Oxford News
Bicester Village car park to bring 517 additional spaces
Plans to build a 1,246 three-storey car and cycle hub were approved by Cherwell District Council in 2024.
But last year, Bicester Village’s plans for just a temporary car park were approved for a five year period, beginning from the date of its opening, allowing a review of when the larger hub will be required.
Three other major projects by the designer outlet are advancing in Oxford Road and are expected to be completed by October.
Western Terrace
The Western Terrace is a three-level extension of the western end of the village, known as phase four, which was completed in 2017.
It will bring additional retail, food and beverage on the ground floor and expanded guest services on the first and second floors.
St Edburg’s Park
Enabling works are underway for the new five-acre publicly accessible green space, St Edburg’s Park, which will offer multi-generation recreation, informal sports, family activities and community gatherings.
It will also create new connections for pedestrians and cyclists, linking the town centre to surrounding neighbourhoods, as part of Bicester’s expanding green infrastructure network.
Construction is expected to finish in autumn and the park is scheduled to open fully to the public in spring next year.
The development is delivering £1.2m of additional investment in sport provisions in Bicester to enhance local sports facilities including at Whiteland’s Farm.
READ MORE: Plans approved to improve sustainable transport in Bicester
Middleton Stoney roundabout
Work will begin mid-April on constructing the Middleton Stoney roundabout, which will be a key route linking west Bicester, the town centre and nearby villages.
The plans will improve traffic flows and include segregated cycleways, continuous footway links, multiple new zebra crossings and a signal-controlled crossing, according to bosses.
There will be several phased lane restrictions and a period of road closures which will be adjusted as work progresses.
A Bicester Village spokesperson said: “The ongoing development aligns with the Bicester’s long‑term vision for greener travel, stronger community spaces, and better-connected neighbourhoods.
“We are especially pleased to announce the introduction of the new St Edburg’s Park, following lengthy consultation with the community.
“The park will provide new high‑quality green space where residents and visitors can come together for leisure, relaxation, and family activities.
“The improved active travel routes being created together with the upgraded Middleton Stoney roundabout will support the wider investment taking place across the area and together, we expect these improvements to support local wellbeing and contribute to a more vibrant and sustainable Bicester for years to come.”
Hailey CE Primary unveiled the library in conjunction with World Book Day, funded through donations from the Friends of Hailey School, community grants, local business donations and our generous families.
Mrs Davies, headteacher, said: “The school is proud that together we are building a brighter future for our children through the power of reading.”
The library offers a wide selection of books across different genres to help children improve their literacy skills and discover new interests.
Excitement is high within the school community.
Mrs Davies said: “We’re so excited about the opening of our library that everyone’s peeking through the doors to catch a glimpse.
“I cannot wait to unfold the magic behind the books.”
The garden has been developed at Folly View Primary School and is designed to support pupil wellbeing, creativity, and personal growth by providing a calming and engaging outdoor space.
Funding for the project was secured through a £1,500 grant from the Tesco Community Grants scheme, made possible by votes from shoppers using blue tokens at the Faringdon store.
Muddy Spades, a local gardening business led by Royston Oxendale, also played a key role in bringing the garden to life by donating plants and building bespoke planters for the space.
Richard Evans, chief executive of Cambrian Learning Trust, said: “This wonderful sensory garden is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
“At Cambrian Learning Trust, we are proud to see Folly View Primary School bringing its core values of belonging, kindness, and aspiration to life in such a meaningful way.
“This space will not only enhance pupils’ wellbeing but also inspire curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.”
The garden will also support the school’s gardening club, offering pupils hands-on opportunities to care for plants and learn about the environment.
The school has thanked Tesco Faringdon, Muddy Spades, the PTA, and everyone involved in turning the garden into a reality.
UNESCO first adopted March 21 as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris, with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.
The heritage organisation said: “World Poetry Day is the occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media.”
READ MORE: Oxford United ‘told to stop new stadium work or face action’
This time on Looking Back, we’ve found a selection of fantastic poetry celebrations in Oxfordshire from the year 2014, now 12 years ago.
Language lovers converged for the day of celebration on bookshops, schools, at recitals and conferences.
Take a look back through this Oxford Mail archive gallery to find pictures from a decade ago of World Poetry Day celebrations in Oxfordshire.
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