Charter Multi-Storey Car Park in Abingdon’s Broad Street will shut for two days later this month due to ‘essential maintenance works’, the district council has announced.

Vale of White Horse District Council said the works would require the full closure of the car park from 6pm on Saturday, July 18 until 8am on Monday, July 20.

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A statement from the council said: “If you’re visiting Abingdon and planning to park there, please note that Charter Multi-Storey Car Park will be closed from 6pm on Saturday, July 18 until 8am on Monday, July 20 while we carry out essential maintenance work.

“We apologise for any inconvenience. Please visit our website for details of alternative car parks.”

The multi-storey car park in Abingdon (Image: Photo: Ed Nix)

Drivers hoping to use The Charter car park have already been facing long-running disruption, as levels three and above have been closed for several years.

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This is ‘due to concerns regarding structural issues and fire safety’.

A statement on the council website says: “We’ve carried out work on the lower levels to ensure they are safe, however further assessment work is required to review the upper levels.”

It adds that options for the future of the multi-storey, including retaining it for parking, demolishing it or selling it, are all being considered, and the council hopes to provide an update later this year.

Expansion of Blackbird Leys’ Mabel Prichard Special School in Cuddesdon Way will be achieved by remodelling and refurbishing the recently vacated foundation stage accommodation at Orchard Meadow Primary School, on the same site.

The project will deliver three new classrooms, pupil toilets, a group room and ancillary accommodation.

Plans also include the creation of an improved entrance, office space, staff room and supporting accommodation.

It will also provide additional car parking and enhanced highway access to the school.

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A full business case is due to be submitted for approval by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet in August 2026, with an estimated total capital budget exceeding £2m.

Councillor Sean Gaul (Image: Sean Gaul)

Mabel Prichard Special School is managed by the Gallery Trust, which will deliver this project using funding provided by the county council.

Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, said: “We’re determined to continue investing in services for Oxfordshire’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) children and this commitment is reflected in these exciting plans for Mabel Prichard Special School.

“This will be a partnership approach, working with families, the academy trust, and communities to make a difference to the way children and young people get the support they deserve to help them thrive.”

Pupils and staff at Grove Church of England Primary School are set to benefit from a £9.4 million investment in new buildings and improvements, too.

Grove CE Primary School is an academy managed by Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust, who are delivering this project using funding provided by the county council.

County councillor Dan Levy (Image: Newsquest)

A major building project will expand the school’s capacity from 210 to 315 primary pupil places, plus 39 new nursery places.

The budget for this project was approved in an outline business case in June 2025, with the full business case scheduled for consideration within a few months’ time.

The project will be managed by the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust, which is responsible for the school, working in partnership with the county council and David Wilson Homes, who is delivering a new housing development in the north of Grove.

Faringdon Community College will also get a new building with seven classrooms, a hall, kitchen, main reception area and staff accommodation.

The existing building will be remodelled to create accommodation for nursery and reception aged pupils.

David Wilson Homes will provide the council with additional land to facilitate this school expansion.

On the additional land will be a full-sized all-weather sports pitch, and a new main entrance into the school site with parking for staff and visitors.

Work on the new building is due to start in February 2027.

Cambrian Learning Trust is delivering the project using funding provided by the county council.

Oxford Spires Academy, a state secondary school in Glanville Road, East Oxford, was partially closed to some students this afternoon, Friday, July 3.

A notice on the Oxfordshire County Council unplanned school closure’s website said the school was closed for year nine and year ten pupils, with lessons moved online.

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It remained open throughout the day for years seven, eight and 12 and is currently planned to reopen as normal on Monday, July 6.

Oxford Spires Academy, part of the Anthem Schools Trust (Image: Oxford Spires Academy)

The secondary school is part of the Anthem Schools Trust, which runs 15 primary and secondary schools across the East Midlands, London and the Thames Valley.

The Trust confirmed the school was partially closed due to industrial action involving teachers and staff, taken against the trust over ‘redundancy, restructuring and unagreed management practices’.

George Buchanan, head of economics and business at Cheney School, said in a post on Facebook that some of the Oxford Spires Academy joined a picket line strike this morning.

He said: “Teachers and support staff comrades at Oxford Spires Academy [were] on the picket line this morning.

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“This is the first strike day against redundancy, restructure and unagreed practices of Anthem Schools Trust. Victory to the National Education Union.”

A spokesperson from Anthem Schools Trust, made on behalf of Oxford Spires, said: “We were very disappointed that members of the National Education Union took part in industrial action at Oxford Spires Academy on Friday, July 3.

“However, the academy remained partially open as we worked to minimise disruption for students and their families.”

They added: “We remain committed to constructive and collaborative working with the National Education Union and other trade unions.”