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Clarion Weekly, 7 March 2025

Clarion Weekly, 7 March 2025
Can we really call ourselves a local newspaper if we don’t have a picture of a councillor pointing at potholes? Cllr Roz Smith points to the new absence of potholes in Green Road, Headington Quarry.

Could Oxford’s streets change beyond recognition? Plus reaction to Anneliese Dodds’ resignation as a minister; an Oxford University AI/venture capitalist tie-up; and a beautiful song about a racing pigeon.

A reimagined Oxford.

This week's top stories

“Imagining the Oxford that puts people first” is the aim of new street redesign proposals from Oxfordshire County Council. The council is drawing up ideas for streets in the city centre and North Oxford where expanses of roadspace could be replaced with public squares, widened pavements and seating.

At St Giles, bus stops could be moved from Magdalen Street, and tourist coach bays relocated. A public square could be created at St Mary Magdalen, pavements widened and dedicated cycle tracks laid out. Elsewhere in the city centre, at Carfax, Cornmarket and Queen Street, the proposal envisages a “de-cluttered” street scene and “reviewing surfaces, carriageway delineation and location of street furniture to reduce conflict between pedestrians, cyclists and buses” with “safer, simpler crossings”.

Hythe Bridge Street and George Street could become a “pedestrian priority corridor” linking the station to the city centre. A pocket park could be created by the Oxford Canal terminus and along the Castle Mill Stream.

North of the city centre, Little Clarendon Street would also become a pedestrian-priority street with wider footways. In Summertown, North Parade and Banbury Road could be redesigned to support “pedestrian and business activity”.

For OCC, Cllr Andrew Gant said: “This initial list of ideas is not set in stone. We want to have early conversations to check if we’re moving in the right direction.” A survey is now open online, including the full report for download, and a map of opportunities.

Just after we went to press last week, Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds resigned as Minister for International Development following the cuts to the international aid budget.

Tributes poured in for a principled stand. Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West & Abingdon said:

I'd like to thank Anneliese for her work on the International Development and Women and Equalities briefs, and I share her concerns over the Foreign Aid budget cut. I look forward to continuing to work with her to deliver for the residents of Oxford.

Monica Harding, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for international development, echoed Dodds' sentiments. Natalie Bennett, former Green Party Leader agreed: “Principles in politics, what a refreshing sight. Much respect.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, however, backed the PM, saying “Reducing the foreign aid budget to fund UK defence? He’s absolutely right.”

Artist's impression of the new development facing Little Clarendon Street.

