Oxford News
Oxfordshire 200-home farmland plan amid fears for village
Developers, Mac Mic Strategic Land Ltd, have applied to West Oxfordshire District Council seeking permission for houses and a shop on 11.78 ha of land near Standlake just outside Witney.
The parish of Standlake, which also includes Brighthampton village, has a population of less than 1,600 people.
The proposed development site (Image: edge Urban Design/WODC planning portal)
Ahead of planning application submission, developers requested feedback on plans from residents, which it referenced in its proposals.
Statements included, “it will completely alter the pleasant character of the existing village” and “Standlake will lose its village status”.
The plans said: “The overriding vision for the site is to create a high quality landscape-led place that integrates with the existing landscape and context of Standlake to deliver a sustainable addition to the village for up to 200 dwellings, in addition to a small local convenience store.”
A map of the planned development (Image: edge Urban Design/WODC planning portal)
Previously, in 2018, a 100-home development was refused for the site amid sustainability concerns and fears about increased car use.
Recent feedback included fear for “safety issues” and increased traffic at A-road junctions creating “particular risks near the primary school”.
Further concerns were raised over the loss of green space and impact on “wildlife and birds”.
The plans said: “Sewage, drainage and flooding were the most commonly mentioned concerns throughout the feedback received.
“Most respondents highlighted concerns about the capacity of local sewage infrastructure and the impact of the development on local flooding.
“Many expressed existing issues with Thames Water and that they’d like to see improvements to this infrastructure before any development takes place.”
This comes amid reports of tankers regularly being deployed to pump excess wastewater for disposal during periods of heavy rainfall.
The planned development would partly overlook a lake, and is close to the River Windrush.
A resident said: “The proposed location is regularly flooded in periods of heavy rain and additional building will be likely to be detrimental to the existing inadequate water courses and add to the flood risk for the proposed development and other Standlake properties throughout the village.”
The proposals say the development location is not likely to flood.
Describing the planned homes, it said: “The proposal can provide a variety of housing types and tenures which increases local housing choice and need within the area.
“The convenience store is proposed near the southern access point on The Downs, providing community facilities to new and existing residents.”
It adds: “The scheme also proposes a high-quality network of green spaces, including soft and native landscaping, areas of wildflower planting and attenuation features.”
Oxford News
Jeremy Clarkson issues heart breaking cancer update
The 66-year-old broadcaster and journalist made the announcement during the final two episodes of the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm, released on Wednesday.
He shared the news with co-stars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland during a conversation at his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
Mr Clarkson said: “I’ve got cancer.”
When Mr Cooper asked where the cancer was located, Mr Clarkson replied: “Where it is, is of no concern to anybody.
“I’ve known since May.”
He explained that the cancer was detected early following a medical in May and described it as “aggressive”.
Mr Clarkson said: “I was praying we could get the harvest done and then I could go and get some treatment, but it’s going to be slap bang in the middle.”
Later in the episode, he revealed he had surgery to remove 10 per cent of his prostate.
He also reflected on what has been a difficult year for his health, including a serious heart issue that required the fitting of two stents.
He said: “So we started the year and I had coronary heart disease and ended it with me with cancer.”
The series ends with footage of Mr Clarkson in a hospital bed as he undergoes treatment.
He told viewers: “Some of the treatment has gone awry, let’s say.
“I’m going to be here for a little while.
“I’m nil by mouth, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
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“What I wanted to say was if this is all successful, I’ll see you for season six, and if it isn’t, I won’t.
“Take care, everyone.”
Despite his diagnosis, Mr Clarkson continued working throughout 2025.
Production on the sixth series of Clarkson’s Farm is now expected to pause to allow time for his recovery.
What do you think of the latest Clarkson’s Farm series? Let us know in the comments
Oxford News
New Oxford pubs and bars app shows live pub deals and offers
Charlbury-based Richard Coffey launched Bar Trender around six weeks ago to help businesses facing damage, and ultimately closure, from rising costs and economic uncertainty.
Richard Coffey started the venture which has been accepted by a plethora of Oxford pubs and bars (Image: Richard Coffey)
In the city, 22 venues have signed up, including pubs in hotspots such as Cowley Road and Jericho.
The venture was seeded while travelling in Australia. There, he noticed Sydney and Melbourne’s bar scenes were built around happy hours, a culture which he said didn’t really exist back in the UK.
After 10 years of hard work, after leaving a London start-up, he pursued the venture with the help of Artificial Intelligence to cut team and budget requirements.
READ MORE: Oxford MPs welcome social media ban but warn of implementation
He said: “I kept finding myself not knowing what was on, where had decent deals, or which pubs had the features I was looking for. The information existed, it just wasn’t anywhere in one place.”
The app, which provides full autonomy to the business, helps to boost their sales by providing visibility and awareness for the consumer.
Bar Trender app (Image: Bar Trender)
He says this comes at a time when people are “more conscious than ever about where they spend their money”.
He said: “The idea of being able to see what deals are near you before you decide where to go is genuinely useful right now in a way it perhaps wouldn’t have been five years ago.
“The cost of living crisis has fundamentally changed how people make decisions about going out.
“It’s not that people don’t want to go out, but they’re making more considered choices about where they spend their money.”
READ MORE: Crowds gathered for family-friendly fun day in Oxfordshire village
The venture will also support the wider hospitality sector, which is also under “enormous pressure”.
Bar Trender is proud to support Tom Kerridge’s VAT’s The Problem campaign, which is calling for a 10 per cent cut in VAT for hospitality venues.
Bar Trender app is available on app stores now (Image: Richard Coffey)
He said: “Energy costs, wage increases, food and drink inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic have squeezed margins to the point where venues that were thriving five years ago are now struggling to survive.
“We’re seeing more pub closures than at any point in recent memory and once they are lost, are very rarely replaced.”
A launch event will take place at Plush on Friday, June 16, with free shots and drink vouchers available to anyone who has the app downloaded.
Christopher Farr, owner of the LGBTQ+ night club and bar, said the venue is committed to making clubbing safe, affordable and fun.
He said: “The partnership is the perfect way to communicate our affordable drink deals in a fun and easy to use app.”
Oxford News
Oxfordshire SEND plan aims to improve support for children
Oxfordshire County Council’s SEND reform proposals were discussed by its cabinet on Tuesday, June 16.
They include expanding inclusion in mainstream schools, boosting recruitment of educational psychologists and therapists, and creating inclusion support bases.
Sean Gaul, the council’s cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, said: “Every child deserves an opportunity to thrive whatever their circumstances and this plan sets out how we will deliver better, more inclusive support for children and young people with SEND.
“We are working closely with partners and with families, children and young people who are at the heart of the SEND system.”
Ofsted has previously recognised recent improvements in Oxfordshire’s SEND services, including better joint commissioning and reduced waiting times.
The plan has been developed in consultation with health partners, schools, and the Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum, and focuses on early intervention, universal and targeted support, and improved outcomes.
If approved, the council will receive a high needs stability grant, potentially covering up to 90 per cent of its dedicated schools grant deficit.
Mr Gaul said: “It’s a vital step towards improving outcomes while making sure our services are sustainable for the future.”
The reform plan is part of the council’s response to national education reforms, including the ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ Schools White Paper and the ‘putting children and young people first’ SEND consultation.
Councils must submit their SEND reform plans to the Department for Education by 19 June.
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