Oxford News
New Oxford shopping centre plans welcomed by locals
In 2024, Canadian investor Roy Sebag, who owns Goldmoney Properties, bought the Clarendon Centre from Lothbury Asset Management.
Since last year, the centre has been closed with retailers including TK Maxx moving to the Westgate shopping centre or other locations.
Now GP (Goldmoney Properties) Clarendon Square Ltd has submitted a planning application to the city council to renovate the centre featuring a new square.
Oxford residents have been submitting comments to Oxford City Council with their thoughts on the plans.
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Nicky Warren, of Marlborough Road, Oxford, said: “There has been a lot of interest in a city centre playground for children as provision is currently very limited.
“The courtyard would seem an ideal area for a space for young children to play.”
Mari Prichard, of Farndon Road, North Oxford, said: “A lot of the application seems reasonable.
“But what Oxford city centre needs to be the vibrant place it claims to support are more year-round residents.
“The Gloucester Green flats were, I think, the last example, though rumour has it that many are now Airbnb.
“I and other locals had hoped that this application would include upper level, probably rented, flats targeted at moderate income local workers as appropriate, but anyhow on terms that would avoid their exploiting the flats by not living there.”
Oxford city councillor Susanna Pressel has previously welcomed the latest plans.
She said: “Now that the planning application has been submitted and published, we can all see what the new Clarendon Centre will look like if it gets permission.
“I think it will be a worthy addition to our city centre, and a great improvement on what was there before. I can’t wait for it to be completed.”
Ms Pressel said earlier that the new development, featuring the square, would be a “stunning addition to the city centre”.
She added: “Every college has internal quads which are lovely green and peaceful places, but they are not accessible to most of us. Bonn Square is attractive, but it’s not enough.
“This development would provide a very welcome peaceful green space, open to all. As we walk along Cornmarket Street and Queen Street, we would have a glimpse of beautiful trees and benches to tempt us in, with new open ‘streets’ to lead us there.
“The developers are even planning a water feature in the central square, which would surely be a great draw. They talk about how this would give ‘a sense of tranquillity’.”
The new square is expected to reduce the amount of space available for retail units. Some research and development hubs are expected to feature alongside retail units.
The man, in his 50s, was reported as being injured at The Slade just before 1pm on Saturday (April 11).
Thames Valley Police confirmed he was taken to hospital and that a 48-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.
Nigel Savill, aged 48, of The Slade, Oxford, has now been charged with one count of section 20 grievous bodily harm without intent.
He is due at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
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An eyewitness said they spotted around seven police cars, one critical care unit and an ambulance in the area near the junction with Wood Farm Road.
Photos from the scene show multiple emergency vehicles and someone being put into a police car.
Police said on Saturday afternoon that a scene watch was in place while investigations continue and they have appealed to the public for information which may assist them.
A police spokesman previously said: “The force was contacted by the ambulance service at 12.55pm to report a man with injuries in The Slade.
“The man in his 50s has been taken to hospital.
“A 48-year-old man from Oxford has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody.
“If anyone has any information or footage from the area and has not already spoken to the force then please speak to an officer at the scene, call 101, or leave any information via our website, quoting the investigation reference number 43260175531.”
Dennis Minns, who lives at Sanctuary Care’s Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home, recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation in a special service led by the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt. Revd Gavin Collins.
Surrounded by family, friends, residents, and members of the church community, Mr Minns described the day as deeply meaningful.
The ceremony was organised with the help of Revd Val Kearney, who regularly leads Communion at the care home.
Mr Minns, a retired RAF Flight Lieutenant who served for 25 years, spent much of his life travelling with his late wife Monica and their children.
His son David, a retired priest, delivered the Gospel reading during the confirmation.
Mr Minns said: “A new life and new friends.
“The Bishop spoke like an old friend and it was a lovely occasion, which will be remembered for a long time.
“I was encouraged by my friends from the start, and I’m so pleased I listened.
“Much praise must go to the staff for organising everything—and the Bishop approved of the cakes.”
Julie Cooper, home manager, said: “Dennis is a wonderful reminder that it’s never too late to do something that is deeply meaningful.
“His enthusiasm and courage have inspired everyone at the home.”
The celebration included afternoon tea, home-made cakes, and live music.
Sophie Bevan sang Ave Maria, and musician Rick Griffin, who plays at the home’s monthly Songs of Praise event, also contributed to the occasion.
Voters across Oxford will go to the polls on Thursday, May 7, to elect councillors to represent wards covering the city.
Oxford City Council has a portion of seats contested in most years, with successful candidates serving four‑year terms.
With 48 councillors in total and two in each of 24 wards, half the seats, equating to one councillor per ward, are elected every two years.
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Poll cards are being issued to registered voters, confirming their polling station and reminding them of the date of the election.
On election day, polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm, with counting expected to take place overnight or the following day.
The results will determine the political makeup of Oxford City Council for the coming two years.
The full list of candidates is below.
