The £950,000 project at Wantage Community Hospital on Garston Lane is now expected to be finished later in 2026 due to “unforeseen issues” says Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The refurbishment of the ground floor of the hospital will allow for a wider range of health and care services to be accommodated at the hospital as well as an increase in clinic space by eight rooms.

Works began last Autumn and are being progressed in phases, the trust confirmed on March 31, with the first of those already complete.

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A spokesperson said: “The first phase of refurbishment works at Wantage Community Hospital is now complete with phase two well underway as part of a large programme of phased works to improve the ground floor space to provide more community-based health and care services from the building. 

“The programme is being completed in phases to keep as many existing services open at the hospital as possible.

Wantage Community Hospital (Image: Oxford Health)

“The overall programme is slightly behind due to unforeseen issues found with the building at the commencement of the first phase that have now been resolved.

“As a result, we now expect the overall refurbishment work to complete later this year.”

Almost £950,000 has been allocated to the project, money taken from the community infrastructure levy healthcare allocation, which is collected from new building developments.

Didcot and Wantage MP Olly Glover (Image: Contributed)

The trust confirmed that its works had not gone over-budget yet as infrastructure projects and households alike face spiralling energy costs due to the ongoing war in Iran.

“The community infrastructure levy funding secured for the programme continues to be held and drawn down as the work progresses,” the spokesperson said.

The news that Wantage Community Hospital was to be refurbished was welcomed by local leaders when announced last autumn.

Wantage Hospital (Image: Ed Nix)

Emma Leaver, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s interim chief operating officer for community health services, dentistry and primary care, said: “The works will not only make the hospital fit for purpose, it will allow us to increase the overall number of services offered to local people and improve access for patients, carers and their families.

“Some of the new services coming to the community hospital will include a dedicated area for children and adolescent mental health services – something that local people wanted to see included.”

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MP for Wantage and Didcot, Olly Glover, was also pleased by the news, calling it “crucial”, but said that more funding for infrastructure is needed.

The Liberal Democrat said: “Using developer contributions to help fund health, leisure, education infrastructure, or projects like a new station at Grove, is the right approach.

“However, government investment is also needed to ensure local facilities are provided ahead of new homes to ensure sufficient infrastructure to meet community needs.”

They organised a jumble sale to raise money and help birds and animals owned by other families.

The two 12-year-olds went round to friends to collect jumble and cast-offs and ‘opened shop’ at Deborah’s home in Snowdon Mede, off Headley Way, at Headington, Oxford.

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They were determined to collect as much money as they could for the RSPCA.

They typed out notices, posted them through doors, stuck one in a local shop and told all their friends.

The forthcoming sale also became a hot topic at their schools – Deborah was a pupil at Northway School and Rosalind went to Cheney School.

There was a steady stream of customers when they unveiled all their goodies one Saturday morning.

As you can see, Oxford Mail photographer Johnny Johnson was also there to take pictures.

Anything left over at the end of the day was given to the RSPCA for sale in its shops and other outlets.

The girls later handed over the proceeds of their efforts – the grand total of £5 1s 4d – it was the 1960s.

Both had an assortment of pets at home – Deborah looked after a cat, dog and tortoise and Rosalind had a tortoise, two fish, a budgerigar and four rabbits.

Johnny Johnson’s greatest moment of fame in his long career as an Oxford Mail photographer came when he shot a wolf.

It was one of three that escaped from Oxford Zoo at Kidlington in 1937.

Two were quickly rounded up and killed, but the third roamed the countryside for days, causing panic in the community.

A man in his 50s was reported as being injured at The Slade just before 1pm today.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that he was taken to hospital and that a 48-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.

An eyewitness said they spotted around seven police cars, one critical care unit and an ambulance in the area near the junction with Wood Farm Road.

Police also said that a scene watch was in place while investigations continue and have appealed to the public for information which may assist them.

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The Slade (Image: Google Street View)

A police spokesman said: “The force was contacted by the ambulance service at 12.55pm to report a man with injuries in The Slade.

“The man in his 50s has been taken to hospital.

“A 48-year-old man from Oxford has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody.

“We believe this was an isolated incident and there is no wider threat to the community.

“There is a scene watch in place to enable our officers to carry out a thorough investigation.

“If anyone has any information or footage from the area and has not already spoken to the force then please speak to an officer at the scene, call 101, or leave any information via our website, quoting the investigation reference number 43260175531.”