Around the city

  • A 1970s university building on Little Clarendon Street will be demolished and replaced under plans to be submitted later this spring. Oxford University Development proposes new offices and academic space at 25 Wellington Square, while refurbishing the adjacent Western Terrace for graduate accommodation. The new four-storey building will include academic, office and educational spaces, housing existing university departments relocated from elsewhere in the city. The architects say the brick facades will provide more “depth, shadow and interest” than the current mid-1970s buildings, calling the design “a building that actively engages with the surrounding streets, including removal of the large areas of blank facade in the existing building”. A public consultation last autumn revealed concern about the impact on the Common Ground cafe and other businesses; the plans include a retail space at the corner with Walton Street, which Oxford University Development says could become “a restaurant or café with a small performance space”. The revised plans also feature a wider pedestrian/cycle connection between Little Clarendon Street and Wellington Square, which is part of a National Cycle Route; OUD say “we have removed demarcation for cycle routes to encourage more responsible behaviour when moving through The Square”. If planning permission is granted, work would start on site in mid-2026 and be complete by 2029. (Professor Llewelyn Morgan’s blog has a fascinating history of the site and the unique plaque commemorating “Irene Frude’s huge breakfasts”.)
  • The premises licence for Uni Food & Wine on Frideswide Square, opposite the station, has been revoked after “persistent and continued non-compliance with licensed conditions… and serious criminal activity” after an Oxford City Council hearing. The store will no longer be permitted to sell alcohol. The revocation follows a request by the County Council’s Trading Standards department. In a November visit they found illegal tobacco snus and e-cigarettes, cider stronger than the licence allowed, no CCTV, no panic button, inadequate records and missing safety notices. Thames Valley Police told the hearing: “Repeated advice and threats of further enforcement have been made to this venue over the years… on each occasion we’ve been assured that these matters have been addressed, and each time that we go back, we’re not able to evidence this.” Separately, the hearing was told that proceedings are underway against licensee Avtar Singh Lalpurwal in Oxford Magistrates’ Court.
  • Ronald McDonald’s got less time for you… following the approval of reduced opening hours for the relocated McDonalds on Cornmarket. At a hearing this week, Oxford City Council approved opening until midnight. The current site by the Clarendon Centre, which is being redeveloped, is open until 3am. Thames Valley Police had originally submitted an objection, particularly on the grounds of “dispersal” of customers late at night, but withdrew it on receiving reassurance from McDonalds. No opening date has yet been announced for the new site.
  • A community group is campaigning for a new bus route to serve the western edge of North Oxford, linking Jericho and the Waterside and Waterways developments to Summertown and Cutteslowe at one end of the route and the railway station and Botley at the other. This would cover a similar route to that of the No 17 bus discontinued in 2017, and would provide better mobility options for residents who currently have to a walk a kilometre to get to a bus stop. The petition currently stands at over 800 signatures.
  • SJE Arts, the music venue on Iffley Road, has confirmed its imminent closure but denied speculation this is a result of its sponsoring organisation, the Anglo-Catholic theological college St Stephen’s House, “banning ’secular’ music in the church”. The concert programme will largely end on 30 June. Events are held at St John the Evangelist Church, part of a monastery until 1980 and since then one of three college chapels for St Stephen’s House. The college says they are now “unable to resource SJE Arts in a way that is within both our means and our charitable ends”. St Stephen’s House is currently working with the Royal School of Church Music to set up a new degree programme, the Institute of Sacred Music, which will be significantly based in the church. It says “there is no suggestion that this will take over the role of SJE Arts”. A statement read: “The college is well aware of the importance of SJE Arts in the Oxford cultural scene, and we are now giving attention to how some of the more prominent concert series and events might find new homes.” This year’s Oxford Piano Festival will continue into July as planned.
  • Extinction Rebellion held a protest against the Rosebank oilfield in Cornmarket on Sunday afternoon. Oil exploration was approved by the last government and overturned in the courts. XR Oxford are asking for a ‘just transition’ to renewables. Steve Dawe for XR said: “If the Government is serious about cutting carbon emissions, North Sea oil and gas exploitation must cease. Renewables are cheap & have enormous employment potential. Last year, over 42% of our energy came from renewables, vs just 25% from fossil fuels. Our protest was to warn the public this Government may try to continue the mistakes of the previous Government on climate and environment.”

