Local News

The joint administrators say a sale of the stores is now unlikely The administrators appointed to oversee the Bodycare business across the country have confirmed the remaining outlets – including the Banbury store in Castle Quay Shopping Centre – will close. Nick Holloway, Chris Pole and Mike Leeds from Interpath, were appointed joint administrators of […]

People heading to local shops, the Sunshine Centre and Orchard Fields School will all benefit The installation of a new zebra crossing close to the shops and community facilities on Bretch Hill has taken a step forward.   The move should improve road safety for local residents. Councillors Mark Cherry and Amanda Watkins have been pushing […]

Oxfordshire’s Highways Chief took council officers’ advice and approved the changes A number of speed limit reductions have been approved for the A4260 between Banbury and Kidlington. Currently most of the countryside sections of the main road to Oxford are set at the national speed limit – 60mph on the single carriageway sections and 70mph […]

The ride has already raised over £100,000 Forty-six cyclists from our area yesterday began an epic cycle ride from London to Paris – a distance of 307km.  The three-day ride, in aid of the Katharine House Hospice, set off from Tower Bridge in the capital, heading towards the south coast where they caught a ferry […]

Police have praised the victim and her family for their courage during the investigation A Banbury man has been sent to prison for a sexual offence involving a child. At Oxford Magistrates Court on August 18, 87-year-old Richard Willbond, of Miller Road, pleaded guilty to one count of assault of a girl under 13 by […]

“the Labour Party has now abandoned its values and me” A prominent local Labour Councillor and Deputy Leader of the Labour Group at Cherwell District Council has quit the party and joined the Conservatives. Dr Chukwudi Okeke says he feels Labour has lost its focus and abandoned its values.   He was elected to Cherwell in […]

Its hoped work at Hook Norton Library can begin early in 2026 Hook Norton residents are being asked to back a new crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for their community library, with Oxfordshire County Council pledging to add £3 for every £1 donated by villagers.   The aim is to raise £10,000 by the end of […]

The West Midlands Immigration, Compliance and Enforcement team carried out an inspection last November by Nadia Lincoln, Local Democracy Reporter A shop in a Northamptonshire village has surrendered its licence after immigration officers raised concerns over it employing illegal workers. An application to review Rai Convenience Store (also known as Sanderz News & Convenience Store), […]

“the children are heartbroken that it’s closed” An appeal has been launched to raise £40,000 to pay for repairs to a children’s play area in Bodicote. The Kingsfield children’s playground was closed due to safety concerns a couple of weeks ago. The playground, field and village hall are looked after by the Bodicote Welfare Charity […]

The contentious scheme was approved by the Planning Inspector at appeal by Esme Kenney, Local Democracy Reporter Details of plans to build new 170 homes near an Oxfordshire town which were granted at appeal have been submitted to the district council. Vistry Group applied to build the homes on land east of Warwick Road on […]