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Disruption as Oxfordshire road bridge closing for 10 weeks

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Oxfordshire County Council has announced that from September 28 to November 20 Islip Bridge will be shut to all motor vehicles.

A signed diversion route will be in place, although pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained at all times.

READ MORE: Book of condolence launched for man found dead in Oxford River Thames

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways construction and repair, said: “The work is needed because the bridge has deteriorated due to higher traffic volumes, including heavier vehicles.

“Action is required to protect the bridge and ensure safe use for everyone.

“We appreciate that the scheme is likely to cause significant disruption, but we will endeavour to complete the work as safely and quickly as possible.”

Islip Bridge will be closed for 10 weeks (Image: OCC)

The first phase from September 21 to September 25 will involve temporary traffic signals for preparation works before the full closure goes ahead.

The work will include the installation of permanent three-way traffic signals controlling vehicle movements across Islip Bridge and the narrowing of the carriageway to three metres to protect the bridge structure.

A new 1.5 metre-wide footway on the west side of the bridge will be installed as will traffic calming on the southern approach.

Islip Bridge will be closed for 10 weeks (Image: OCC)

Drainage repairs, resurfacing, footway improvements and new road markings will also be carried out, while Mill Street will be made one-way in advance of the scheme.

Staff will be present at either end of the bridge during the closure to manage safety and provide assistance.

READ MORE: Man guilty after burglary spree saw cocktail bar and ice cream parlour targeted

Access to nearby properties and businesses will be accommodated where possible, although short delays may occur.

In addition during the bridge closure, the H5 bus service between Bicester and the John Radcliffe Hospital will serve Islip from the north and then follow the diversion via Kidlington Road, Bicester Road, A40, to Barton and vice versa. 

A shuttle service will operate between Barton and the bus stop on the south side of the bridge.





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Oxford News

Luxury Cotswolds hotel poaches TV chef from world’s best

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HYLL has named David Kelman as its new executive chef, bringing an experienced culinary figure to oversee the food offering at the recently opened 17th-century manor house hotel in Charingworth, near Chipping Campden.

Mr Kelman joins the business from Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire, which was recently named as one of the world’s best hotels.

He arrives with more than 20 years of experience working at a range of well-known country house hotels and hospitality venues across the UK.

READ MORE: Broadchurch star selling £1.8m ‘magical’ Cotswolds mill house after 60 years

David Kelman has been appointed executive chef at HYLL. (Image: Jake Balston)

Originally from North Wales, he has held senior roles at Bodysgallen Hall, Lower Slaughter Manor, Wyck Hill House, Ellenborough Park, Cowley Manor, Thyme and Burford Garden Company.

He is perhaps best known for his time as executive head chef at Ellenborough Park in Cheltenham, where the Beaufort Dining Room achieved three AA Rosettes.

During his tenure, he also won several industry awards, including Best Chef at the Taste of Gloucestershire Awards and Chef of the Year at the Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards.

A recognised figure within the hospitality sector, Mr Kelman represented Wales on BBC programme Great British Menu in 2014.

READ MORE: Inbetweeners star spotted at luxury hotel at edge of Cotswolds

HYLL in the Cotswolds. (Image: Newsquest)

He has cooked for members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II and the then Prince of Wales.

He has also competed internationally as part of the Welsh National Culinary Team.

At HYLL, which welcomed its first guests in September 2025, Mr Kelman will lead the hotel’s food operation, creating menus focused on seasonal ingredients and produce sourced from the Cotswolds and neighbouring counties.

His cooking philosophy places a strong emphasis on high-quality ingredients, close partnerships with local suppliers and delivering dining experiences inspired by the surrounding area.

The appointment strengthens HYLL’s leadership team as the hotel continues to build its reputation within the Cotswolds hospitality sector.





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Clarkson’s Farm star quits show and buys £1.7m farm

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The Daily Mail has revealed that Harriet Cowan – who quickly became a fan favourite during her brief spell on the Amazon Prime series – has purchased a new farm.

The 25-year-old from Derbyshire joined the cast in the fourth season of Clarkson’s Farm, which was released on Prime Video across May and June last year.

She temporarily stood in for long-time cast member Kaleb Cooper as he toured, helping Jeremy Clarkson at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson breaks silence on BBC Top Gear reboot and reveals secret

She left midway through the series once her help was no longer needed, but became popular with viewers despite her short time on screen.

Now it seems she’s branching out on her own at her new 100-acre property in rural Derbyshire, where – the Daily Mail says – she is planning on setting up a home with fellow farmer boyfriend James Booth.

The premises are near to her family farm, where she learned her trade, with the paper saying it was on the market for £1,765,000.

Its previous owner sadly died last year, leading to the sale, which is reportedly almost complete.

READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan ‘to splash £8k a month on Cotswolds rental’

Since her time on Clarkson’s Farm, Ms Cowan has seen her media presence grow so that she now has millions of followers across several platforms.

Recently, she told The Telegraph that some viewers have been asking for her hand in marriage.

She said: “I must get about a thousand DMs a day and probably 50 per cent are just men being like, ‘I wish I could marry you.’ But it’s all fun and games.

“The other 50 per cent are young girls seeing me farming and thinking, ‘I’d like to do what she does.’ And they’re who I do it for.”





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Oxford students in debt as student loan fails to cover rent

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Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University students can apply for maintenance loans yearly to cover their rent.

However, a new analysis has revealed that even the maximum loans cannot cover students living in Oxford.

The analysis which covered 32 university cities, revealed Oxford is one of 17 where the maintenance loan does not cover the average rent.

Instead, students living in Oxford are £113 short each week.

Cities leaving students even worse off is Bristol, Guildford, Bath and London.

Oxford Uni loses top spot in rankings but Brookes climbs upOxford is one of the most expensive university cities to pay rent in (Image: Supplied)

Meanwhile, the cities leaving students with extra money leftover after paying their rent is Sheffield, Plymouth, Swansea and Lincoln.

The maximum means-tested loan is set at two rates: £14,135 for students living away from home in London, and £10,830 everywhere else.

Average weekly rents on the My Student Halls platform range from £138 in Sheffield to £427 in London, a spread of more than three times.

A standard UK undergraduate maintenance loan is calculated to cover a 30 to 39-week academic year, depending on your course and year of study.

My Student Halls founder, Dan Roberts, has advised students to check the contract lengths when booking if they want to save money.

He said: “Half the contracts on our platform are 51-week lets, not the 44 weeks people assume, so students are paying rent through the summer whether they are living there or not. On a £300 room, that is over £2,000 of difference, and it rarely gets mentioned when people compare headline weekly prices.

“If your loan is your main income, look for properties with 44/45 weeks in the contract. If you’re not planning on spending your time there in the summer, this will save you a LOT of money in the long run.”





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