Around the county

  • Oxfordshire LGBTQ+ couples are being encouraged to consider adoption in this year's LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week. Last year, one in five adoptions were to same-sex couples. A new campaign stars Arjay and Tom, who adopted three siblings a year ago and are thrilled with their new family life. The couple had first volunteered at a summer camp to gain childcare experience, and met the toddlers via Adopt Thames Valley. Tom said: “We wanted to start a family. We found out there are so many children waiting for their forever homes. That’s when we decided adoption was the right choice for us. Meeting LGBT families at the New Family Social camp where we volunteered really inspired us and made us feel more confident about the idea of adoption. It’s really a dream come true to have completed our family.” Cllr John Howson from Oxfordshire County Council said: “People from a whole range of backgrounds can and do adopt. Our most vulnerable children need more people like Arjay and Tom. You’ll help a child who might have had a difficult start to their life, playing your part as they develop and grow in confidence.”
  • Woodstock town councillor & descendant of Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough (Jamie Spencer-Churchill), has waded into the debate on Ukraine. He said: “Winston was my great uncle and I knew him well. he would be appalled at the constant hijacking of the Churchill name to justify such insanity and the needless loss of life.” The tweet was in response to an AI-generated image of Churchill with his arm around the Ukrainian president. This is not the first time the Duke has commented on global politics. In January he offered to host a fund-raising dinner at Blenheim Palace for Reform, with Elon Musk as a guest.
The Dornford Lane bridleway near Woodstock, one of the locations visited by planning inspectors considering the Botley West Solar Farm. Philip Jeffrey at Geograph, CC-BY-SA.
  • Planning inspectors have begun a series of site visits to the location of the proposed Botley West Solar Farm. In late February, inspectors made four unaccompanied visits to observe topography, views, rural/urban character, roads and footpaths. Among their destinations were “locations of Heritage Assets in Cassington, including the Church”, “key viewpoints within the Blenheim grounds as well as the historical and cultural elements of the assets’ settings”, and the “[Wootton] Conservation Area and St Mary’s Church”.
  • A new service has been announced for those worried about their memory, but without a dementia diagnosis. Delivered by Dementia Oxfordshire, supported by Oxfordshire County Council, the service provides help with memory strategies, explores lifestyle changes, & provides support with planning. Tim Bearder, OCC's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Noticing a change in your memory can be a worrying time. This service provides more immediate support, before a diagnosis. Residents can be guided to practical support to enable them to live well and independently for longer.” Peter Johnson, Dementia Oxfordshire: “We know how difficult it can be to access support if you're experiencing memory problems but don’t have a diagnosis of dementia. Our new service aims to change that. Anyone with concerns can be referred by their GP.”
  • Almost nine out of ten Oxfordshire children applying for secondary school places across the county have been offered a place at their first choice school for September. 96.5% were offered their preferred school, say Oxfordshire County Council. Cllr John Howson, OCC's Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We aim to give all children the best start in life. It’s a big step moving often from a small school to a very much larger setting. So I’m delighted that we've been able to offer the vast majority of applicants their first choice.” Families wishing to challenge the outcome of their application can appeal by 31 March. Children's names can also be added to waiting lists in case new places become available. Waiting lists start on 23 May.
  • Oxfordshire County Council is reporting progress on improving services for SEND children. It has been working on delivering a priority action plan following an Ofsted report in July 2023. The council’s cross party cross party Scrutiny Committee noted, in a nationwide environment of challenging SEND service delivery, progress across many workstreams to address issues raised by Ofsted. These included establishment of a SEND youth forum and reduced waiting times for assessments. Cllr Kate Gregory, OCC’s Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement, said: “We have been working hard to deliver real impacts for families. We have always said this will take time and not all families will feel or recognise that improvements are being made yet. But progress is being made. We have the foundations in place and are building on them. We care deeply about improving the lives of children and young people and supporting them, and their families, to thrive.” Independent County Councillor and advocate for special needs children Damian Haywood commented: “The follow-up 18 month review by OFSTED should be the arbiter of whether the council is making progress or not. We wait with bated breath.” A full list of updates can be found online.
  • A Public Space Protection Order is to be imposed in Banbury town centre. The bylaw targets begging near an ATM, consuming alcohol “in a manner which causes nuisance or annoyance”, and antisocial behaviour “including the use of offensive or abusive language or acting in an aggressive manner”. The PSPO was approved by Cherwell District Council this week. The council says 764 acts of antisocial behaviour were recorded in the town centre last year. At first, community wardens and police will issue warnings rather than prosecutions. It will last three years before renewal is considered.

University and research

  • An Oxford academic has discovered a ‘cover version’ of Shakespeare’s sonnet Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Dr Leah Veronese found the handwritten verses in a collection of 17th-century texts in the Bodleian Library, with seven extra lines and a new opening. Professor Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies, said: “What Dr Veronese shows in her investigation of this new version is that the sonnet is being understood in the context of Royalist politics – a long way from its role in modern weddings!”
  • The University of Oxford has announced a collaboration with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. 3,500 dissertations from the 15th–19th centuries, held in the Bodleian, will be digitised and made available for searching, reading and AI parsing. Researchers will have access to the newest models behind ChatGPT, including O1 and 4O. ChatGPT Edu access will be provided to 3,000 academics and staff: the university says this could “remove admin burden” and assist with “research, summarisation and ideation”. OpenAI is run by US venture capitalist Sam Altman, who is reported to have donated $1m to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund. The company has been criticised for alleged copyright infringement of the works used to populate the LLMs (large language models) behind ChatGPT.
  • And finally, over on Facebook, Prof William Whyte shares secrets of Oxford University’s architecture hidden in plain sight in this very short reel.
Advertising at the Plain Roundabout. (Image via Cllr Andrew Gant)

