Crime & Safety
Raise the Colours given formal notice to stop placing England flags
The notice, issued by Oxfordshire County Council on Monday afternoon, March 30, means that any individual or organisation must stop putting the flags up in public areas.
The county council said it has taken action following the repeated installation of flags on or near highways without consent.
If the group does not comply with the letter, the council will consider all available options to include, but not limited to, civil and criminal proceedings against the organisation and individuals affiliated with it to prevent further unauthorised action.
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Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The scale and persistence of this activity is affecting communities across Oxfordshire.
“We are proud of our diverse communities in Oxfordshire and of being the first county council to be awarded Local Authority of Sanctuary status.
“We proudly fly the Union Jack and St George’s flags, which are visible symbols of democracy and unity.
“However, the widespread installation of flags by Raise the Colours is not a sign of patriotism. It is an act of intimidation and division that is having a real and damaging impact on our communities.
“Our residents report feeling distressed, unwelcome and unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.
“Our teams removing the flags, together with residents who have challenged the individuals installing them, have been subject to abuse and threatening behaviour. This is totally unacceptable.
“The council has a responsibility to act where behaviour undermines community cohesion and the safe and inclusive use of public spaces. That is why we are taking firm action.
“We won’t hesitate to take further legal steps where necessary to protect residents and support the cohesion of our communities.”
In a social media statement last week, group leader Ben Cullen declared “war” on Oxfordshire County Council, saying his group will be going out on nights contractors are removing flags.
It comes as police launch a criminal investigation into a “confrontational” incident while England flags were being put up along Oxford’s Abingdon Road last week.
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The incident allegedly involved a cherry picker blockading access on the evening of March 24 and residents being unhappy with the presence of those putting flags up.
In a statement late on Friday, police said it is aware of the incident and has opened an investigation.
“We have no further comments at this time but will share an update when we have one,” a spokesman said.
Anna Railton, Oxford City Councillor for Hinksey Park (Labour) said: “This group of people are not welcome back to Oxford.”
MP for Oxford East Anneliese Dodds added she was “very concerned” to hear about the incident and their “apparently intimidating behaviour” towards residents.
Church Cottage is a six-bedroom home in the idyllic village of Whitchurch near the Berkshire border.
Overlooking the historic mill pond, which adjoins the River Thames, the property has now been listed on the market with Savills for £2,250,000
Formerly two cottages dating from the 16th century, Church Cottages have been combined and transformed by the current owners to create a family home.
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Since 2019, the owners have undertaken an extensive renovation, enhancing the property while aiming to retain its period charm.
The most notable transformation is the extended kitchen and dining space together with a newly constructed glass atrium, which links the main house to the annexe and brings the home elegantly into the 21st century.
Upon entering, the hallway leads to a combined dining and music room, separated by the original chimney breast.
A cosy snug with a wood-burning stove sits in one corner, while a separate cloakroom lies adjacent to the utility room.
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To the left-hand side of the house is the recently extended kitchen.
Two full-height walls of glazing and a skylight above, flooding the room with natural light and providing views across the garden.
The kitchen is centred around an island and complemented by walnut cabinetry and base units.
Integrated appliances are all Miele-branded, including an oven, microwave, dishwasher, full-height fridge and full-height freezer, while an electric AGA with induction hob forms the centrepiece of the room.
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A dining area sits at the far end of the kitchen, complemented by Amtico wood-effect flooring and underfloor heating and surrounded by wall-length bifold doors that open up the dining space to the garden on two sides.
Fully exposed beams, all restored by the current owners, span the living room, and a cosy seating area has been arranged around the charming open fireplace.
French doors provide access to the garden beneath a restored timber-framed wall, and a fitted bookcase conceals hard-wired internet and television.
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A separate study with views onto the mill pond completes this original section of the house.
Also on the ground floor is a self-contained two-bedroom annexe, now connected to the main house via the striking glass atrium.
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The annexe comprises two well-appointed bedrooms, a practical storage cupboard and a modern family bathroom.
