Local News

The scheme encourages more walking and cycling and hopes to create safer and more pleasant places An £8 million budget has been agreed to accelerate the project which allows local communities to reduce the speed on their local roads from 30 to 20 miles per hour. The money from Oxfordshire County Council will pay for […]

Councillor Colin Clarke “I am very unhappy with this” by Andy Mitchell, Local Democracy Reporter A plan for 49 homes that “extends Banbury into the open countryside” has been granted permission despite not complying with council policies. Lone Star Land got the green light from Cherwell District Council’s planning committee to build up to 49 […]

Dave Young jumped into action and administered first aid after seeing a lady fall over, hitting her head A Banbury refuse collector has been thanked after jumping into action when he spotted a resident in need of first aid. Dave Young was undertaking collections on his usual round in town when he noticed a lady […]

The annual survey asks women about their experiences of care across the pregnancy pathway The Care Quality Commission has published its national maternity survey including the results for the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), which runs the Horton General Hospital Midwifery-led Unit, alongside the maternity unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford […]

People are being asked to follow a number of practical steps to avoid spreading the disease The first cases of avian influenza (bird flu) have been found in Oxfordshire’s wild bird population.  The county joins a number of other areas where bird flu has been reported. People are being asked to follow a number of […]

Spat over which council wanted to end the partnership by Andy Mitchell, Local Democracy Reporter Oxfordshire and Cherwell councils have confirmed the decision to “amicably” break up services they currently share – but only after a row over which side prompted the split. Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council merged a host of operational […]

1,998 households in the Cherwell District go a whole day without eating Banbury’s MP has come under fire for comments she made suggesting that the use of foodbanks can help with a household’s finances. During an opposition day debate on the cost of living and food insecurity Victoria Prentis told MPs that there are very […]

Louise Betts was nominated by a member of the public and surprised by her friends A healthcare worker from Banbury has been given an award after a member of the public nominated her not just for her skills and knowledge, but also because she had shown real compassion. The award came as a surprise to […]

An average home county tax rise of £78.50 to tackle climate change, fund 20 miles-per-hour zones, children’s centres and care costs for those on disability benefits by Andy Mitchell, Local Democracy Reporter The councillor who holds the county’s purse strings has defended council tax rises and borrowing tens of millions – while his opposite number […]

Stephen Chandler replaces Yvonne Rees in the top job An interim chief executive has been appointed at Oxfordshire County Council as part of the on-going separation of shared services with Cherwell District Council. Stephen Chandler steps up from his role as Director of adults and housing services and replaces Yvonne Rees in the top job.   […]