Crime & Safety
Oxford congestion charge plan to spend £5M confirmed
On Tuesday, May 19, a decision was made on how to spend the £5.2 million anticipated income from the 10-month scheme.
The council is set to extend free park and ride (P&R) ahead of a transition to a £3 combined parking and bus ticket “as soon as practically possible” after June 1.
This new P&R pricing would be a 50p price increase on its current offer.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Luke Marion, managing director of the Oxford Bus Company, said he felt the price increase is “not necessary at this time” but said the company would accept it and “welcomed” the planned spending plan.
The £3 combined tickets are intended to cover 16 hours of parking and return bus travel for up to five people.
Subsidising this for 7.5 months between August 16 and March 31 is anticipated to cost over £1.4 million.
Plans for free Park and Ride and free or discounted bus travel for NHS employees (all year) as well as state and private school employees (term-time only) is “subject to further discussion with NHS trusts, schools and Oxford City Council”.
Other spending options were considered by council officers, including “universal city or countywide fare reductions were considered instead of the park and ride offers”.
The cabinet report stated these are “not feasible due to the very high costs”.
It suggested a countywide £2 fare cap could cost £9 million per year and a £2.50 cap £5.75 million.
The cost of a £1 single fare cap within the Oxford SmartZone was estimated as £15.5 million per year.
The report adds: “Much smaller universal fare discounts could be offered within the available budget, but are considered unlikely to significantly increase bus use.”
The decision comes a week after the resignation of the council’s former transport boss, Andrew Gant.
Some business groups had hoped for a U-turn in the policy from his replacement, Rebekah Fletcher.
This currently looks unlikely, and several councillors paid tribute to Mr Gant during the cabinet meeting, including Sean Gaul and Gareth Epps (both Lib Dems).
Ms Fletcher noted that the plans approved at the cabinet meeting had been proposed before she took the job.
She said: “The proposals align with local transport policy.
“It’s generally positive in terms of equality and climate impacts.
“Overall these proposals have been shaped by the consultation, citizens assembly and the need to meet both equality and climate objectives.”
The congestion charge is set to become traffic filters after the reopening of Botley Road in August as part of the council’s local transport and connectivity plan.
The Teddies Select XI took on Chelsea FC Soccer Schools players at the Premier League club’s Surrey training ground on May 15.
The fixture marks the first community match in the partnership between St Edward’s School in Woodstock Road and Chelsea FC, which was announced earlier this year.
READ MORE: Oxford pupils meet Reece James as Chelsea partnership begins
As well as the independent school increasing its boys’ and girls’ teams, the partnership has seen the Teddies Select XI assembled, a squad of 11- and 12-year-old players drawn from local state schools, clubs and independent schools in the local area.
There are three teams in this Teddies Select cohort – U11 Boys, U11 Girls and U12 Boys – with each team playing a competitive match on professional-grade pitches at Chelsea’s training ground, facing a side from the Soccer Schools department’s Player Development Programme.
The match is intended to be the first of many, establishing a regular fixture that connects young players in Oxfordshire with the leading football club.
Steve Shipp, football projects manager at Chelsea FC, said: “We want to give people from the Oxfordshire area the Chelsea experience, and we couldn’t have done that without Teddies.
“Though our partnership with the school, we are hoping to develop our work and engage with other schools in the local area.”
The warden (head) of St Edward’s termed the partnership “transformational”.
“We are delighted,” said Alistair Chirnside, “to be able to share the expertise with young footballers beyond our school gates in a community programme as part of the partnership”.
Meanwhile dad of Year 7 Chipping Norton School pupil, Toby, called it a “brilliant experience”.
Alex Ward said: “The standard of football on the pitches is high and the Chelsea coaches really have the kids engaged, working hard on a range of skills and having lots of fun.”
Rachel Henshilwood, director of development and commercial partnerships, added that a key aim in the partnership was to bring world-class expertise and coaching to the Oxfordshire community.
She added: “The Teddies Select XI project really embodies those aims, and we look forward to cheering them on as a flagship team for the partnership.
READ MORE: Oxford private school reveals major expansion programme
“We think all players will benefit from this unique experience working together as one team.”
Jen Law, director of sport, said that the popularity of football at Teddies has increased.
She added: “With Chelsea coaches working alongside our own Football Professional, pupils gain access to professional coaching of the highest standard, tailored programmes designed to improve skill development, and pathways that build resilience, leadership and teamwork on and off the field.”
The newly refurbished building at West Witney is due to be handed over to West Witney Sports and Social Club on Friday, June 5.
The refurbishment to West Witney Sports and Social Club is the largest refurbishment of this site in over a generation.
The new facility will include new changing rooms, an energy efficient exterior, an updated bar and social rooms, as well as a new lift to support those with disability issues.
The refurbishment was originally due to be completed on Friday, May 22.
Councillor Thomas Ashby, for Witney West and Ducklington, said: “This marks the most significant upgrade to the facility in over a generation, set to benefit thousands of people across Witney and the surrounding communities.
“Designed for everyone: from local residents to sports enthusiasts, this project is a major win for both the town and grassroots sport.
“Looking ahead, the town council can now focus on planning the new 3G pitch, which will ensure activities can continue year-round, even through the autumn and winter.
“A sincere thank you goes out to the community and the town council staff whose hard work brought this project to fruition.”
West Witney is home to football teams, cricket, tennis, park run, air rifle shooting and bowls.
Mansfield College wants to demolish its John Marsh Building and replace it with a new four-storey building with students’ rooms, academic spaces, a new porter’s lodge and a junior common room (JCR).
The plans were discussed at the Oxford City Council planning committee meeting on Tuesday, May 26.
There were no speakers against the proposals at the meeting, and it was unanimously approved.
Under the proposals, 104 bedrooms are to be demolished, and the new building would provide 174 bedrooms, meaning a net gain of 70 bedrooms.
Other improvements include adding a three-storey extension with a lift to the Champney’s building, allowing people with mobility issues to access the library by lift, while the bomb shelter at the side of the building would also be removed.
A two-storey mews building for plant and operational space would also be built.
There would also be a ‘pocket park’ where the enclosed parking area is, along with improved cycle parking and a reduction in car parking.
Thames Valley Police shared fears for “security of staff and students” due to three access points.
The force questioned “how they would be managed, with a lack of security and surveillance of the northern wedge bike store?”.
There was also a highways objection made.
Oxford Preservation Trust added concerns about the “scale and bulk of the replacement building”.
But, it also stated: “Pleased to see that the WW2 history of the college will be reflected in the proposed interpretation plaque – and that the outline of the bomb shelters will be marked and support the reinstatement of Champney’s corridor.”
Mansfield College said in its planning statement that the development “is not aimed at increasing student intake but simply to provide sufficient accommodation to meet its current needs”.
It rents 10 private properties with 89 rooms, with the College stating this would allow them to release these homes back into the market.
It added that the existing John Marsh Building, which was built in 1962, has poor Wi-Fi connection and is not well-insulated.
Helen Mountfield KC, principal of Mansfield College, said: “It is the most significant transformation of the College estate since it moved to central Oxford from Birmingham 140 years ago, and an important moment for Mansfield.
“The project will enable us to welcome more students to live and learn on site, create beautiful new spaces for study and community life, and build a more sustainable and accessible College for the future.
“Crucially, it allows us to do all of this while respecting and enhancing the historic character that makes Mansfield so special.”
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