Crime & Safety
Work intensified at illegal Kidlington dump as date set
A track is being raised out of the saturated ground to give heavy vehicles safe access to the site once waste removal begins.
The Environment Agency says the official clear up will begin in April, some 10 months after it was first reported to Cherwell District Council.
Temporary traffic management measures will be in place outside the site, away from the A34, to manage the flow of traffic and avoid bottlenecks.
There will be a reduced speed limit and two sets of temporary traffic lights, which will be switched on during the site’s operational hours in the day and will only turn red when a lorry is looking to leave the site.
Providing an update on progress so far, a spokesman at the Environment Agency said: “Our contractors have been layering aggregate over the saturated ground to provide a solid base.
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“After this a top layer of finer aggregate will be laid to build site vehicle tracks. A compound and welfare facilities will also be set up for site-based staff.
“We remain on schedule to begin clearing waste in April.”
Geotextile was laid on site ahead of the aggregate being placed for the makeshift road network for the lorries.
This is needed to stop the rubbish-filled lorries, which will remove the 10,000 tonnes of waste, from getting bogged down on the muddy road, caused by persistent rain this winter.
Yorkshire firm Acumen Waste Services won the £8m contract to remove the waste, which is very close to the River Cherwell.
But fencing and bulk sandbags were installed around it to prevent surface water from the drainage ditch entering the site.
Rainfall has hindered progress on removing the pile; Oxfordshire had 188 per cent of the long term average rainfall for January and 178 per cent of long term average rainfall in February.
In early February, eight trees were removed from around the site entrance to enable lorries which will remove the waste access to the site. It had to be done before bird nesting season.
Four men have been arrested in connection with the dumping and remain under a formal investigation. No charges have been brought forward yet.
Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: “I’ve been in regular conversations with the Environment Agency and strongly welcome the decision to clear the site.
“I will continue working with them to make sure that those responsible pay for their crimes.”
Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy added: “Our local teams have been at this site working with partners to reduce harm and minimise risks while we pursue those responsible.”
Helen & Douglas House, which cares for terminally ill children and their families, launched its revamped clothing store on March 12.
The updated shop was opened by BBC Radio Oxford presenter Adam Ball and joins the charity’s refurbished homeware shop, which reopened last September and occupies the other half of the unit.
Baljit Dhindsa, head of retail at Helen & Douglas House, said: “We are delighted to unveil the refurbished space, which has been thoughtfully redesigned to create a brighter, more modern shopping environment while continuing our commitment to sustainability.
“The new layout allows us to showcase an even wider selection of clothing and accessories, with improved displays and more space on the shop floor.
“We have also enhanced accessibility within the shop, including adding an additional accessible fitting room to ensure a comfortable experience for all our customers.”
The reimagined boutique-style shop features a contemporary, urban-inspired design with vintage touches and improved backroom facilities, allowing for increased donations and more efficient sorting.
Proceeds from the store directly support Helen & Douglas House’s hospice care in Oxford and in people’s homes.
Ms Dhindsa said: “When you buy something from our shop for £5, this could pay for arts and crafts materials for local terminally ill children to make Mother’s Day cards whilst staying at the hospice in Oxford.
“Our spring collection is now in store so do pop in to checkout our great range of clothing and accessories and take a look at the wonderful transformation of our shop.”
Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.
It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.
A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.
“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”
From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.
George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.
To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.
The Wantage Orchestra Spring Concert at the Old Mill Hall in Grove was celebrated as “an inspired afternoon” with the highlight being a recital by 17-year-old Katherine Payne.
The young violinist has been described as a “virtuosic performer” and is in her final year at the Yehudi School of Music.
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She will go on to study violin further once she turns 18 and is the recipient of many prizes including the Celia Walker overall prize.
Ms Payne was the leader of the Thames Valley Youth Orchestra and was playing on a Castagneri violin and a Morizot bow, sponsored by the Cherubim Trust.
Typically these violins sell at auction for between £5,000 and £15,000.
At the performance on Saturday, March 21 there was standing room only with Beethoven’s Symphony no.7 and Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie being played.
Conductor Christopher Fletcher Campbell called it “an inspired afternoon”, with home made cakes made available at the interval
One audience member said: “We enjoyed the Wantage Orchestra concert yesterday.
“Lovely programme, and Katherine was very accomplished. Good to see it so well supported.”
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Another added: “What a wonderful afternoon performance, beautiful sunshine outside and amazing performance inside.
“The choice of pieces brought out the best from everyone and they bought enjoyment to us all. Thank you I look forward to future concerts.”
The group’s next concert will be on Sunday, July 5 at 7pm at The Wantage Parish Church, with more information available on its website.
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