Crime & Safety
Gypsy and Traveller site near Thame refused permission
South Oxfordshire District Council decided the ‘intentional unauthorised development’ of a 12-pitch Traveller site on land south-west of London Road near Tetsworth is not allowed to remain.
A retrospective planning application for the work, which had already taken place on the site, was submitted to the council last September.
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More than 120 objections were submitted to the council during the public consultation, with a further 24 submitted with a petition from Tetsworth Parish Council against its approval.
The ‘unauthorised’ development of the Gypsy and Traveller site near Tetsworth (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council)
Objections were also received from statutory consultees like the highway authority, flood authority, Environment Agency and Natural England and from several of the district council’s own departments.
Officers recommended the application be refused on the grounds of landscape, highways, flooding, contamination, noise and issues around biodiversity.
The application came after the district council had launched an enforcement investigation into the use of the land as a Gypsy and Traveller site without planning permission.
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This unauthorised development included the laying of hard standing, utility pipes and cables, the formation of an access road off the A40 and the use of the land as a residential caravan site.
A total of 12 mobile homes, 12 touring caravans and 12 utility rooms had been set up on the site, for use by 12 families.
Two previous applications for the same development were submitted and refused by the council in 2015 and 2018, and then considered at appeal over eight days at a public inquiry in 2019.
The planning inspector dismissed both appeals.
Crime & Safety
M40 speed camera: woman fined £415 for driving at 99mph
Anissa Martins, of Crescent Road, Oxford, was caught on the motorway between junctions nine and 10, near Bicester, on September 6 last year.
According to the court record, the 50-year-old was exceeding the 70mph speed limit by driving at 99mph.
READ MORE: 20mph limits ‘not being enforced properly’ in Oxfordshire
The court record did not specify the type of vehicle she was driving at the time of the offence.
Martins pleaded guilty when she appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court this month.
She was ordered to pay costs of £120, a victim surcharge of £166 and a fine of £415.
She was also handed six penalty points.
Crime & Safety
Junior Oxfordshire football team launches kit fundraiser
Witney Vikings Youth Football Club’s under 10 side is looking to raise £450 to replace worn-out equipment.
This includes a fresh set of footballs, pop-up goals for drills and small-sided games and new training equipment.
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A link to donate can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-our-under10s-take-their-game-outside
Mathew Clark, who organised the petition, said: “Witney Vikings Warriors U10s has been working incredibly hard throughout the winter in our indoor facility.
“As the weather warms up, we are desperate to get the kids outside onto the grass to enjoy the summer season.
“To make this transition, we need a bit of help.
“Our current equipment is showing its age; we do not have goals and to give these players the best experience.”
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The Witney Vikings Youth Football Club is described as a “family” of 46 men and women teams and groups, 750 players and 125 volunteers.
Last year it celebrated its 50th birthday and was named ‘Club of the Year’ at the 2025 Oxfordshire Grassroots Football Awards.
Mr Clark added that he was grateful for any donation that could be provided.
He said: “Every donation, no matter how small, goes directly toward equipment that keeps these kids active, smiling, and developing their skills.
“Thank you for your support.”
Crime & Safety
New Abingdon Monk statue to appear soon near A34 interchange
A wooden monk could be seen for many years at the roundabout on the Marcham Road where drivers can access Abingdon Tesco Extra and Fairacres Retail Park.
But last year the statue was removed after it rotted and only a small Buddha statue was left in its place.
READ MORE: Roundabout Buddha looking lonely
Now a new monk statue has been created by Manchester-based wood carver Mike Burgess, and it is expected to be lowered into place over the Easter weekend.
The return of a monk to the roundabout was the idea of the St Swithuns Lodge of Abingdon Freemasons.
Kenny Moore, a member of the lodge, who has lived in the town for decades, said it was his idea to commission an artist to provide a replacement monk.
He said: “An artist called Mike Burgess from Manchester has created the new monk and the statue is ready and waiting at the moment in Sydenhams’ yard.
“It’s more than 6ft tall, and is solid oak, weighing 600kg.
“The statue cost about £2,000 – the lodge donated some money and there were some individual donations.
“The new monk – it’s an abbot – will be lifted into place on the roundabout over the Easter weekend.”
The new monk statue for Abingdon (Image: Kenny Moore)
For drivers entering the town from the A34 Marcham Interchange, the monk will once again be one of the first things they see.
The first monk statue was installed as part of an advertising campaign in 2002 and became a popular landmark for drivers heading for the A34, or arriving back in town after a break.
The wooden monk was a prominent reminder of an important element of the town’s Christian history – the large abbey which existed until Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in 1536.
Abingdon town mayor Rawda Jehanli (Image: Abingdon town council)
Town mayor Rawda Jenhanli said she was delighted a monk statue was returning to the roundabout as it would bring the “feelgood factor” and would be a symbol of unity.
She added: “The monk has been missed – it was one of the first things I saw when I first came to Abingdon.
“I’m pleased this community group has funded the the new statue and worked so hard to make this happen.
“I will be there at the roundabout on the date they decide to unveil the new statue.”
Last year, Alastair Fear, whose popular Abingdon Blog has reached its 20th anniversary, revealed the original wooden monk’s “final resting place” to be Boxhill Walk Woods.
The rotting monk after it collapsed (Image: Alastair Fear)
The first monk statue was created for a Britain in Bloom project, commissioned by the town council and sponsored by the Abbey Press. People used to dress it up for festive occasions.
Last year it emerged that the town’s historic Abbey Buildings have won a £4m restoration grant from the National Lottery.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant is expected to cover a substantial part of the cost of a once-in-a-generation improvement project.
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