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Judge rules ‘no success’ for fight against congestion charge

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In October, Open Roads for Oxford Ltd said it would challenge Oxfordshire County Council‘s congestion charge in Oxford by way of judicial review.

But by January, High Court judge Mr Justice Johnson refused permission for the judicial review to go ahead.

Open Roads for Oxford Ltd then asked for that decision to be reconsidered at a short oral hearing, known as a renewal hearing.

This hearing took place on March 24 before Mr Justice Fordham.

Mr Justice Fordham (Image: Judicial Office, England & Wales)

He too has thrown out Open Roads for Oxford Ltd’s application and again refused permission for judicial review.

In his reasoning, Judge Johnson said that there is “not a viable claim for judicial review, on any of the grounds put forward” and added: “None of them has a realistic prospect of success.”

Open Roads for Oxford Ltd argued that the council’s decision to introduce the congestion charge was unlawful. The judge considered whether the challenge should be allowed to proceed to a full hearing.

READ MORE: New Oxford ‘no left turn’ camera at roundabout generates £600k in fines

The judge refused permission for the case to proceed. This means the legal challenge did not succeed at this stage, and the congestion charge remains in place.

Open Roads for Oxford Ltd alleged that the decision to introduce a congestion charge by Oxfordshire County Council was illegal.

(Left to right) Emily Scaysbrook, Paul Major and Anne Gwinnett, members of 'Open Roads for Oxford'(Left to right) Emily Scaysbrook, Paul Major and Anne Gwinnett, members of ‘Open Roads for Oxford’ (Image: Esme Kenney)

It alleged that the consultation was unlawful and that the equality impacts assessment had breached the public sector equality duty.

Judges Johnson and Fordham disagreed with this, both throwing out taking the case further.

Robin Tucker, of active travel group CoHSAT, said: “We are pleased that Justice Fordham has rejected Open Roads for Oxford Ltd request for a judicial review and the people of Oxford can continue to benefit from quicker travel and less polluted streets.

“Open Roads for Oxford Ltd has wasted over £40,000 pounds of its supporters’ money on a case that the judge described as having no realistic prospect of success.

“But more than that, they were promoting a return to congestion and chaos, and ignoring the benefits of congestion and pollution reductions for the 90 per cent of people who visit Oxford’s centre without using a private car.”

Open Roads for Oxford Ltd has been ordered to pay the costs incurred by the council defending this claim, capped at £10,000.

Open Roads for Oxford Ltd said in a statement: We are obviously hugely disappointed that the High Court refused permission, but we are pleased to have brought the case this far, and grateful to all those who supported us.

“We must be clear: the Court did not say the scheme is fair, or popular, or well evidenced.

“What it said – and all it said – is that the Council met the minimum legal threshold required to proceed.

“It has become clear through this challenge that this is a very low bar.

“Most strikingly, the Court recognised that 66% of respondents said there should be no charges at all, and it acknowledged “identifiable weaknesses” in the Council’s own Equality Impact Assessment (EIA).

“It has effectively confirmed that, in law, a council can consult, receive overwhelming opposition, and still press ahead – so long as it has ticked the required procedural boxes.

“That may be lawful, but it is not democratic accountability.

“And, with regard to the EIA, the Court’s conclusion is telling: flawed does not mean unlawful.

“Through this process we have forced greater transparency and clarified, beyond doubt, the limits of the law in holding a council to account.

“In light of that, we now move our focus elsewhere. The fight is not over.

“We will continue to challenge this – publicly, politically, and relentlessly – because Oxford deserves better than policies imposed in defiance of its residents.

“Change will come through the ‘court’ of public opinion, and, ultimately, at the ballot box.

“We encourage all eligible residents to vote in the city council election on May 7th. Though it is the County Council responsible for the decision to press ahead with this scheme, the City Council has allowed this to happen, and we must use every opportunity to voice our discontent with the status quo. The deadline to register to vote is April 20th.





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Oxford News

ITV axes series with I’m a Celeb’s GK Barry and Rev Coles

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GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles appeared on the 24th series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2024.

GK and Rev Coles “struck up the best of friendships” while on the ITV reality show, one they have continued outside the jungle.



ITV axes GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles series

The pair had begun work on a new ITV series themed around life and death.

Speaking to Attitude Magazine, GK said: “We are exploring walks of life from two different generations — one from a gay godly man and a gay ungodly woman.

“There are some depressing bits in there, but one thing about me is that I will make a joke about it.”

A pilot episode for the series was filmed last year.

However, the new series has now been axed by ITV, according to The Sun.

An insider said: “There were high hopes for the project because producers were excited by the dynamic between GK and Richard, not least because it seemed to amuse viewers.

“They enjoyed the idea of the wise older man interacting with the streetwise millennial as they explored some pretty deep subjects.

“But after provisional filming took place, it was decided not to proceed with it as a series — much to the disappointment of everyone involved.”

GK had previously said it had been a “dream” working with Rev Coles on the series.

On Instagram, she said: “Working with you has opened my eyes to worlds I’d never heard of or dreamt of before.

“Some of them have been nightmares, but some of them have been dreams — and today has been a dream.”

ITV has been contacted for comment.