On the first floor are four double bedrooms and two bathrooms, with the principal bedroom enjoying views over the water and is complemented by an en suite bathroom.
The en suite is finished with a marble-effect wall and floor tiles, a walk-in shower, underfloor heating and a vanity unit.
The family bathroom features a freestanding bathtub set against a backdrop of striking criss-cross beams.
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The double aspect guest bedroom at the end of the house provides further striking views over the mill pond.
Church Cottage is accessed via a private road and offers ample parking with two separate driveways.
To the front of the property lies a grassed garden with river frontage, with direct access onto the mill pond and the Thames beyond.
It is common to see rare wildlife here, such as otters, kingfishers and other waterfowl.
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A pathway leads to a handcrafted and recently restored wooden pergola, covered by a fig tree, fruiting vine and jasmine plants.
Property agent Victoria Knight, head of office at Savills in Henley, said: “Church Cottage is one of the best period renovations I have ever seen.
“An iconic family home overlooking Whitchurch’s historic mill pond, the property has been transformed by the current owners to sympathetically blend striking original features with turnkey finishes throughout.
“The most notable addition is the extended kitchen and dining space together with a newly constructed glass atrium, which links the main house to the annexe and brings the home elegantly into the 21st century.”
The TV presenter has hosted the iconic BBC nature programme for 14 years, having previously worked on The Really Wild Show and Wide Awake Club.
She recently finished as runner-up on ITV reality show Dancing on Ice, competing last year with professional partner Mark Hanretty.
Michaela, who supports Oxford United through her son, who works at the club, had an exclusive chat with the Oxford Mail last week.
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Another TV star with links to the county is former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, who owns both a farm and a pub here.
This is documented in his own wildlife show, Clarkson’s Farm on Prime Video, which helps highlight the plight of British farmers and the struggles of agriculture.
During the exclusive interview, Ms Strachan praised Mr Clarkson for his work via the show but revealed she has never watched an episode.
“I don’t watch Clarkson’s Farm, but I think it is great what he has done for making people understand how difficult farming is,” she said.
“But no, it’s not a programme that I watch.”
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The 59-year-old was speaking ahead of her ‘Not Just a Wild Life’ live tour, which begins next month and features a date in nearby Newbury on Wednesday, April 29.
Speaking on the show, Ms Strachan said: “It’s getting close now, and it’s taking quite a long time to prepare the show because I’ve got a heck of a lot of footage to go through.
“I’ve got this massive archive in my garage, with a lot of it on VHS, which takes a long time to fast-forward.
“So it’s taken months, actually, of putting the show together and deciding what to put in and what not to put in because it’s been a long career and a lot of shows.
“I think that’s been the hardest thing, really, to decide, you know, which bits to focus on. So, yeah, I’m really excited about it.”
You can find more coverage from the Oxford Mail’s exclusive interview with Ms Strachan on our website in the coming days.
Oxford City Council spoke out today (Monday, March 30) to refute speculation that it had ‘banned’ a parade at Bonn Square in the city on Sunday, April 19.
St George’s Day – the national day of England – is on April 23 and the council has said the square was already booked prior to the request from the Oxfordshire Patriots.
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A spokesperson said: “Oxfordshire Patriots contacted Thames Valley Police on March 20 about holding an event in Bonn Square between noon and 3.30pm on Sunday, April 19.
“On March 25, Thames Valley Police contacted Oxford City Council about the event.
“We informed the police that Bonn Square had already been booked for Sunday, April 19.”
Sending out a statement in response to several social media posts, the council said that on March 27 it was claimed it had cancelled an event on Saturday, April 18, because it “could cause trouble and spread hate”.
Indeed a user, who the council replied to on X, said this was the reason given and that they had concerns about the fairness of the decision.
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Claiming to speak for Oxfordshire Patriots, the user said they would be gathering as a peaceful protest on April 18.
The spokesperson for the council said: “To be clear we have not cancelled this event. We informed the police that Bonn Square was already booked.
“Anyone wishing to book Bonn Square should do so several months in advance of their planned event.”
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