, carols and a free children's film.
• The Oxford Botanic Garden Christmas Fair and West Oxfordshire’s Ramsden Christmas Market have both been called off due to Storm Darragh.
• Ralph Vaughan Williams, ‘Hodie – A Christmas Cantata’. St Michael in the Northgate, Sunday 8, 3.30pm. As ever, there are dozens of superb classical concerts we could choose this weekend. But we thought it a reflection of the city we live in that an amateur choir (the Kennington Chorale) can confidently tackle a work like this, RVW’s last major composition. Free entry with a collection for the Gatehouse.

Dates for your diary

• Magdalen's Wilde: An exhibition to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Oscar Wilde's arrival at Magdalen College. Wednesdays until 16 April 2025, 2pm-4pm, the Old Library, Magdalen College.
• Be a Chorister for an Afternoon, 11 January: A chance for boys in Years 2–4 to sing in Oxford’s cathedral and try out the life of a Christ Church chorister. Booking required. (There’ll be a similar event for the girls’ choir, Frideswide Voices, in spring.)
• And the Christmas concerts don’t stop. Check out our selection of choral events in Oxford for Christmas, curated by Will Dawes, Director of Chapel Music at Somerville College.

Oxford’s independent media

• The Oxford Sausage has posted an advent calendar of doors in Oxford. All 24 are online now, but you could always read them day by day.
• Morris Oxford celebrates 250 years of the Covered Market.
• Ox in a Box reviews Farm & Table at Wykham Park Farm, near Banbury.
• Bitten Oxford reviews the festive feast at the Permit Room, Dishoom's Oxford outpost.
• Cherwell uses Data Science™ to reveal which colleges’ students drink the most alcohol. We feel tired just thinking about it.
• Daily Info reviews a Jesus College production of Love’s Labours Lost, reimagined in 1974 Oxford as women undergraduates were arriving. Featuring Queen, Abba, and “a Welsh Mr Bean”.
• Oxford Brookes magazine Hybrid reviews folk trio Three Idle Women, who bring Oxford's waterways to life with their debut album All Hands Together.

Notes from Clarion HQ

This week we finally unearthed a set of the original Oxford Clarion, the Oxford University Labour Club’s journal from 1949. Contributors included Harold Wilson, Tony Benn, David Marquand, Olive Gibbs and Anthony Howard.

Several issues featured advertising for Long John’s restaurant on Hythe Bridge Street, “where intellectuals meet”. A newspaper clipping from 1952 reports it was not just the haunt of young Labour politicians:

In a far away corner Julian Critchley and Michael Heseltine sat sombrely watching the gyrations of their more fortunate partnered brethren. Amongst the mass on the not too big dance floor could be distinguished the Hon. Sarah Rothschild, Joy Gregory, and a rather drunk gentleman from the House. Presiding over the assembly was George Silver himself, with all the air of the successful restauranteur that he is.

George Silver was a larger-than-life character – literally. As well as being proprietor of Long John’s and the president of the Oxford Jewish Congregation, he carved out a second career as an actor “in parts where the preparation or consumption of food was a central activity, or where physical bulk was a major element of the characterisation”. His Wikipedia page lists parts such as “Fat Man Eating an Eclair” and “Diner Eating Howard the Fish”.

We could get deeper into this rabbit hole, but secretly we’re hoping that one of the excellent blogs or discussion groups that look into Oxford history will do it for us.

If this newsletter is perhaps shorter than some of our recent efforts, it is because the (modern) Clarion’s writing crew has been struck down by flu, and by life. Thank you to all our readers for the tip-offs and feedback this week which we are working through – if it interests you, it interests us. Watch this space. But pass the Lemsip…