Freeview channel axed 2 years after relaunch

Meanwhile, News UK’s live streaming opinion channel, Talk, has been axed as part of the latest Freeview update.

Talk originally broadcast as TalkTV on channel 237 from April 2022, with 24-hour news and opinion programming.

Its most high-profile programme was Piers Morgan Uncensored, which later moved to YouTube, though Channel 5 continues to broadcast highlight segments.

TalkTV was eventually relaunched as Talk, a visual radio stream, on Freeview channel 280 in April 2024.

The change came after the channel struggled to attract viewers and ran up losses for News UK, according to RXTV.

News UK still operates similar visual streams for TalkSport and Times Radio.

Were you looking forward to GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles’ new ITV series? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.





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Katy Perry forced to cancel gig ahead of Blenheim Festival

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The 41-year-old pop icon was due to perform at Werchter Boutique festival in Belgium last night, Saturday, June 28, when the event was unexpectedly cut short.

The festival’s committee decided to end the day’s performances early, at 9pm just after a set from Pitbull, due to a weather forecast of ‘severe thunderstorms from midnight onwards at the earliest’ and a government warning.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson’s pub staff ‘walk out after many problems’

Perry wrote on Instagram: “Sadly my set at Werchter Boutique tonight can’t happen due to a government mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns.

“I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice.

“I am just as unhappy as you are. Unfortunately this is beyond my control, but the safety of all 55,000 of you always comes first and foremost.”

The performance was due to mark the popstar’s return to the one-day event held in Belgium’s Festivalpark for the first time in more than 15 years.

READ MORE: Sara Cox in new venture as UK charity collapses with £430k owed

Perry added: “I am sorry I can’t change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can’t be together tonight. I was looking forward to being back after 17 years, I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again. I love you all, and please get home safe.”

It comes just a week before the star’s next scheduled festival appearance, at the brand-new Blenheim Festival in Wodostock, Oxfordshire, where she is due to perform on July 4.

The current forecast for that date is sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s.





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BBOWT shares tips for helping wild bees this summer

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CAN you imagine summer without the sight of bumblebees buzzing from flower to flower, or a summer lunch without juicy tomatoes or strawberries?

If we don’t help our wild bees, this could be a glimpse of the future.

Our bees are in trouble.

Bees pollinate flowers, but also many of our favourite food crops, equivalent to every third mouthful of food we eat.

But they’re losing the habitat and plants they need to survive.

In the countryside, 97 per cent of lowland meadow has already been lost and the dramatic decrease in suitable habitats isn’t just confined to rural areas.

Gardens used to act as ‘green corridors’ for wildlife to move around towns and cities, and into and out of urban areas, but are increasingly being paved over or even covered with fake grass – with no real plants at all.

Helping bees is easy though.

Anyone can take action to help wild bees whether you have a wall for vertical planting, window box, or back garden.

It’s easy to plant a bee haven and fun choosing between bee-friendly beauties like borage, foxglove and honeysuckle.

There are 15 million gardens in the UK.

Put together they cover an area that’s seven times the size of the Isle of Wight.

If we all made our gardens more bee-friendly it would have a huge impact on our wild bees.

So, what should you plant in your garden?

Bees need a supply of pollen and nectar throughout the year, from late winter/early spring when some emerge from their winter hibernation right through until the end of the year.

Plant a selection of perennials, such as bergamot, globe thistle and knapweeds, for pollen through the summer.

These will provide bees with food year after year.

Add a few annuals each year, such as borage, cornflower and sunflower for variety.

Later in the autumn, hebe and ivy provide food when summer plants have gone to seed.

Then make sure you’ve got a few winter-flowering crocuses and hellebores to help bees as they emerge on warmer winter or early spring days in need of food after their winter hibernation.

Did you know there are around 250 species of bee in the UK?

Just one species of bee, the honeybee, actually makes honey.

Then there are bumblebees, which are familiar to most of us, and many different kinds of solitary bee.

Solitary bees are fantastic pollinators for our garden plants.

They don’t live in colonies, but instead the females make their own nest without any ‘workers’ to help them.

Some make their nests in gaps in the walls of old buildings or dig holes in bare ground (look for small piles of earth with a tiny hole in the middle).

You can help some species of solitary bee in your garden by providing a ‘bee hotel’.

Cut lengths of old bamboo and tie together, or drill long holes in old pieces of wood.

Hang somewhere sunny and sheltered and, in time, the bees will move in.

The exposed cliffs at BBOWT’s Dry Sandford Pit nature reserve near Abingdon are a haven for many types of solitary bee, which burrow into the soft, sandy layers.

Look for the ‘honeycomb’ of tiny holes.

You may see the UK’s newest bumblebee in your garden – the tree bumblebee.

These were first recorded here in 2001 but they’ve now spread throughout much of England and Wales.

They have a distinctive ginger-coloured back (thorax) and black and white abdomen.

Some make their homes in old bird nest boxes as they prefer to nest above the ground.

Help ensure our bees’ survival by making your garden bee-friendly this summer.

You’ll be making a real difference to our bees and helping to ensure our summer strawberries are here to stay.

Find out more about bees and how to help them at bbowt.org.uk/different-kinds-bees.





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