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Conservatives gain from Liberal Democrats in Vale byelection

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Lee Evans won took more than 45 per cent of the vote in the Stanford byelection on Thursday, March 26 with 666 votes.

Liberal Democrats came in second with 395 votes making up a 27.2 per cent of the share and Reform came in third with 261 votes (18 per cent).

Labour won just 14 votes to not even take one per cent of the voters backing, while the green took almost eight per cent (115 votes). Turnout was 43.4 per cent.

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Mr Evans, who was already a county councillor, said: “I am thrilled and honoured to have been elected as the new district councillor for the Stanford ward.

“I am really honoured by the trust placed in me and I’ll work hard to deliver for local residents on the district council.”

Conservative leader Liam Walker said: “I’m so pleased for Cllr Lee Evans who works so hard as a county Councillor and is now a district Councillor.

“I was out helping Lee this morning and it was clear the Lib Dems were worried. As they should be. They’re ruining Oxfordshire and residents are quite rightly not happy about it.

“Only Conservative councillors are standing up for the interests of residents and holding the Lib Dems to account. Change is coming.”





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Crime & Safety

Michael Caine’s £9m riverside manor unsold after a year

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The Grade II listed mansion near Wallingford was first listed in early June last year and since then a buyer has not been found.

Initially it was priced at £10m by agent Savills but in February the classic 17th-century English country home was pulled from the market and then relaunched in March at £1m less than its original listing.

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It is now priced at £9m.

Mr Caine lived there with his family from 1984 to 1999, with the legendary actor, who played Alfred in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol, selling the property in 2020.

At that time it was listed on the market for £6.95m.

Sir Michael Caine’s former mansion in Church Lane, North Stoke (Image: Savills)

Michael Caine

The former Oxfordshire home of Michael Caine has returned to the market for £9 millionSir Michael Caine’s former mansion in Church Lane, North Stoke (Image: Savills)

Its listing states: “Architecturally interesting, this Grade II listed 17th century, quintessentially English country house affords its future custodian a true Swallows and Amazons lifestyle.

“Marrying period charm with the convenience of 21st century living, Rectory Farm House provides the opportunity to entertain on a grand scale.

“It is a perfect country retreat for those seeking a private edge of village estate, hidden from view.”

The former Oxfordshire home of Michael Caine has returned to the market for £9 millionSir Michael Caine’s former mansion in Church Lane, North Stoke (Image: Savills)

With 600 feet of River Thames frontage, the six-bedroom mansion comes with a Moroccan-style jacuzzi, a sauna and a 100,000-litre swimming pool.

In addition, it has two kitchens, five bathrooms, a music room, a drawing room and sitting rooms.

It also has on the ground floor a utility room, gym, plant room, boot room and two lavatories.

Outside Sir Michael added extensively to the 17,000 sq ft property and planted many specimen trees in the grounds.

Sir Michael Caine’s former mansion in Church Lane, North Stoke (Image: Savills)

Property agent Victoria Knight, head of office at Savills in Henley, said: “Situated on the longest stretch of the Thames between locks, Rectory Farm House offers hours of hassle-free boating.

“Despite its 600 feet of frontage, the house cannot be seen from the river and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and grounds.

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“Beneath the formal lawns, waterside meadows are also a haven for all manner of wildlife, including otters, swans, kingfishers, hedgehogs, sparrowhawks, buzzards, rooks and deer.”

Outside, and included in the purchase, is a cottage equipped with a sitting room, kitchen, downstairs bedroom suite and mezzanine bedroom suite.

A three bay, timber clad garage provides an additional three car ports, a large machinery store, a log store and a first floor storage room.

In addition, there is a lodge that is presently used as staff accommodation.





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Ducati Monster found by Thames Valley Police in Oxfordshire

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The rural crime police found and recovered a red Ducati Monster in the Cane End area of south Oxfordshire, close to Reading.

According to officers, the bike was involved in an incident last month where it failed to stop for blue lights and made off in a “dangerous” manner having crashed into a police van.

It was found on Wednesday evening, May 13.

The Ducati Monster is a popular motorbike made by the Italian manufacturer since the early 1990s.

Some 350,000 Ducati Monsters have been produced since the model’s introduction in 1993, making it the best-selling and longest-running motorcycle in Ducati’s history.

Its often credited in the motorbike world as being the one that ‘saved Ducati’ due to its popularity and cheap development costs





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Cotswolds pub to reopen under new owners after shock closure

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The Rose & Crown in Ratley, a village new Banbury on the northern tip of the Cotswolds AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), shut down unexpectedly ahead of the festive period in December 2024, due to personal circumstances, according to the owners.

The village pub and restaurant, 10 miles north of Banbury, is now set to be reopened under new owners after more than a year on the market.

Rose & Crown pub Ratley near Banbury for sale March 2025The quintessential Cotswolds village pub is under new ownership (Image: Christie & Co)

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In a statement released to introduce themselves, new owners Dee and Norm Knight-Barrett said: “We wanted to reassure everyone that we intend to reopen The Rose & Crown as a traditional British ‘pie and pint’ pub.

“There is quite a bit of work to do internally in particular the cellar and kitchen.

Rose & Crown pub Ratley near Banbury for sale March 2025The Rose & Crown closed unexpectedly in December 2024 (Image: Christie & Co)

“We want to offer the best beers and pies that we can so we need to carry out some upgrades. We will keep you posted with regard to progress so please bear with us.

“We are looking forward to meeting you all and making lots of new friends.”

READ MORE: TV legend’s daughter selling £3.95m Oxfordshire mansion

Rose & Crown pub Ratley near Banbury for sale March 2025New owners said they intend to reopen The Rose & Crown as a ‘traditional pie and pint pub’ (Image: Christie & Co)

The new owners revealed the plans include theme nights, pizza, curry and barbecues, live music, a pool table and sports games, and has invited further suggestions from the village.

The property is a grade II listed, detached building which is believed to have operated as a pub for more than 250 years.

No opening date has yet been announced and works to renovate and refresh the venue are ongoing.





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