The Clarion, 31 March 2026

Magdalen students relax in the afternoon sunshine. Photo by Roger Close.

Action on flags! A donkey! New whisky! New trains! A new forest! Renewables cheaper than fossil fuels! So much good news this week. Read on...

This week’s top stories

Flags on Abingdon Road. Photo by Roger Close.

Raise the Colours has been ordered to stop erecting flags by Oxfordshire County Council. On Monday, the council issued a formal legal notice requiring them to stop placing flags across the county, “on or near highways, without consent”.

If the group does not comply with the letter, the council says it will consider all available options – which it says could include civil and criminal proceedings against the organisation and individuals affiliated with it. In a statement, Oxfordshire County Council leader Liz Leffman said:

“Our residents report feeling distressed, unwelcome and unsafe in their own neighbourhoods. Our teams removing the flags, together with residents who have challenged the individuals installing them, have been subject to abuse and threatening behaviour. This is unacceptable.”

Although Raise the Colours has been placing flags on Oxfordshire lamp-posts for months, the issue shot up the agenda last week following a high-profile incident on Abingdon Road last week, and a subsequent report in the Clarion which featured calls for action by local residents, councillors, and Anneliese Dodds MP.

Many residents said that they had contacted Thames Valley Police only to be told that the flags were “a county council matter” – despite the clear evidence of criminality in our report. But as the controversy grew, the force abruptly changed its line and issued this statement:

“We are aware of an incident that took place on the Abingdon Road on Tuesday in relation to people raising flags on street furniture. We have opened an investigation into the incident and this is still ongoing. We have no further comments at this time but will share an update when we have one. Where criminal offences are identified, we will take appropriate and proportionate action in respect of the offenders. We would ask anyone with relevant video footage not to share it on social media, but instead to report it to us, quoting 43260144830.”

OCC’s order has received support from across the political spectrum. Green councillor Ian Middleton called it a “good move by the County Council”. LibDem MP Calum Miller wrote: “I have heard from people who are deeply concerned by this and no one should be made to feel unsafe in their own neighbourhood. The council is right to act firmly.” Labour County Councillor Brad Baines, who counts Abingdon Road in his division, commented:

“I greatly welcome the County Council issuing a formal notice to ‘Raise the Colours’ to cease their illegal activity in Oxfordshire (albeit slowly). We are a proud, inclusive and diverse country. No one should abuse our national symbols to intimidate and stoke division.”

Graphic from Cllr Liam Walker's Facebook.

Even local Conservative leader Liam Walker – who less than two months ago proposed a £50,000 spend on erecting flags in the County Council budget, publicising it using this graphic on Facebook – expressed support for OCC:

“Our concerns throughout this debate have been clear, particularly around the rising costs associated with the removal of these flags, at a time when many residents rightly feel that core services, such as fixing potholes and maintaining our roads, have not been given the attention they deserve. While we are proud of our flag and proud of our country, it has become increasingly clear in recent weeks that the behaviour of some individuals involved in this activity has gone far beyond a simple expression of patriotism. Given these developments, we support Oxfordshire County Council in taking the necessary steps to address this issue and ensure that our communities remain safe, respectful, and welcoming to all. Pride in our country should unite people, not be used as a vehicle for division or fear.”

Above all, the pressure to act has come from residents on Abingdon Road, across Oxfordshire and beyond – a belief that ‘enough is enough’, reflected in the comments and quotes that Clarion readers have posted to our Bluesky channel in the last week. We have received much further information by email this week, for which thank you: we will continue to report on this story.

Trainbow at Swindon. (Matt Taylor at flickr.com, CC-BY-NC-SA.)

GWR is planning to introduce direct Oxford–Bristol trains this May, running every two hours from Monday to Saturday, if Network Rail approves. New documents submitted to the rail regulator say that the Government is backing the service, and that it is targeting the timetable change date in May. Negotiations with Network Rail are ongoing, and at present the track owner says it “cannot support an application”.

The latest documents have added an Oxford departure at 21.03, and a Saturday-only extra from Swindon to Oxford. The Office of Rail & Road is expected to make a decision imminently.

King Charles III visited Oxford PV in Yarnton on Friday to see their research and development of perovskite and tandem perovskite-silicon solar panels. Oxford PV’s panels produce 20%+ more electricity from the same amount of sunlight, and are now in small-scale production.

David Ward, Oxford PV’s CEO, said: “We were honoured to welcome His Majesty King Charles III to our Oxford site today, and we are grateful for the time taken to engage with our team. The visit provided an opportunity to recognise the outstanding work being carried out here, and Oxford PV’s role in advancing sustainable solar innovation.”

