Oxford News
Didcot: ‘global problems’ could see £400M spend on crossing
Council place and environment boss, Cllr Judy Roberts, confirmed that the local authority will apply to Homes England’s £79.6 million discretionary fund for the Didcot to Culham river crossing, which already has £332.538 million secured.
The new dual-carriageway bridge will connect the A4130 at Didcot with the A415 at Culham and includes a bridge over the Thames, over a rail siding and connections to Appleford and Sutton Courtney villages via the B4106 with segregated walking and cycling facilities.
This is one of three “major infrastructure projects” in the Didcot Garden Town Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF1) programme.
It aims to “relieve congestion, and support the delivery of over 12,655 new homes and significant employment growth across the Science Vale”.
At a meeting on Friday (May 1), Mrs Roberts explained: “They will give us this money, but we would have to apply for it to justify it.
“I think, given the global problems at the moment, that that is quite a good justification.”
She added: “We have had informal words that they are probably happy to do that. ”
At that meeting, she also greenlit the awarding of a construction contract for the building of the crossing’s “central span”, which has an estimated cost of around £151 million.
The final decision on the contract lies with the council’s director of environment and highways.
The meeting heard concerns from an Appleford-on-Thames parish councillor, Greg O’Broin, who had predicted costs could rise above £400 million in August 2025.
The council previously campaigned against the HIF1 programme, but now accepts that planning permission has been given and Mr O’Broin attended to “register concerns” of the “community most affected by this scheme”.
He has described the crossing as a “fly-over” for the village, “with loss of trees, landscape damage, traffic noise and now significant disruption to the lives of persons during construction.”
He called the risk of overrun with the project “real”, which was a concern due to the Homes England funding ending in March 2028.
The parish council has called for greater transparency on costs, a rethink on an “unacceptable” eight-month road closure, and for traffic light infrastructure to combat “danger at a junction” of the B4016 with the crossing to help protect village children.
He said: “The council must reduce the closure period”
At the meeting, council officers agreed to share more information on estimated costs.
Mrs Roberts agreed to look into potential traffic lights in the scheme’s design and said she believes that the crossing will provide traffic relief for villages and “ancient” bridges in the area.
She also hopes that the project will run under budget.
Young Sherlock, a British mystery television series, will see Hero Fiennes Tiffin return as the titular character.
A Georgian Square in Bristol is being transformed back to the Victorian era ‘Oxford’ ahead of the filming of the second series.
The series, first aired in March this year, is inspired by Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes book series.
It was created by Matthew Parkhill and developed by Peter Harness and Guy Ritchie, who also directed two episodes.
Other main cast members returning include Dónal Finn (James Moriarty), Natascha McElhone, Max Irons, and Holly Cattle, who play Sherlock’s family members.
The series synopsis reveals: “As a 19-year-old at Oxford University, Sherlock Holmes is not yet the master detective he grows up to be.
READ MORE: £3million innovative farm which ‘suprised’ Jeremy Clarkson closes
“He is raw and unfiltered, and he lacks discipline.
“A murder at Oxford puts Holmes’s freedom at risk, and he sets out to solve his first murder mystery that leads him to a global-level conspiracy.”
Young Sherlock received praise upon its release, and its 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes reflects that.
The critics’ consensus on the reviewing platform reads: “Young Sherlock doesn’t aim to recreate Conan Doyle’s work; rather, it takes pride in its liberal adaptation, delivering Guy Ritchie’s signature blend of precise entertainment, sly style, and ingratiating characters.”
One critic said: “Prime Video’s Young Sherlock is sensational.
“The series, which was adapted by Matthew Parkhill, remixes the beloved figure to deliver all the traits fans know and love — with more than one twist.”
Young Sherlock is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.
Traffic was halted on the major trunk motorway at about midday on Friday, August 7, because of a serious collision.
Cars were stopped and diverted before junction 10 with Ardley heading northbound on the motorway, before junction 11 with Banbury, and drivers travelling southbound were also stopped to allow an air ambulance to land.
READ MORE: M40 closed with two hour delays due to ‘serious’ crash
Cars experienced delays in excess of two hours on the northbound approach, with six miles of congestion reported, as well as significant delays on the A34 towards the Wendlebury Interchange and junction with the M40.
Thames Valley Police has been approached for more information on what happened but has not provided a response.
The motorway had reopened by about 3pm but residual delays remained for much of the afternoon.
Thames Valley Police’s rural crime taskforce, which frequently patrols the countryside across the north of Oxfordshire, have now revealed its officers were the first on the scene.
A spokesperson said they provided ‘an immediate response and support to those invovled’ and it is understood other emergency responders subsequently attended the scene.
READ MORE: Mum jailed after teen girl beat up man, 50, hours before his death
The officers also dealt with a stolen car in Kidlington and seized a van with no insurance whose driver had no licence.
In Chieveley, the taskforce arrested a driver on suspicion of possession of class A and class B drugs and driving whilst unfit through drugs, without a licence and without insurance.
It was described as a ‘proactive day highlighting the wide range of incidents Rural Crime Taskforce officers respond to across the force area’ by the team.
Environmental charity Earth Trust shared a video of the remnants of a barbecue still smouldering and surrounded by litter and burnt wood at historic chalk beech mounds the Wittenham Clumps in South Oxfordshire.
The fire, discovered on Friday, August 8, came just a day after the charity warned people about the dangers of barbecues at the green space during the extreme drought the county is facing, as ‘a single spark could develop into a wildfire’.
READ MORE: Mum jailed after teen girl beat up man, 50, hours before his death
A spokesperson for Earth Trust said: “The reality is that one small fire could easily burn through the whole of the Clumps and Bessie’s Field grasslands.
“It could spread into the hedgerows, damage the woodlands, and cause real, lasting harm to the archaeology of Castle Hill.
“A disposable BBQ might look harmless. A few glowing embers might seem like nothing. But in dry grassland, that is all it takes.
READ MORE: Police taskforce ‘first on scene’ of crash which closed M40
“Please do not bring BBQs or light fires at the Clumps or any of our nature reserves. Take your litter home. Leave no trace.
“If you see vegetation on fire, no matter how small, call 999 immediately and ask for the fire service. Do not put yourself at risk.”
People are asked to bring picnics instead, take all litter home, leave no trace on the landscape and report any signs of fire immediately to protect the iconic landscape.
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