Barton and Sandhills:
- Mike Rowley – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Tariq Saeed – Green Party
- Paul Rogers – Liberal Democrat
- Vernon Porter – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Felix Peter Bloomfield – Reform UK
- Boris Fedorov – Workers Party
- Chaka Artwell – Independent
Blackbird Leys:
- Lubna Arshad – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Indigo Haynes – Green Party
- Alexandrine Kantor – Liberal Democrat
- James Morbin – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Kornel Schesztak – Reform UK
- Fay Lana Sims – The Conservative Party Candidate
Carfax and Jericho:
- Alex Hollingsworth – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Sushila Devi Dhall – Green Party
- John Orrell Howson – Liberal Democrats
- Harriet Georgia Sophie Dolby – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Vittorio Peter Cuneo-Flood – Reform UK
Churchill:
- Susan Woolford Brown – Labour Party
- Ines Carmen Wilhelm – Green Party
- Peter Charles Coggins – Liberal Democrat
- Tim Patmore – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Michael Sakkalli – Reform UK
Cowley:
- Michael William Boyd – Labour Party
- Edward Mundy – Green Party
- George Busby – Liberal Democrat
- Andrea Louise Stephenson – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Ian Szwajca – Reform UK
- Ajaz Ur Rehman – Independent
Cutteslowe and Sunnymead:
- Nancy Lynn Cartwright – Labour Party
- Andrea Schiavi – Green Party
- Laurence George Fouweather – Liberal Democrats
- David John Cunningham – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Michael William Andrews – Reform UK
Donnington:
- Ralph Amory Noble – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Rosie Rawle – Green Party
- Graham Roderick Jones – Liberal Democrat
- Simon James Bazley – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Anna Marie Avila Taylor – Reform UK
- Saqib Faradoon – Independent
Headington:
- Emily Lygo – Labour Party
- Neil Doig – Green Party
- Christopher Stephen Frederick Smowton – Liberal Democrat
- James Peter Jackson – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Sandhya Sunkara – Reform UK
Headington Hill and Northway:
- James Taylor – Labour Party
- Sam Alston – Green Party
- Eleonore Rebekka Vogel – Liberal Democrat
- George Edward Silvanus Robinson – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Tenson Jacob – Reform UK
- Agnieszka Kowalska – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Nasreen Majeed – Independent Oxford Alliance
Hinksey Park:
- Siobhan Ann Lancaster – Labour Party
- Hannah Scott – Green Party
- Rick Tanner – Liberal Democrat
- Amy Olivia Campbell – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Geoffrey Brian Ager – Reform UK
Holywell:
- Awab Ramadan Yahia Kazuz – Labour Party
- Alfie Davis – Green Party
- Ian Corthan Bearder – Liberal Democrats
- Harry Richardson – The Conservative Party Candidate
Littlemore:
- Tiago Corais – Labour Party
- Tamsin Sky Tristram Blaxter – Green Party
- Liz Wood – Liberal Democrat
- Daniel Stafford – The Conservative Party Candidate
- James Charles Baker – Reform UK
- David Stares – (no description listed)
Lye Valley:
- Stephen Douglas Harwood – Labour Party
- James Richard Harry Thorniley – Green Party
- Maria Bourbon – Liberal Democrat
- Gary William Dixon – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Jakub Zagdanski – Reform UK
Marston:
- Charlotte Louise Vinnicombe – Labour Party
- Kate Josephine Robinson – Green Party
- Andy McKay – Liberal Democrat
- Duncan Valentine Hatfield – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Richard Lewin – Reform UK
- Emily Frances Scaysbrook – Independent Oxford Alliance
Northfield Brook:
- Trish Elphinstone – Labour and Co-operative Party
- David Newman – Green Party
- Rosemary Anne Beatrice Morlin – Liberal Democrat
- Paul John Sims – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Dianne Copestake – Reform UK
Osney and St Thomas:
- David Calonge – Labour Party
- Lois Knight Muddiman – Green Party
- Harry Roy Morgan – Liberal Democrats
- Louis Watteau Williams – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Rose-Marie Wheeler – Reform UK
Quarry and Risinghurst:
- Chewe Edgar Munkonge – Labour Party
- Stephen Robert Hurt – Green Party
- Kai Ruediger Zolleis – Liberal Democrat
- Edmund Charles Annandale Johnstone – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Cristina Parau – Reform UK
- Alison Kahn – Independent Oxford Alliance
Rose Hill and Iffley:
- Edward Owen Turner – Labour Party
- Luke Barbanneau – Green Party
- Geraldine Anne Coggins – Liberal Democrat
- Suresh Lal – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Prudence Mary Prior Dailey – Reform UK
- Zack Iqbal – Independent Oxford Alliance
St Clement’s:
- Thomas Ayudthaya Boyd – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Ahalya Bala – Green Party
- Pippa Hitchcock – Liberal Democrat
- Vinay Raniga – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Martin Young – Reform UK
St Mary’s:
- Toby Stephen William James – Labour Party
- Emily Jane Elisabeth Kerr – Green Party
- Richard Whelan – Liberal Democrat
- Gloria Croxall – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Paula Jane Macfarlane – Reform UK
Summertown:
- Freda Janet Wolfenden – Labour Party
- James Hewett – Green Party
- Katherine Sarah Miles – Liberal Democrats
- Christopher David Edward Fox – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Fee Yin – Reform UK
Temple Cowley:
- Joseph Robert McManners – Labour Party
- Heather Laura Stallard – Green Party
- Tony Brett – Liberal Democrat
- Patricia Gwendoline Mary Jones – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Michael Sargent – Reform UK
- Saj Malik – Independent
Walton Manor:
- Louise Upton – Labour Party
- Zelalemawee Asheber – Green Party
- Joanne Louise Bowlt – Liberal Democrats
- Penelope Anne Lenon – The Conservative Party Candidate
- David Charles Lincoln – Reform UK
Wolvercote:
- Bev Humberstone – Labour Party
- Cristina Palamini – Green Party
- Elizabeth Asabea Abena Turkson Wood – Liberal Democrats
- Paul Dean Morris – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Stuart David Jolley – Reform UK
- Richard Peter Garbutt – Independent Oxford Alliance
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