Walking and cycling

  • Oxford City Council has withdrawn its application to show advertising boards at the Plain roundabout. The previous permission had expired, and the application for renewal was widely criticised on safety grounds. The withdrawal means there is no legal permission for continued display of adverts. A resident-led campaign saw 225 objections lodged, many citing the potential distraction to drivers at a location where cyclist Dr Ling Felce died in 2022. The application had been called in for review by the City Council’s planning committee. Oxford City Liberal Democrat councillor Katherine Miles celebrated the victory, saying:
“This application should never have been submitted. It flies in the face of the LibDem-led County Council’s Vision Zero policy which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads. We are thankful that, due to our councillors’ quick action in calling in this application to be considered by the full Oxford Planning Committee, the City Council has seen sense and withdrawn it. The amount of money that the council was charging to commercial companies to display their advertisements was out of all proportion to the danger posed to road users by distraction and blocking views of traffic across the roundabout.”
  • A proposal to move parking onto the pavement in Frenchay Road, North Oxford, has spurred opposition from pedestrian groups. Oxfordshire County Council proposes to move four car parking spaces “from being located wholly on the carriageway, to being located partly on the adjacent footway”. OCC say this would “help facilitate free movement of traffic in the immediate vicinity”. Polling by YouGov shows that 64% of people nationally support a ban on pavement parking. The consultation is open until 28 March. Oxfordshire Liveable Streets said “Safety and accessibility for people must take priority over parking.” Cycle hangars that were put into Jericho two years ago were originally proposed to be partly on the footway, but were changed to be fully on the carriageway after objections.
  • Subsidised cargo bike deliveries for city businesses are to continue for another year. Oxford City Council pays half the cost of deliveries by Velocity Cycle Couriers. 27 businesses are currently participating in the programme, from the Oxford Sandwich Company to board games shop Hoyle’s. The City Council says road transport is the largest contributor to NOX emissions in the city (32%). The cargo bike programme aims to help businesses move towards zero-emission deliveries, particularly for those in Oxford’s Zero Emissions Zone and in the Covered Market.
Last year's 'Brand the Bus' winner, Oxford Hospitals Charity (Oxford Bus Co)

Trains and buses

  • Voting has opened to select the winner of Oxfordshire’s Brand the Bus 2025 competition. Over 60 charities have entered to have their message splashed across a double-decker bus for a year. The Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel are encouraging residents to vote for their favourite good cause. The 10 entries that receive the most votes will be shortlisted with the final winner to be selected by a panel and announced in June. Past winners have included the Oxford Hospitals Charity, SeeSaw, Home-Start Oxford, Blue Skye-Thinking & Restore. Entries can be seen here. Luke Marion, MD of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, said: “The response we have received to Brand the Bus has been remarkable. It just demonstrates how many wonderful good causes there are across Oxfordshire.”
  • Botley Road rail bridge work this week will see the eastern walkway entrance diverted closer to the station, while Thames Water works on the main water pipe under the bridge. Network Rail has reported successfully installing 16 40-metre concrete piles under the bridge, which will support the new walkway to be constructed.
  • Oxford Bus Company has snapped up another local operator, following the recent acquisition of Pulhams and Swanbrook. Wallingford-based Pearces Coaches has 14 vehicles for private hire. Miguel Parras, chief executive of OBC parent Go-Ahead, called Pearces “a fantastic operator with an excellent reputation”.

Charity begins at home

  • Oxford-based foodbank Oxford Mutual Aid says the number of new requests it receives has doubled. In January and February, OMA received first-time requests from over 65 households, a two-year peak. It already supports over 1000 individuals every month. OMA says that a proposed “crackdown on benefit fraud” could make it unable to support Oxford families. “We are at our limit, and have already been forced to turn away those asking for help. This surge comes at a time when the government is looking to reduce welfare payments to the most vulnerable. We see the impact of the government’s hostile approach to benefits claimants every day, first hand. We are receiving increasing numbers of requests from families pushed off of their benefits over technicalities, who face continual delays in receiving the most basic support they need.” Oxford Mutual Aid is asking for more donors and volunteers to help with its work. Volunteer bikers, drivers and hall packers are particularly welcome (“no vehicle is too small – cyclists with a backpack are invaluable”), as well as case managers, phone volunteers and more.
  • Oxford's Broken Spoke Bike Co-op has announced its crowdfunder has raised over £30,000, which is £5,000 above the target. Thanking their supporters, they said: “Because of our wonderful community, your support and generous donations mean that Broken Spoke can be able to bridge a critical funding gap, keep key programmes alive and importantly give us the capacity and time to develop a more sustainable model for the future. In a nutshell - keep our workshop open and continue to help keep Oxford pedalling!”
  • Oranges for Justice, a Witney-based Community Interest Company run by volunteers, has announced a pre order for next season's oranges (October). They import citrus boxes to the UK by working with a co-operative in Calabria, Southern Italy, and aim to bring dignity and hope to migrant workers there.