The King commented "I hope you can speed up the transition a bit" – a clear reference to the move to non-climate damaging energy. The plaque fell off the wall as he unveiled it, leading to excitable press comments of ‘disaster’. (On the scale of royal disasters ancient and modern, we don’t think this one really registers.) We have previously written about Oxfordshire’s role in solar power both on land and in space.

Palm Sunday procession at Christ Church (photos by Roger Close); Dragon’s Den in the Westgate.

Around the city

Monty the Donkey led the traditional Palm Sunday procession to Christ Church Cathedral, marking Jesus’s entrance to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, riding a donkey. ‘All glory, laud and honour’ and ‘Ride on’ were sung by the Cathedral Choir and Frideswide Voices while walking up St Aldates.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the run-up to Easter. Among events at the cathedral are a performance this evening of James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross, sung by the Cathedral Choir and Frideswide Voices and accompanied by Britten Sinfonia.
After plans to convert Bike Zone on St Michael’s Street into a short-term let were approved (but not carried out), a new application has been lodged to convert it into a cafe instead. The applicants say a cafe would be “appropriate for the commercial character of St Michael’s Street”. The plans were lodged by a director of the Galaxie Hotel in Summertown. They envisage only removing one internal partition with no other significant changes to the building. The new application is with Oxford City Council for consideration.
Oxonienses fossas oppugnant: The City Council plans to attack Oxford’s ditches. The Environment Agency previously monitored and cleared ditches “above and beyond their statutory responsibilities”, but budget cuts means it can no longer do so. The council’s services company, ODS, will now take on the role, drawing up a city-wide maintenance plan for September this year. £500,000 has already been allocated for any urgent clearance work identified by the survey. A report prepared for councillors praises the conservation work of volunteer groups such as the Friends of Lye Valley, but warns that the council has few powers to compel landowners to act.
A ‘Dragon’s Den’ challenge for local schools at the Westgate Centre saw students invited to design “an innovative community space for the city”. Year 10 students took part in hands-on sessions to explore creative placemaking, environmental sustainability, and community feedback. In the final of ‘Made in Oxfordshire’, held at the Curzon Cinema, competitors pitched their concepts to a judging panel – described as “fresh and exciting ideas” by Westgate centre director Clare Martin. The winning team was from John Mason School in Abingdon, whose ‘Brainwave’ concept envisaged a safe, inclusive charity cafe and arcade supporting young minds while combating isolation.

Capoeira at EOCC (photo by Roger Close).

Friday saw the official opening celebration of the newly-refurbished East Oxford Community Centre. There were activities for children, film screenings with Film Oxford, and an African dance session with BK LUWO, alongside information stalls from organisations such as Asylum Welcome, Move Together Oxfordshire, Pub Learning Hub and ODS. The day finished with a spectacular demonstration of the Brazilian martial art capoeira by ACAPOEIRA UK: lessons take place at the centre on Thursday evenings, 7pm-8pm.

Around the county

Bids have opened to plant a forest in the Oxford–Cambridge Corridor. The Government wants it to “support the creation and integration of forest habitats within new development, to fund wider improvements to green and blue infrastructure, and to test models of leveraging private investment”. The deadline is 20 May. Government expects applications to be led by a single organisation with “experience of successful woodland creation projects at scale”. A ‘Western Forest’ in the south-west is already underway, and applications are also open for a Midlands/North site.
160 new homes in Chalgrove, 52 minutes by bus from Oxford, have been allowed on appeal. The inspector agreed the village school was full, that local services were too far for the site to be “liveable”, and that it would harm the area’s character, but said this was all outweighed by a perceived housing shortage in South Oxfordshire; because other developments are running behind schedule, including in Didcot, Goring and the outskirts of Oxford, he concluded that South Oxfordshire District Council can only demonstrate 3.8 years’ worth of housing supply. (The legal requirement is for a 5-year pipeline.) SODC had turned down this latest application in July 2025 after objections by Chalgrove Parish Council – who said the village already had more than its quota of new housing – and by OCC’s education department.
The 100,000th pint will be poured at the Charlbury Beer Festival this year. Due to take place on Saturday 27 June, the festival has raised £340,000 for good causes over its 28 years. One of the biggest independent (non-CAMRA) festivals in the south of England, it typically has over 60 real ales, 20 craft beers, and most importantly, the World Aunt Sally Championships. (We are tempted to do the first ever Clarion live sports reporting.)
A “big society” initiative in Didcot has seen 18 charities awarded a slice of £132,000, raised by local businesses on the town’s science and business campuses. Didcot Powerhouse Fund’s 2026 grants include reading tuition, home visits to families in difficult circumstances, free trishaw rides for older residents, monthly science gatherings for care-experienced people aged 14-25, and community sewing sessions. Fund chair Elizabeth Paris said: “To every donor and volunteer, you are genuinely changing lives in Didcot, one grant at a time.” The fund, which has given over £0.5m since it was set up five years ago, is run entirely by volunteers. It covers Greater Didcot and surrounding villages. Grant applications can be made, and donations given, at the fund’s website.
Gin and rum specialist, the Abingdon Distillery, is moving into whisky. CAMRA’s What’s Brewing magazine reports that the artisan producer intends to sell bottles for the “connoisseur market” at around £70. It also hopes to set up a taproom on a rural farm.
Cherwell District Council has published a new action plan to reach Net Zero. It commits the council, which declared a climate emergency in 2019, to further reducing its carbon emissions, the main cause of global heating, through changes to its buildings, vehicles, staff behaviours and more. The Climate Action Plan 2026-2027 also identifies measures to help the wider district reduce its emissions, such as supporting local community energy projects, improving the energy efficiency of people’s homes, promoting active travel, and making it easier for people to switch to EVs. A month ago Cherwell District Council rejected a proposal for a battery box micro energy storage facility; these are used to flatten energy demand peaks and ease the transition to renewables.

