Our response to the report on the future of the market commissioned by the City Council

29 November 2013

We fully endorse its conclusions and recommendations. We cannot fault their diagnosis of what’s wrong. We are convinced that if the report’s recommendations are implemented in full the market will develop into a stronger asset for Oxford, and will support the financial health of the city as a destination for tourists and residents alike. We have two main concerns – are the traders and the City Council up to it?

Our response to the Outline Planning Application for redevelopment of Westgate

30 October 2013

Ref: 13/02557/OUT Detail: Demolition of southern part of Westgate Centre, 1-14 Abbey Place and multi-storey car park, retention of library, refurbishment of remainder of the existing Westgate Centre and construction of a retail-led mixed use development together providing A1 (retail), A2 (finance and professional services) and/or A3 (restaurants and cafes) and/or A4 (public house, etc.)…

How can communities can be put more in control?

19 September 2013

There are many components to a well functioning civic city or town. One component – and some would argue this is the key one – concerns community.

We still believe relocating the station to Oxpens is worth further consideration.

25 July 2013

We are delighted that Government funding has been confirmed for major station improvements and reconstruction of the Botley Road bridge. However we have not yet succeeded in having the Oxpens site seriously considered. We continue to believe that the merits of re-locating the station nearer to Oxpens should be properly evaluated.

We are seriously concerned about the inadequate transport assessments.

25 July 2013

Many of Oxford’s main roads are already chronically congested, with consistently poor air quality as a result. The traffic analyses produced so far do not convince us that these problems will not get worse when this development is completed.

What kind of city do we want Oxford to be in the future?

19 July 2013

What kind of city do we want Oxford to be in the future? Do we want it to grow and change or to resist both? Can we sustain growth in our congested area without compromising the very qualities that make Oxford so special? Seventy people attended our Oxford Futures seminar, held in the Town Hall on 17 January, to open up the debate. Our Chairman Peter Thompson stressed the vital importance of thinking about the challenges - a changing economy, housing shortages, climate change and energy security among them. We need to work together to solve the problems.

Our letter to developers Land Securities about their plans for redeveloping the Westgate Centre

4 July 2013

Developers Land Securities have been consulting on their plans for redeveloping the Westgate Centre prior to submitting formal planning applications later this year. We have written to them with our comments expressing the hope that plans for the new Westgate can be better integrated with the other strategic developments, especially Oxpens and the rail station.

Relaxing the rules on home extensions

9 May 2013

On 9 May 2013 legislation was laid before Parliament which will increase the size of single-storey rear extensions which can be built under permitted development, and will bring into force the associated neighbour consultation scheme. This draft guidance is issued to provide initial information on how the scheme will work. We are still worried about the potential impact on immediate neighbours., and we have listed a large number of other issues which led us to object to the original proposals.

Plans to rebuild Oxford Station give the City a great opportunity.

25 April 2013

More details of the plans by Network Rail to increase the capacity of the railway infrastructure have emerged recently, and on 9th January 2013 at a public meeting in Oxford Town Hall a presentation was given which set out the basic intentions for the Oxford area. Oxford will become something of a strategic location as upgrading and electrification of the lines takes place, a new signalling system is installed and new rolling stock is introduced.

Letter to the Oxford Times

23 April 2013

Your articles last week promoting the concept of an integrated bus and train station for Oxford were both welcome and timely. What you didn’t mention was that in 2004 the County Council, with some real foresight gave consideration to a new, re-located station nearer to the ice rink. This solution had many advantages over the reconstruction of the station at the now even-more cramped existing site.