It was World Book Day this week...

Oxfordshire politics

As usual we round up what we've spotted our MPs up to, across their constituencies. As this roundup from Sean Woodcock or this one from Olly Glover illustrates, it's a flavour, not an exhaustive list; casework rarely hits the headlines.

We are in unprecedented times. We must continue to support Ukraine in its hour of need while ensuring the defence of our own nation. That means rethinking ESG mechanisms that wrongly exclude defence investment as ‘unethical’. By removing this barrier, we can provide Ukraine with the support it desperately needs while also unlocking the potential for defence investment to drive economic growth in constituencies across the UK.
  • Last week marked the third anniversary of the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Domestically, he celebrated the Labour government's investment in reducing the backlog in the court system; and locally, visited the Horton Hospital. He wished a happy St David's Day to those who celebrate, and a peaceful Ramadan.
  • Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran has spoken out in Parliament on NHS funding for adult autism spectrum disorder (ASD) after a constituent was told there was a 16-18 year waiting list for an official diagnosis. In the debate, Moran spoke for her constituent. “She said ‘If I could seek a proper assessment & advice I might finally be able to make changes in my life that could enable me to actually live and not just drag myself through each day.’ So I ask the government now, what is the plan to help her? Additional spending alone on mental health, and indeed across the NHS and social care sectors, won’t resolve all the issues: innovation and fundamental reforms that put the individual first are key.” She also asked the government, in a speech in Parliament, what it was doing to help fund Ukraine.
  • Didcot & Wantage MP Olly Glover spoke to Pancreatic Cancer UK about the need to tackle shortages in Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy, an essential treatment for the UK's 5th biggest cancer killer. He met Maya from the Homecare Association to talk about the impact of the budget on carers. He spoke out both in Parliament and on BBC Politics South on the need to fund Ukraine, saying it mattered to him personally:
“I have a Polish mother. A country which also has hugely suffered under Russian oppression and retains a genuine fear of that nation to this day. This war matters to Ukraine. It matters to Europe. But it also matters specifically for us. Our communities and councils need long term support to continue hosting refugees and looking after Ukrainians. We all want peace, but it has to be on Ukraine's terms. We should remember the 1994 Budapest Memorandum where Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in return for 'guarantees' of its peace. We need European defence cooperation & investment in our armed forces. We need to build up our defence forces using the frozen Russian assets so that we have the defence force our continent needs.”

This weekend

  • The Story Museum is marking World Book Day (hat tip to parents with cardboard boxes and gaffer tape all over the county) with a free event on Saturday at 2.30pm. Join author Tom Palmer for the next instalment of the Soccer Diaries, starring Rocky Race, a British footballer looking to make it big in a US soccer school. Ages 9+.
  • Little Dinosaurs, Big Questions. Caper Bookshop, Magdalen Road. Saturday 10.30 (ages 4-7). Make a Diplo Dino Puppet from the book Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings with illustrator Yiting Lee.
  • From Parchment to Print: Illuminated Manuscripts & Early Medieval Printing. An exhibition at Wadham College. Saturday 12pm-3pm in the LSK rooms (signposted from the Porters’ Lodge).
  • Eynsham Repair Cafe. Saturday 2pm-4pm, Eynsham Scout Hall. If you've not found repair cafes, check this out; volunteers try to repair your items or teach you how to fix them if you want to learn. Typical repairs include  jewellery repairs, sewing, darning, electrical repairs, small wood repairs, bike repairs, glueing and sharpening.
  • QOFF: Queer Open Friendly Folk Music Sessions.🌈 Jolly Farmers, Paradise Street, Saturday, noon-6pm. Rainbow Folk session.
  • Sing with Pride Karaoke at Glamorous Oxford. 🌈 Sunday 8pm-2am The best karaoke songs and drag. Organisers say it’s the perfect way to close out your weekend with pride.
  • Oxford Leisure Centres Big Open Weekend. Free taster activities at Barton, Ferry and Leys Leisure centres, plus Oxford Ice Rink.

