At a meeting of Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet today (Tuesday, April 21), the local authority agreed to withdraw a proposal to remove the second fire engine at Thame’s station.

This was put forward based on low availability of crews and because the vehicle had been attending fewer than 20 incidents a year.

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In addition, Oxford’s existing Rewley Road Fire Station and its allocation of fire engines will remain as proposals for a new fire station north of the city are paused due to developer negotiations and the need for further engagement.

Finally, the specialist fire and rescue vehicle based at Kidlington fire station will remain in place.

These announcements follow a consultation between October 2025 and January this year on controversial fire service reforms in Oxfordshire which would have seen Henley, Eynsham and Woodstock fire stations close.

Protestors outside County Hall (Image: Esme Kenney)

Protests were held outside County Hall in Oxford and a number of senior figures, including Lucy Powell the deputy leader of the UK Labour Party, expressed their opposition to them.

In a letter last week to Liz Leffman, leader of the county council, Ms Powell said: “I would urge you to pause these cuts, engage with the Fire Brigades Union and the Government on alternative measures which protect jobs, and maintain the integrity of the fire service in Oxfordshire.”

Following today’s meeting of the council’s cabinet, Rob MacDougall, chief fire officer in Oxfordshire, thanked all those who had contributed to the consultation.

Chief fire officer Rob MacDougall (Image: Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service)

He said: “Building on that brilliant community support, today (April 21) Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved plans to work with communities to support recruitment at on-call stations, particularly in Henley, Woodstock and Eynsham.

“This is with the aim of increasing on-call firefighter numbers, so the fire engines are more often available for emergency callouts.”

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On-call firefighters are everyday people who balance their other jobs and commitments with being ready to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice.

Work will continue to identify how Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service can deliver its key objectives of improved first response times, increased daytime cover, stronger service resilience, and an increased amount of fire prevention work.

Further engagement with employees and the Fire Brigades Union will take place to help shape how proposals could work in practice.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for resources, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the consultation, from employees to residents, businesses and politicians.”

Staff at Delice, a popular deli and coffee spot in Witney, shared a photo of the visit on Facebook, hailing their “special visitor in Witney today” alongside a picture of the creator inside the shop.

Gymskin, whose real name Jack Smith, is a 32‑year‑old content creator from Essex who has rapidly become one of Britain’s most talked‑about online personalities.

This is thanks to his off‑the‑cuff humour, stream‑of‑consciousness rants and trademark “waheyyy” catchphrase.

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He first built a following with gym clips and social experiments before exploding on TikTok, Instagram and live‑streaming platform Kick.

Commentators have dubbed him “the most viral man in Britain”, noting his unusually positive message and willingness to laugh at himself in an online landscape often driven by drama and controversy.

Gymskin’s latest wave of fame has been driven in large part by his viral “follow that tune” moment.

In the original clip, filmed on one of his IRL livestreams, he is walking down a street at night when he hears music in the distance and suddenly tells his cameraman to “follow that tune”, before breaking into a short, shoulder‑dropping dance as he heads towards the sound.

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Fans clipped the phrase and dance, turning it into a TikTok and Reels trend where people use the audio to show off the songs that get them hyped or to recreate his walk and moves.

The track playing in the background is Madonna’s 1985 hit Into The Groove, which has since surged back into the UK charts off the back of the meme.

His stop in Witney came during a whirlwind few weeks that most recently saw him at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Sunday.

Gymskin watched on as Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash.

The warmer months act as a multiplier for fly populations, allowing them to breed and live free of cold, thus resulting in increasing numbers of flies across the UK.

Now that we’ve entered spring, you can expect to find them in your home.

There are practical measures you can take to deter house flies, such as thorough cleaning, which can get rid of breeding spots, and removing potential areas for flies to lay eggs, as they can reproduce very quickly.

Colette Toman, Interior Stylist at Make My Blinds has revealed 7 clever hacks to keep flies out of your home: 

How to stop flies coming in:

1 – Keep your windows and doors closed. The most obvious way for pesky insects and bugs to enter your home is through open windows and doors.

Keep these shut for a foolproof way to keep flies at bay. If you do need to open them, consider investing in fly screens to keep flies out. 

2 – Limit light. Insects are attracted to light, so if you do have your windows open, make sure your lights are turned off while it’s darker outside.

If this isn’t possible, make sure all blinds and curtains are closed to prevent moths and other flies from entering your home. 

3 – Keep your home clean. This may seem like common sense, but don’t forget to keep on top of cleaning and make sure to clean up any spills and crumbs immediately.

Flies are also attracted to moisture, so it’s also important to wipe up any spillages, even if it’s just water, and fix any leaks. 

4 – Avoid leaving dirty dishes out overnight. 

Flies are attracted to the smell of food, so make sure to wash your dishes right after you use them or pop them straight into the dishwasher. 

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5 – Keep food packets sealed. You might have forgotten about the open packet of cornflakes in the back of your kitchen cupboard – but the flies haven’t.

Flies can easily get into open packets and containers, so make sure to seal them tightly with lids or storage clips.

6 – Use essential oils. Some essential oils, such as peppermint oil and lemongrass oil, have a strong scent that can repel flies.

You can diffuse these oils in your home or apply them directly to surfaces.

7 – Keep blinds and curtains drawn.

On hotter days when we need inside air flow, blinds and curtains can help to keep flies out of your home by blocking their access to windows and doors.

They can also help to trap flies that are already inside your home. When choosing blinds or curtains, look for ones that are tightly woven and have a small mesh size. You can also add a fly screen to your blinds or curtains for added protection.