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.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire country pub told ‘major improvement necessary’
How the new square could look at the Clarendon Centre (Image: GP Clarendon Square Ltd)
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.
Oxford News
Bicester village restaurant slams ‘unfair’ low food hygiene rating
Grand Village Imperial, in unit E4 on Kelso Road in Bicester, was given the low food hygiene rating after a visit by inspectors in June.
But Raymond Chu, the owner of the Chinese restaurant, said the score does not accurately reflect the standards the restaurant maintains and they are appealing the process.
Mr Chu said they “also concerned that the inspection may not have been conducted impartially” and that the score is “unfair”.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire coffee factory refuses to return worker plaques
The Lion Dance at the Grand Village Imperial in Bicester (Image: David Chu)
He said: “As our appeal has already been submitted and is currently awaiting a response, we understand that the hygiene rating should not have been published until the appeal process has been concluded.”
Indeed on the government website it confirms that if a business appeals the rating within 21 days, the council should not publish it online.
The restaurant was told improvement was necessary in hygienic food handling and the cleanliness and conditions of the building.
Bicester Village (Image: Contributed)
The business was also told major improvement was necessary in the management of food safety.
This means the systems or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future.
The business is a beloved part of the shopping centre with customers regularly advising shoppers to book in advance and highlighting the fantastic service, food, and generous portions of food.
Oxford News
Oxford University warning amid ‘harmful’ algae outbreak
The warning has been issued for people and pets not to enter the water at Oxford’s University Parks after a bright green algae bloom appeared on its surface.
One local, Angela Mills Wade, said the algae was ‘almost fluorescent’ and recommended pet owners ‘heed the warnings’.
One local described the colour of the algae on the water as ‘almost fluorescent’ (Image: Angela Mills Wade)
READ MORE: Road remains closed after ‘scary’ crash on Oxford bridge
She said: “Many people see this and think it’s ugly. I see something rather different.
“It’s a natural seasonal phenomenon, part of the river’s changing cycle, even if it only lasts for a short time.
“We often celebrate nature when it’s neat and picturesque, but it’s just as fascinating when it’s messy, fleeting and simply doing what ecosystems have always done.”
She shared images from University Parks in South Parks Road, whose waterways had a blanket of bright green algae making its surfaces appear solid.
Algae bloom in University Parks (Image: Angela Mills Wade)
A notice displayed in the park by the University of Oxford’s parks department said: “Please be aware that there is currently an algal bloom in the river caused by the recent dry weather conditions.
READ MORE: Urgent missing person search as police ‘extremely concerned’
“This may be harmful to humans and pets so it is advisable NOT to enter the water or allow your dogs to do so until further notice.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Harmful algae blooms can occur when there is an excess of nutrients in the water – caused by a number of sources, such as agricultural run-off or sewage pollution – along with warm water temperatures and calm or stagnant conditions.
Oxford News
Road remains closed after 'scary' crash near city bridge
A road in Oxford remains closed after a ‘scary’ crash near a city bridge in the middle of the night.
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