Oxfordshire politics

Our politics editor is away and working with limited wifi (plus much parenting), so this week we have abridged highlights from our elected representatives.

Banbury MP Sean Woodcock posted five times in one week on flytipping on one channel (here’s just one example). Safe to say he's found an issue that resonates with voters. On SEND, after the Labour government announced "the biggest single funding allocation to deliver more places for children with SEND on record, with £11.299 million for Oxfordshire", he wrote to Oxfordshire County Council to ask how it would be spent.
Bicester & Woodstock MP Calum Miller is unhappy at the delay on a decision on Botley West Solar Farm, saying it raises serious questions about the project’s viability. He has written to the minister to demand answers.
Witney MP Charlie Maynard made quite a lengthy video after having spent time in the John Radcliffe maternity ward talking to staff and, apparently, inpatients. (We are sure this was done in the best possible taste but the thought of a cosy chat pre- or post- delivery with an MP is raising this writer's eyebrows right now.) The video covers the ongoing investigations (our primer on this is here) and improvements being made across the board, including working with bereavement charities.
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds has written an article for Labour List on countering foreign financial influence in UK politics. She was on BBC Politics South talking about the cost of living, local government, and young people and social media.
Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran was on BBC Question Time. Two particular comments stood out to us. First, that there were really good people wanting to stand as MPs and councillors who were deterred by the tone of the debate. Coming just a few days after we reported an abusive AI-powered radio station in Littlemore with libellous comments about several Oxford councillors, this resonates strongly. And second, that the UK should not grant a state visit to Donald Trump.
Didcot & Wantage MP Olly Glover also posted about the ‘maternity crisis’ so perhaps there was a LibDem memo. In Parliament, he asked the Minister if disused railway lines could be converted into family friendly spaces for walking and cycling. (A new 13-mile path on an old rail line opens in Wales this weekend. Can we do the same for the old Didcot–Newbury line?) Sticking with rail, he asked the Minister for an update on plans to run passenger trains between Oxford and Milton Keynes. It's a deeply formal letter, but frankly this one has been going on so long it could simply have said: “Minister, re: EWR, WTAF? Regards, Olly.”
Henley & Thame MP Freddie van Mierlo is talking about sewage and we are noting it only because both he and Glover posted the same AI graphic; it seems the Lib Dems are using AI sh*t to talk about actual sh*t. This video is not sh*t though and worth a watch: he's asking questions in Parliament about Ofwat letting water companies off the hook. (Is his tie meant to represent proportional representation?)
Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber deserves, we think, some kudos this week. After we posted our story about flag-raising along the Abingdon Road on Bluesky, he spent hours engaging with people on the thread addressing their queries and concerns, some of whom had very strong opinions. In the end, he directed TVP to investigate further: resulting in this appeal for evidence. Kudos to both him for listening, and activists for raising the agenda. He also celebrated an election victory, something that has been rare for Conservatives in Oxfordshire recently: as we reported on Friday, Lee Evans gained a seat on Vale of White Horse District Council, something for which Barber had been knocking on a lot of doors.

