Oxford News
Oxford congestion charge ‘delivering positive benefits’
It’s been five months since the £5 daily fee to drive through six points into the city were introduced ahead of traffic filters after the Botley Road scheme is finally completed.
And data from Oxford Bus Company suggests passenger numbers are up by around eight per cent year on year.
Oxfordshire County Council data also indicates faster journeys by bus, increased park and ride use and improvement to city centre traffic.
However, some of the outer roads of the city centre are showing more traffic.
Hannah Kirby, co-chair of CoHSAT, has argued that because more people are walking, cycling or taking the bus into the city centre, footfall is up too.
She said: “The temporary congestion charge continues to deliver positive results, allowing buses to move quicker and making the roads safer for people who walk and cycle.
READ MORE: Judge rules ‘no chance of success’ in fight against congestion charge
“Because so many more people walk, cycle or bus to the centre than drive, it is no wonder that Oxford’s footfall is up, compared to other places in the UK which are suffering.
“Many of us take the active option because we enjoy the freedom, but the sheer economy of walking, cycling, or Oxford’s discount bus fares make them very good options against rising fuel prices as well.”
Legal challenges have been launched against the county council for the congestion charge by Open Roads for Oxford Ltd.
On Wednesday, the High Court ruled that the arguments put forward would have ‘no chance of success’ in ruling the congestion charge was unlawful.
Open Roads for Oxford Ltd said in response: “The fight is not over.”
Siobhann Mansel-Playdell from Oxfordshire Liveable Streets said: “This ruling is affirmation of the strong groundwork that Oxfordshire County Council have put into the congestion charge scheme.
“The scheme is already providing congestion and health benefits, and a fairer transport system that relies less on expensive private cars.
“We’d like to see that extended with some of the funding targeted to address inequalities, for example extending free child travel to all bus services, and improving access low-cost active travel by improving pavements, cycle parking and micromobility availability across the city and beyond.
“These initiatives will help the most financially disadvantaged in difficult economic times. ”
Labour has called for discounted bus travel from the income received by the congestion charge, which is currently funding a free bus ride on the park and ride.
City councillor Anna Railton argues that Oxford residents are not actually benefiting from the congestion charge as people living in oxford have no need to use the park and ride.
But Lib Dem transport chief Andrew Gant said it is benefiting Oxford people with faster journeys, improved bus services, cleaner air, reduced traffic and safer streets.
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.”
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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.
We’ve made a gallery of pictures showing all the Oxfordshire spots which have been used for TV and film sets over the years.
Some of the biggest productions filmed here in Oxfordshire include Spectre in the James Bond franchise, which transformed Blenheim Palace in Woodstock into the Palazzo Cardenza in Rome.
READ MORE: Abandoned Oxfordshire home used as drugs den shut down
Many period dramas were also created in the county, like the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, which was partly filmed at Chastleton House in the Cotswolds.
Cotswolds villages have been repeatedly transformed and used as filming locations for their historical appeal, like the villages of Brill, Broadwell and Castle Combe.
Find all the pictures in this archive gallery of historic Oxfordshire filming locations here.
Three Year 10 pupils from Aureus School in Didcot travelled to London for the Royal Navy International Women’s Day event, held on HMS President during Careers Week and designed to showcase opportunities within the Royal Navy and beyond.
Students Antonia Pop, Ellie Swan and Tilly Mulvey are all taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
Ellie Swan said: “It was fantastic to see the possible career paths within the Navy.”
Rob Hayden, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award manager at Aureus School, accompanied the students to the event.
He said: “During the day, students had talks from individuals within the Navy and from guest speakers, including Hannah Botterman, who last year won both the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations with England.”
He said: “Students also had the chance to network with the speakers and other attendees.
“The event showed the students a wide range of inspirational females within the Navy and other careers.”
Aureus School, part of the GLF Schools multi-academy trust, says its vision is focused on ‘cultivating ambition’ and ‘high standards for all’.
Headteacher Kirsty Rogers says the Didcot-based co-educational comprehensive has undergone a ‘transformative journey’, creating a community where students feel a strong sense of belonging. She emphasises inclusivity, high expectations, and a broad curriculum that encourages ambition, resilience and respect, supported by dedicated staff and diverse extra-curricular opportunities.
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