(All of these have been submitted by readers. We love the diversity in this section! Please keep them coming.)

Dates for your diary

  • Bex Burch & Laurel Pardue. Caper Bookshop on Magdalen Road, Wednesday 12 March, 7pm. A unique sonic space employing percussion and hand made xylophones.
  • Ancient Music at Oxford, Jesus College. Wednesday 12 March, 6pm. What did ancient Greek music sound like? This free public recital combines performances of surviving fragments with attempts to reconstruct ancient music.
  • Brighouse and Rastrick Band, Sunday 16 March, 3pm. Oxford Town Hall. While in a Clarion editorial meeting in the Old Tom we spotted a poster for this, one of the UK's foremost brass bands. Which gives us an excuse to share this, a beautiful collaboration with the Unthanks, about a racing pigeon. If you click on one link in this newsletter, make it this one. (Sound on. Mascara warning.)
  • Florence Park Rocks. Florence Park Community Centre, Saturday 22 March, midday until late. Suggested donation £8; funds raised go to the community centre. 15 acts “native to Florence Park” spanning three generations, with headliners Pete Fryer Band having played their first gigs at Florence Park Community Centre in 1965.
  • FloFest. Florence Park, Saturday 21 June. A brace of Flo Park events for our East Oxford readers to mark firmly in their calendars. Flo Fest returns, a huge community festival with family at its heart, running into the night with Glo Fest. If you know, you're already going; if you don't know, you should go.
  • Rainbow Families 🌈, each Monday 1.30-3pm at Flo's in Florence Park. A friendly drop in celebrating and welcoming all families in the LGBTQ+ community. Toys, crafts and games for little ones and a chance to meet other families and chat over a cup of tea.
  • Brookes Artisan Market. Tuesday 18 March, 10am. Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane Campus OX3 0BP. From the creators of Gloucester Green's Outdoor Market; handmade goods, street food from around the world, crafts, sweet treats, and more.
  • Fawlty Towers immersive dining experience and disco extravaganza. Saturday 29 March, Hawkwell House, Iffley. We were sent a press release. Unusually, words fail us. Please do click the link. We want to go, but can't. Can you all go and report back? Thanks!

Oxford’s independent media

Notes from Clarion HQ

Last week we wrote about the ‘post-truth’ environment in which we find ourselves. We were struck by this from leader of Witney Town Council, Ruth Smith:

At a town council leadership meeting this evening, we made plans to refocus ourselves as councillors on civility in public office during the next cycle of meetings. Then the appalling US President/VP behaviour unfolded, showing us it is key to debate issues without personal attack. Witney Town Council meetings are very orderly, well-prepared by officers and well-chaired by chairs. Sometimes other councillors come to watch how it's done! But it's not always so pleasant in the online space and we all need to commit to upholding high standards.

We're highlighting it because holding a high standard of debate, even when we disagree, is important. Perhaps we could all, whether in council meetings and on social media, “be more Witney”.

(And did you know Witney’s community spirit and locally-run buses led to a namecheck in this collaboration between electronic music pioneers Underworld and Guardian journalist Aditya Chakrabortty?)

Next week: As part of our commitment to demystifying Oxfordshire issues, we will be running a special series. Following our successful Housing Week last year where we looked at the challenges of building in the county, next week we will examine the challenges of the accompanying infrastructure that should – but frequently does not – accompany housing. Each day we will tackle one subject from electricity to transport to sewage. If you’re a subscriber, you will get them straight to your inbox each morning, and we’ll publish them online too. Whichever way you get your information, we look forward to the debate. Oxfordshire is set to build 100,000 houses in the next decade. Will the county's infrastructure cope?

Clarion editorial meeting in the Old Tom this week. (And no, you can't see us in the reflection on that phone. We did check.)