University and research

Oxford University’s Proctors have raised concerns about insufficient expenditure on buildings and staff. They also described the introduction of OpenAI as “startling” and “problematic” and questioned whether it would undermine the integrity of online admissions.
But in more positive news for the university, it is the best in the world for arts and humanities, according to the QS World University Rankings for 2026. A new strategic plan aims to raise £4 billion in the next four years through its 'Oxford Excellence' campaign.
Free Latin GCSE lessons are on offer for Year 8 and 9 pupils whose schools do not teach it. Oxford University's Latin Teaching Scheme (OxLAT) was first run in 2008 and relaunched in 2015. The deadline for applications is 15 May, with 40 places available.
Online platforms are now the main source of news for young people, according to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University. The most frequently used platforms are the Oxford Clarion Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Oxford University’s Rothermere American Institute has announced the Churchill Chair, an Associate Professorship in US politics, funded by “an exceptionally generous endowment gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous”. Winston Churchill was the first recipient of honorary US citizenship.
An EU-funded Oxford Brookes project supporting migrant and refugee young people through film, photography and poetry is featured among the European Commission’s success stories on the impact of EU funding.
A study from the University of Oxford says that storytelling reduces polarisation and strengthens emotional connection and social cohesion among secondary school pupils. In schools in Kentucky, pupils took part in a workshop where they shared a story about a significant personal experience; the listener then retold the story to the group as if it were their own. Participants experienced 4.3% less political polarisation, while respect for others increased by 5.4%.
Renewables cheaper than North Sea fossil fuels? Analysis by Oxford University has found that if the UK were powered fully by renewable energy, it could save households up to £441 a year on their energy bills. Maximising oil and gas extraction from the North Sea would save households less, and even then only if the tax revenues collected went directly to households.
Adult content advisory: no laughing at the back please. A major multi-species study by Oxford University researchers has found that sperm deteriorates rapidly in storage (in males or females), and so regular ejaculation before taking semen samples or assisted reproduction is recommended. The study was a meta-analysis, looking across 115 studies of humans and 56 studies of 30 animal species. In many species, females store sperm allowing for fertilisation long after mating. It confirmed that sperm storage from sexual abstinence was associated with DNA damage, reduced sperm mobility and viability. Co-lead author Dr Rebecca Dean said: “Sperm quickly exhaust their stored energy reserves and have limited capacity for repair. Our study highlights how regular ejaculation can provide a small but meaningful boost to male fertility.” The results align with recent evidence suggesting that ejaculating within 48 hours of providing a sample, whether through sexual activity or masturbation, can significantly improve IVF outcomes. They suggest that current WHO guidelines of 2-7 days' storage may extend too long.
Oxford Brookes has launched a pro bono personal injury law clinic to give its law students experience of advising real-life clients. The clinic will be led by a personal injury partner from Hodge Jones & Allen solicitors, who already work with several similar pro bono clinics at Universities across England and Wales. Call 0330 162 3888 to get in touch with the clinic.
The director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, Andrew Pollard, is warning parents to check their children’s polio vaccines are up to date, after poliovirus was detected in London sewage. Mass vaccination programmes have eliminated polio from most parts of the world, but the wild type of the virus is still found in pockets of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Adrian Lovett of the ONE Campaign, which campaigns for health improvement across Africa, said: “Covid showed us viruses do not respect borders. No matter how wealthy a country may be, our defence against public health emergencies depends on our neighbours. We are only ever as strong as our weakest link.”

County of Glamorgan at Didcot Railway Centre.

Trains and buses

“Good progress” is being made in Didcot Railway Centre’s restoration of GWR steam locomotive County of Glamorgan. The boiler cladding sheets have been manufactured and fitted, ready for final installation once the boiler itself has been restored. The 1945 engine was deployed on express passenger duties but had a short operational lifespan of less than 20 years. The rebuild has involved gathering rare remaining parts from dismantled locomotives around Britain.
Four semi-rural bus routes have been announced as the next in Oxfordshire to go electric. Oxford Bus Company’s new 13-strong fleet of single-deckers will serve the 35 service to Abingdon, 46 to Great Milton, ST2 to Wytham, and 21 between Bicester and Chesterton. MD Luke Marion said: “The exciting news is it will enable us to operate electric vehicles more widely across the county. The investment is the result of improving traffic conditions in Oxford, thanks to the temporary congestion charge and the successful introduction of free Park & Ride travel.” Separately, Oxfordshire County Council won the ‘Best Public Transport Decarbonisation Award’ at the Decarbonising Transport Awards 2026 this week, for the project to roll out 159 electric buses across the city.
Artworks by a group of learning disabled adults have been installed on the platforms at Oxford Parkway station. 'All Aboard!' by Shadowlight Artists explores the experience of public transport, whether freedom and independence or frustration and uncertainty.
And in Bicester, a multimedia art project called ‘Tracks of our Lives’ has been launched by Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership and Chiltern Railways. It takes personal railway stories and turns them into poems, art and audio as part of the Railway 200 celebrations. At the launch, contributing artists and stakeholders enjoyed the artwork on the station bridge and live poetry reading. These and other poems are captured in a booklet and online audio.

Notes from Clarion HQ

Your volunteer Clarion editors are doing the Easter school holiday juggle this week. We’ll have a weekend Clarion on Friday as usual, but we won’t be publishing a newsletter next Tuesday, and each newsletter might be a few hundred words shorter than usual.

Of course, by writing that, we’ve pretty much guaranteed some major news or other will break in the next few days. Trains to Milton Keynes to start at last? We can but dream. See you on Friday.