Crime & Safety
New shuttle bus to award-winning rural estate near Oxford
The Oxford Bus Company has partnered with Waterperry Gardens to provide new shuttle bus on weekends and bank holidays.
Launching from June 13, the service goes between Thornhill park and ride, Wheatley and Waterperry Gardens.
Buses will call at all stops on the line of route, Oxford Bus Company said.
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A spokesman said the service will run until August 30 and added: “This is perfect to enjoy a great day out over the summer months, with 20 acres of landscaped gardens, a shop, gallery and even a tea shop.”
Waterperry Gardens is an award-winning, 20-acre ornamental garden and rural estate on the other side of the M40 from Wheatley.
Located just seven miles from central Oxford, it is famous for its historical 200-foot herbaceous border, a plant centre, and its origins as a women’s horticultural college.
Services will run hourly from 9.30am at Thornhill park and ride until 4.30pm.
The final bus from Waterperry Gardens will be at 5.45pm.
Waterperry Gardens was made famous by Beatrix Havergal when she founded her School of Horticulture for Ladies at the site in 1932, and is open all year round for visitors.
It recently featured on an episode of the BBC show Gardeners’ World with a visit from presenter Carol Klein.
Crime & Safety
Thousands of drivers with 12 or more speeding points still driving
The drivers continue to hold licences despite accumulating the 12 penalty points that would normally see them banned, a situation described as “very concerning” by the RAC.
New figures obtained by the RAC via a Freedom of Information request to the DVLA reveal that 4,154 individuals in the UK have been permitted to keep driving.
Some of these drivers have racked up far more than 12 points; 117 hold more than 20, while two individuals have amassed 43 and 45 points.
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Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, said: “It’s very concerning that so many repeat speeders have been allowed to carry on driving despite amassing 12 points or more which would normally lead to them losing their licences – and for very good reason given that speeding is one of the leading factors in the most serious collisions on our roads.
“A better solution for people like this who have demonstrated a compelling need to the court to be allowed to continue driving would be for them to have devices fitted to their vehicles that prevent them speeding again.
“Our research also identifies strong support among drivers for those who speed excessively to have to have these devices.
“We urge the Government to consider giving courts the power to order repeat and excessive speeders to have Intervening ISA devices fitted to all their vehicles.
“This will save lives and reduce the number of speed-related collisions on our roads – something which completely aligns with the casualty reduction targets listed in the Road Safety Strategy.”
Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance (IISA) is a technology that physically prevents a vehicle from exceeding the speed limit, except in limited emergency override scenarios, which are logged and can be reviewed.
This is different from the Advisory ISA systems now standard in most new cars.
The RAC is backing the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign, which calls for courts to be given powers to mandate the use of IISA devices for repeat or excessive offenders.
Research conducted by the RAC in response to a government consultation found that 86 percent of drivers support new measures targeting excessive speeders.
A separate survey commissioned by the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign found that eight out of 10 drivers surveyed said they would support proposals for anyone caught excessively speeding, or who has been caught speeding multiple times, to have an ‘Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance’ device fitted to their car to prevent them exceeding the limit again.
While the Government’s Road Safety Strategy looks at the benefits of Advisory ISA in the context of vehicle safety technology, it makes no reference to the potential use of Intervening ISA as part of a targeted offender intervention programme for repeat or excessive speeders.
This is despite 2024 road casualty data showing excessive speed as a contributing factor in 20 percent of fatal collisions.
A spokesperson for the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign said: “Excessive speed remains one of the leading causes of death on our roads, and the public clearly recognises the need for action.
“What our research shows is that people instinctively understand the link between tackling dangerous driving and saving lives.
“Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance is a practical, proportionate solution, targeting repeat offenders while allowing the vast majority of drivers to go about their daily lives without disruption.”
A Parliamentary event will be held later today to give MPs the chance to learn about the technology.
Currently, drivers who reach 12 or more points face an automatic ban but can sometimes avoid disqualification if they can show a ban would cause “exceptional hardship.”
Crime & Safety
A34 traffic – motorists frustrated after another crash
The Tuesday morning commute was hit with delays of up to an hour northbound between Chilton and the Milton Interchange for Didcot.
There was a crash on the northbound side just past the Milton entry with traffic stopped by Highways Agency officials.
Thames Valley Police was also called to help resolve the incident.
One frustrated motorist heading northbound towards Oxford said the delays meant he was 30 minutes late to work.
READ MORE: Rock star and BBC worker, 85, died in Cotswolds crash
“What’s most frustrated is the officers will rush to the crash and put out cones rather than move the vehicles blocking the road,” the anonymous motorist said.
“Once it’s established everybody is okay, the focus should be shifted to moving the accident to the side of the road so everybody else can get on with their lives.”
Although the crash, which happened at around 7.30am, had been cleared by 9am, the tailbacks were significant.
A spokesperson for National Highways said at the time: “Traffic is stopped on the A34 in Oxfordshire in both directions between A4130 Milton and A415 Abingdon due to a traffic collision.”
“There are delays in excess of 54 minutes on the approach to the area,” the agency said before traffic returned to normal at about 10am.
Oxfordshire County Council had warned drivers to “approach with caution and consider alternative routes”.
Crime & Safety
Jeremy Clarkson issues parking warning as 30,000 descend on farm
The Top Gear star is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to Diddly Squat Farm Shop as the huge Cereals arable farming show arrives in West Oxfordshire.
Mr Clarkson, who opened his now-famous farm shop near Chadlington after taking over the running of his land during lockdown, has turned the site into a major tourist attraction.
READ MORE: TV legend praises Jeremy Clarkson after meeting him at Cotswolds pub
With this week’s Cereals event expected to bring even more people to the area, the 66-year-old and his team have moved to warn fans about changes to parking on and around the site.
“If you’re planning on visiting Diddly this week, then please be aware of the parking situation,” said a statement on the farm shop’s official Instagram page.
“We’re hosting a trade event, so our normal car park is shut. The overflow car park is open, but it will get very muddy if (when) it rains.
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“If you’ve got a low-profile car, a motorbike or just want to avoid the traffic, then we highly recommend visiting our shop at The Farmer’s Dog pub”
Cereals, one of the UK’s biggest arable farming trade shows, is being staged at Diddly Squat this week, bringing dozens of exhibitors, live machinery demos and talks for industry professionals.
Local residents have been warned to expect extra traffic on roads around Chipping Norton and Chadlington as visitors arrive for the multi-day event.
The two-day agricultural trade show takes place tomorrow (Wednesday, June 10) through to Thursday (June 11).
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