The college’s car park in Oxpens Road has been the subject of an ongoing dispute with Oxford City Council over whether the college could continue offering a cheap parking option for visitors to the city on weekends and outside of term time.

Since 2012, parking had been offered at the city centre college for just £6 per day – significantly cheaper than, for example, the council’s Oxpens car park opposite which costs £7 for up to three hours parking during the day.

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But the college was told to stop offering the 91 spaces to shoppers in 2024 when the council said the use of the site went against one of the planning conditions issued to the car park in 1999.

The council refused two certificate of lawful development applications from Activate Learning, which runs the City of Oxford College, the first of which was also dismissed at appeal by a planning inspector.

City of Oxford College car park (Image: Andy Ffrench)

This latest application constitutes another certificate of lawful development, which was proven to the council’s officers that the car park had been continuously used by drivers not associated with the school at weekends and outside term time for more than 10 years.

Including staff time sheets, parking income breakdowns, signage details and invoices, social media marketing, newspaper articles, declarations from car park users and other items, the evidence convinced the city’s planning officers that the use was established.

The council’s officers stated: “The substantial evidence submitted by the applicant since December 2011 in support of the application does not contradict the council’s own enforcement records.

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“As such it is considered that car parking, as shown within the red line plan, for the City of Oxford College, has been in use as a sui generis part-time paid for public car park on weekends and out of term-time for a period of at least 10 years prior to the submission of this application.

“In the absence of any conflicting evidence, and on the balance of probabilities, it is considered that the lawful use of the highlighted area as a sui generis part-time paid for public car park on weekends and out of term-time can be certified by the council.”

This means the college can continue offering its 91 spaces for parking to shoppers at the weekend, and the council cannot take any steps to prevent it because the time for enforcement action has expired.

Last July, Melia Harriss stepped up to be general manger of the Greene King pub College Oak in Peachcroft, Abingdon.

The pub, which generates around £624,000, is to become a new ‘Hive Pub’, a Greene King franchise designed for experienced pub managers.

The model allows them to run their own ready-to-trade business with low setup costs and comprehensive support.

Melia Harriss, new general manager of the College Oak, Abingdon (Image: Melia Harriss)

A Greene King spokeswoman said: “We have plans to refurbish the College Oak in Abingdon and turn it into a Hive Pub – one of our growing pub franchise concepts.

“As part of this, we are currently looking to recruit an experienced pub operator to run the College Oak as a franchisee and actively encourage those interested to apply.

“The pub remains open and trading as usual, ready to welcome customers in to enjoy the summer of sport.”

An advert published by Green King says the successful operator will sign a five-year contract with the pub.

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It says the operator will earn a guaranteed income of £20,000 per annum (paid at £385 per week), plus a percentage of net food and drink sales.

Opportunities for up to £7,500 in bonus per year are also possible if the business is successful.

Earnings are uncapped and can increase or decrease dependent on franchisee performance, Greene King added.

In addition, there is an entry cost of £5,000, including legal fees and training costs, which is payable on change day.

An extra £3,000 will be required as working capital, to ensure there is sufficient cash flow in the business before Greene King makes its first payment.

Ms Harriss took on the College Oak as general manager at the beginning of July, enjoying a highly successful first summer in the role.

But she is no stranger in the pub trade as her father has been a general manager of a pub in Abingdon his whole life, the Roaring Raindrop (previously known as The Midget).

Miss Harriss has worked in various venues in Wallingford and Buckinghamshire, and was offered her first general manager role at the age of 20.

Greene King said she is free to apply for the operator role once it becomes a Hive pub.

The pub has changed hands more than once since previous managers Eddie and Carol retired and moved away.

The College Oak pub is in Peachcroft Road and is open from 11.30am until 11pm Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 10.30pm on a Sunday.

Greene King has been asked if Miss Harriss will remain at the pub.

Some 15 police cars were spotted beside the HGV on the motorway between junctions nine and 10 near Bicester on December 11.

The force also added that the 51-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

Home Office officials also got involved with the investigation.

In an update, a police spokeswoman said the police bail for the arrested driver expired on June 3, but he is now under investigation as enquires continue.

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She said: “He has been released from police bail but remains under investigation. Our investigation is ongoing.”

It has not been made clear where the lorry or indeed the driver came from.

Images from social media at the time appear to show foreign plates on the white lorry.

Motorists reportedly saw officers leading a row of men out of the trailer and onto the hard shoulder.

The Home Office did not comment on the specifics of the Oxfordshire case when approached for comment.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: “The Home Secretary has announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times which will make Britain a less attractive destination for illegal migrants, and will make it easier to remove and deport them.

“Our Borders Act allows Government and law enforcement agencies to work with the DVLA to intercept threats when a suspicious vehicle enters the UK.”