Local News

The partnership agreement between the county and district councils is being terminated by Andy Mitchell, Local Democracy Reporter The timetable for splitting public services currently delivered jointly by two Oxfordshire councils has been set. Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council merged a host of operational posts, including the senior roles of chief executive, director […]

Refurbishment work has been completed and a new contractor appointed until 2025 Here’s some good news for people who are about to have a spring clear-out.   Farthinghoe’s popular reuse and recycling centre is set to reopen this Saturday morning (March 19). The facility, on the A422 between Brackley and Middleton Cheney, has been refurbished by […]

Saturday evening clean-up needed after white transit abandoned rubbish in the village Shocked villagers in Kings Sutton couldn’t believe what they were seeing on Saturday evening as fly-tippers dumped rubbish in the village.   Two men opened the doors of a white transit van and began piling the contents on the edge of the road opposite […]

Arranging the visit by The Queen to the town hall in 2008 was a highlight for Mark Recchia Banbury Town Council has announced the retirement of popular town clerk Mark Recchia after 15 years in the post. Before joining the town council, Mark enjoyed a varied career in local government working for county and metropolitan […]

Fencing was damaged and wood thrown on roof A group of between 15 and 20 youths had to be moved on from outside Brackley’s Baptist Church on Saturday evening (March 12).   The town’s Neighbourhood Policing Team received reports of fencing being damaged and wood from the fencing being thrown on the roof. When officers arrived […]

“A lot of people talked about sitting in queues and the frustrations around not being able to make appointments on the telephone” by Andy Mitchell, Local Democracy Reporter Frustrated patients in Oxfordshire “gave up” trying to get GP appointments having hit log-jammed switchboards. Healthwatch Oxfordshire, an organisation that seeks to shape health and social care […]

Accent on fruit and flowers that will attract birds and insects in  hedge created by volunteers A new hedge in Banbury’s Spiceball Park will increase biodiversity, attract new forms of wildlife and play an important part in the town’s commitment to tackling climate change. Community volunteers planted the hedge in the ’wild’ side of the […]

Care home workers amongst those who had to prove they were doubled jabbed or exempt from November 11 last year by Andy Mitchell, Local Democracy Reporter “Two or three” Oxfordshire County Council workers lost their jobs for choosing not to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Laws passed by national government meant all care home workers or […]

Fynn Watt will spend his 21st birthday helping refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine A Deddington man is due to spend his 21st birthday delivering aid to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war in their country.   Fynn Watt will reach his milestone birthday on the Polish border tomorrow. Fynn and his co-driver Jonno Mullard from Barford-St-Michael […]

Several locations were targeted with similar styles A 37-year-old man has been arrested after graffiti appeared at a number of locations around Banbury.   The man – who’s from the town – was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. A number of locations had been targeted using similar styles of graffiti.   This led police to believe […]