Oxford News
Lib Dem alliance expected to continue in West Oxfordshire
Following yesterday’s local elections, the current arrangement of the Lib Dems linking up with Labour and the Greens is expected to continue.
There were 16 wards being contested – a total of 16 out of 49 seats – with the election count held at Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney.
READ MORE: Control of Oxford City Council hangs in the balance
Vote counting started at about 10am today and all the results were in shortly after 1pm.
Council leader Andy Graham said he hoped the current arrangement would continue, and all parties are now expected to discuss the leadership of the council, with an official announcement next week.
Mr Graham said: “We have no reason to believe that the current arrangement with Labour and the Greens will not continue.
“This is what our residents want – they have had enough of the noise and rhetoric of national politics and want local outcomes to be delivered.”
Mr Graham added that he hoped to continue as leader of the council, once this had been approved by the Lib Dem group and the authority.
Following Thursday’s election, there are now 20 Liberal Democrat councillors, 16 Conservative, eight Labour, four Green Party and one Reform UK.
Prior to the election, there were 21 Liberal Democrat councillors, 13 Conservatives, 10 Labour, four Green, and one Reform UK.
Of the 16 seats up for election this time round – about a third of the council – seven were won by the Liberal Democrats, seven by the Conservatives, one by Reform UK, and one Green Party.
Mr Graham added: “We have improved services and voters want us to come up with creative solutions.
“Council offices were not being used at Wood Green and now the space is being used for businesses and there is a community cafe on site, so business and the community has been brought together.”
Mr Graham said he was pleased that a major project to upgrade Witney High Street, led by the county council, was getting under way.
The project will enhance the town centre with wider footpaths, better crossings and a more welcoming public space.
The scheme will upgrade the town’s High Street and Market Square to encourage visitors and improve access for walking, cycling and wheeling, while complementing the town’s historic character.
Work is expected to conclude by the end of the year.
Mr Graham added: “Now this scheme is being delivered we will finally see the improvements we want to see for pedestrians and businesses.”
Voter turnout was higher than last time – 45.9 per cent compared to 39.6 per cent at the district council election in 2024.
Tammy Abarno said she was delighted to win the Carterton South ward for the Conservatives.
And Green Party group leader, Rosie Pearson, was re-elected for the Brize Norton and Shilton ward.
Duncan Enright, deputy leader of the council, and leader of the Labour group, said he was disappointed for the Labour councillors who lost their seats.
“The Labour group wants to carry on doing its best for West Oxfordshire’s towns and villages,” he added.
Paul Jeffreys, an engineer and former soldier, took 950 votes to Labour’s 701, unseating Andrew Drichton, who has held the ward since 2022.
Reform UK, who gained six seats on Cherwell District Council during this year’s election, with Liberal Democrats leading the no majority council.
Mr Jeffreys aid he had “done a lot of research” and spent weeks leafleting and speaking to residents on their doorsteps.
He described campaigning as hard‑working but fair with candidates treating each other respectfully.
He said: “It’s been very fair and respectful. We haven’t done anything too untoward and when we met here we’ve all been very friendly.”
He argued that “not a lot has happened” under the previous Labour control in Banbury Hardwick and that people had turned to Reform UK because they were frustrated by a lack of progress on everyday issues.
READ MORE: Local elections 2026: Cherwell and West Oxfordshire results
Drawing on his professional background, he said he could “see what needs to be fixed” and could not understand why simple problems had been allowed to drag on, insisting the barriers were “not down to money” but to “time and resource”.
Mr Jeffreys pointed to waste and street cleaning as examples of what he wants to tackle first.
He said small changes, such as giving street staff better equipment and scrapping the requirement to book appointments at the tip, could make a big difference to how clean the area feels.
Daniel Hill, from Banbury, died after his BMW motorcycle left the carriageway and came to rest in bushes in Banbury Road, Chipping Warden, near to the junction with Hogg End Road.
The single-vehicle collision happened at around 8.30pm on Friday, May 1.
Two men from Banbury, aged 41 and 35, have been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving, in relation to the collision.
Police say they have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
READ MORE: Duke of Marlborough fined £500 for speeding 30mph over limit
On Friday afternoon, Mr Hill’s family issued a moving tribute to him, via Northamptonshire Police, describing the 43-year-old Banbury man as a “beloved son, husband, father, brother, uncle and son-in-law to our family”.
“Words cannot describe how much we are going to miss Dan,” the tribute said.
“Dan was loving, passionate, kind and loved by all who met him.
“Dan will be forever in our hearts.”
Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit would still like to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam footage which captured any part of the collision.
Those with information are asked to email CollisionAppeals@northants.police.uk or call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615, or Northamptonshire Police on 101.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Please quote incident number 26000251842 when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible.”
Thames Valley Police and other emergency responders attended a serious incident on the Cowley Road in Oxford yesterday, Thursday, May 7, at 9.43pm.
The responders were called out to a fear for welfare incident for a woman on Cowley Road, which was closed while the situation was dealt with.
READ MORE: Local elections 2026: Cherwell and West Oxfordshire results
A spokesperson for the force said the woman suffered ‘serious injuries’.
They said: “Thames Valley Police were called, alongside our colleagues at South Central Ambulance Service, at 9.43pm yesterday, May 7, to reports of a fear for welfare of a woman on Cowley Road, Oxford.
“Whilst emergency services dealt with the incident the road was closed and has since reopened.
“The woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries, with ongoing support provided. There are no suspicious circumstances or criminal investigations connected with this incident.”
READ MORE: Duke of Marlborough fined £500 for speeding 30mph over limit
Stagecoach Oxford bus company issued updates during the incident, as bus services one and 10 on Cowley Road were cancelled, diverted instead via Iffley Road to Templars Square.
The company apologised ‘for any inconvenience caused’ as all bus stops were moved to Iffley Road during the evening.
Services were fully restored when the Cowley Road reopened by about 11.30pm, and customers were thanked for their patience and understanding.
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoBicester man denies sexually assaulting two young girls
-
Oxford News3 weeks agoBanbury cake company with 400 year history shut down
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoBicester crash: Motorcyclist ‘seriously injured’ in hospital
-
UK News3 weeks agoStarmer says it ‘beggars belief’ he wasn’t told about Mandelson vetting failure as he faces Commons – UK politics live | Politics
-
UK News2 weeks agoTV tonight: Shetland meets CSI in a new drama about a disgraced cop | Television
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoLorry overturns on Oxfordshire A43 roundabout with driver trapped
-
UK News3 weeks agoV&A faces calls to become living wage employer on eve of Stratford opening | V&A
-
UK News3 weeks agoFears over rogue parking by sunrise-chasers at national park after overnight ban