Oxford News
Iconic tree to be felled in Wallingford after expert view
The horse chestnut on the Kine Croft in Wallingford has been monitored for years by arboriculture specialists, who reported more recent signs of disease despite previous pruning.
Wallingford Town Council said: “It is with real sadness that we share our intention to remove the historic Horse Chestnut tree on the Kine Croft.
“For generations, this tree has been a familiar part of Wallingford’s landscape and has been part of the lives of countless residents and visitors.
READ MORE: Man jailed for murder of former partner who said he’d miss GTA has sentence increased
“We know how much it means to our community, which is why this has been an incredibly difficult decision.”
Located in one of the town’s busiest public open spaces and close to neighbouring homes, the tree’s failing health presents a safety risk.
The council said it has a legal duty of care to protect public safety.
Remedial pruning had previously been carried out in an attempt to prolong the tree’s life, but repeated inspections—including specialist internal decay-detection surveys—confirmed that it could not be safely retained.
Because the tree stands within a Conservation Area, formal consent is required before any work can take place.
The council said: “An application has therefore been submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council, and no work will be carried out until that process has been determined.”
A dedicated webpage has been created to keep residents informed about the decision and next steps.
The council said: “We’ve created a dedicated webpage where you can find out more about the tree, the reasons behind this decision and what happens next.”
The singer was due to perform at the wedding of Apple founder Steve Jobs’ daughter, who married a Team GB Olympian last July.
Eve Jobs, the youngest of the Tech icon’s four children, wedded gold-medal-winning equestrian Harry Charles.
According to the Daily Mail, the event was the “wedding of the summer” and took place on the edge of the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire at Estelle Manor.
READ MORE: Nigella Lawson ‘not impressed’ with Paul Hollywood’s Bake Off helicopter
This occurred one year on from the pair confirming their relationship after they were first spotted in public at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In a bombshell report by national newspapers, Sir Elton is to perform at the event for a rumoured fee of £1m.
Photographs of a stage being constructed at the venue have been rumoured to be where the 79-year-old performed.
Also on the guest list were Princess Beatrice and former US Vice President Kamala Harris.
READ MORE: Tom Hiddleston gives fans major update on Night Manager season 3
A model and show jumper herself, 28-year-old Eve is friends with Jennifer and Phoebe Gates.
The pair are the daughters of Microsoft founder Bill Gates and were rumoured to have attended the ceremony.
A self-described ‘horse girl’, Eve started riding when she was just six years old and was cheering on her fiancé in Paris last year.
Posting at the time on the social media platform Instagram, she said: “Team Gold. Beyond proud of you my love.”
Thames Water announced on Tuesday (July 21) that a temporary ban would start at 12.01am today (Thursday, July 23).
This was due to an exceptionally dry spring, three official heatwaves, record‑breaking temperatures and prolonged high demand.
Then, just hours before the action was set to come into place, a major water pipe burst in Banbury yesterday morning (Wednesday, July 22).
READ MORE: Oxford congestion charge could stay as Botley Road reopening delayed
Locals shared photographs and concerns online, with a large water spray pictured coming from the ground on Dukes Meadow Drive.
Banbury residents also added that this had been the case for hours with no sign of this changing anytime soon.
The issue is still persisting today (Thursday, July 22) and Thames Water has issued a statement in response to the problem.
A spokesperson for the company said: “We are working on this and we have a permit to complete the fix by tomorrow, all being well.”
The reduction announced by Downing Street today (Thursday, July 23) is part of a bid to focus on cutting costs for the public and communities.
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said: “Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK.” He added: “We are determined to bring hope back, give businesses the support they need and generate growth in every postcode.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham had previously promised to raise taxes on out-of-town warehouses for online giants such as Amazon to help fund cuts for hospitality businesses.
The 20 per cent reduction is expected to save the average pub around £1,100 per year and will apply to nearly 32,000 businesses across England. The government has said that the very largest live music venues will be excluded from the scheme.
The changes will be funded through a review of reliefs for businesses that “do not make a positive contribution to local communities” such as vape shops.
A crackdown on online marketplaces that do not comply with tax obligations will also fund the scheme.
Mr Burnham said: “What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.”
Further business rates reform, including changes to small business rates relief, is expected to be outlined at the Budget.
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoJune heatwave would be ‘virtually impossible’ in 1976
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoStage Watch: ‘I think we need much more laughter in the world’ says John Cleese
-
Business & Technology1 week agoHSBC UK & Visa test AI shopping with live payments
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoWhat’s on in Oxford & Oxfordshire this July
-
Business & Technology1 week agoValarian lands USD $50 million backing for sovereign AI
-
Oxford News2 weeks agoNew romantasy bookshop attracts queues of customers
-
Oxford Events3 weeks agoOxford’s traffic filters questions answered
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoStage Watch: Lord of the Dance celebrating 30 years with spectacular return to Oxford