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Share your memories and become part of Covered Market history! 🤩🎉
The Covered Market has been at the heart of our city for 250 years; can you imagine the stories it could tell if it could talk? Sadly, it can’t talk – but you can! 🌟
We would love to hear your treasured memories, family stories and fun anecdotes about the market.
You may have grown up shopping in the market, or members of your family have been market traders, or maybe it was a one-off memorable visit.
We’re keen to hear your story and see any photos that could be part of the Covered Market history for the next 250 years! 🥳
You can send in your stories and photos to cmevents@oxford.gov.uk
Please note that some of these memories may be shared on the Covered Market and Oxford City Council’s social media channels. All memories will help to form a Covered Market archive for future generations to enjoy. 🎉
Preparation work begins for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge
We have started preparation work for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge which will link Osney Mead to Oxpens. 🎉
The Oxpens River Bridge will serve as a vital link for people, offering quick, safe walking and cycling routes to help reduce congestion in the city centre.
The bridge is funded by the Oxfordshire Growth Deal, which requires the bridge to be completed by 31 March 2025. To ensure this, construction must start this summer.
Before construction, selected trees need to be pollarded or removed. This will happen before the end of February, ahead of the bird nesting season.
The Council’s Tree Officer and Ecologist have assessed the affected trees and developed a scheme to replace them all as well as plant additional trees to maintain the area's level of tree canopy and biodiversity
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Short let proposals fall along way short of what's needed
On Monday the government announced long-awaited plans to control the short-let sector, which has boomed over the last 10 years and is subject to almost no rules.
We’ve been lobbying government to do something about short lets since 2018. Party houses cause misery in quiet neighbourhoods and have led to the loss of hundreds of homes in Oxford for people to live in. Lack of regulation means short lets have an unfair advantage over hotels and B&Bs and they don’t have to meet the safety standards we expect in other rented accommodation.
We were pleased to see the government is proposing homes used entirely as short lets will need planning permission in the future. But we were not happy existing short lets will automatically be given permission – this does nothing to fix an already serious problem in Oxford.
New support available for rough sleepers in Oxford
In April, we’re relaunching our Somewhere Safe to Stay service for people at risk of or experiencing rough sleeping. This provides a short-term roof over people’s heads while we find them a more stable home and the support they need to leave the streets behind.
People in Somewhere Safe to Stay will now be given a room of their own rather than having to sleep in shared spaces. This will make it easier for services to engage with them by providing a comfortable, private and safe space to begin their recovery from homelessness.
The revamped service will be made up of an assessment hub and eight rooms in O’Hanlon House, with another 15 rooms in shared houses around the city. It means St Mungo’s, Connection Support and Homeless Oxfordshire will work more closely together and provide better move-on support into more suitable housing. 🌟
The new service will mean expected cost savings of £394,000 for organisations working to prevent and reduce homelessness across Oxfordshire. This will be achieved by the closure of Floyds Row, which is no longer financially viable as the government will not fund projects with shared sleeping spaces from April. We are looking at options to sell or rent out the building.
Two weeks ago, we mistakenly shared the wrong video for the before and after housing development of Bridges Cross in Speedwell Street, you can watch it here. 🤩🏠
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Smoke Control Area expansion moves a step closer
We are moving ahead with our plans to expand Oxford’s Smoke Control Area, following the results of our recent public consultation.
Last month, Oxford residents and businesses were asked for their views on our proposals to introduce a city-wide Smoke Control Area – replacing the current patchwork of Smoke Control Areas that cover 48% of the city.
The eight-week consultation saw 443 responses. When asked if they agreed or disagreed with the proposal to expand the smoke control area, 52% said they agreed and 42% disagreed.
We will now be applying to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to request approval to create an extended Smoke Control Area for Oxford. If approved, the area could be introduced in Autumn 2024.
Smoke Control Areas aim to improve air quality by encouraging people to use wood-burning stoves and open fires in a more efficient, and cleaner way.
The legislation aims to reduce smoke being emitted from these appliances and protects, the public from microscopic particles (PM2.5) - both inside and outside the home –that can cause serious health conditions.
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Second anniversary of war in Ukraine
Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, said: “Two years on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones and we grieve the countless lives lost. We stand in steadfast solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the families in Oxford who have welcomed Ukrainian families into their homes and to all those who have shown their support for Ukraine.
“As we mark another sombre anniversary, we renew our commitment to fostering compassion and understanding, recognising the collective responsibility we bear in advocating for peace.”
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Photo ID required to vote in May 2024 elections
Elections for Oxford City Council and the Police & Crime Commissioner are taking place on 2 May.
The government has introduced rules that require voters to show photographic identification at polling stations when they vote. The Council is urging residents to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of ID. These include:
- a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport
- a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers' licence
- some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms can apply for a free ID, known as a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC), online at the Voter Authority Certificate website or by completing a paper form - contact the Council's electoral services team at elections@oxford.gov.uk.
The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement. The deadline for applying for a VAC for the 2 May election is 24 April.
Those using a postal vote do not need photo ID or a VAC.
Update on flooding in Oxford
There is currently one flood warning and six flood alerts in and around Oxford.
Yesterday morning, the decision was taken to put up the flood barrier at Bullstake Close. It was in place by 7.45am. The South Hinksey flood barrier is in place. The Environment Agency is monitoring Vicarage Lane and Osney Island.
We have closed the towpath between Folly Bridge and Donnington Bridge, the towpath west of Folly Bridge near the Geoffrey Archer Building, Abbey Road and Fiddler’s Island paths and the Ferry Rd cycle track in Marston.
Please avoid flooded towpaths and find an alternative route.
Consultations
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OCC Website Refresh 🎉
Over recent weeks, we’ve carried out a range of work to improve our website, including:
- upgrading the look and structure of the site
- reducing the overall number of pages and documents
- making accessibility improvements
Over the Christmas period, we asked our Residents’ Panel for their views on an earlier draft of the website, and their comments have fed into the changes we’ve made.
We’re now looking for feedback from the wider public.
This consultation ends on 29 February 2024.
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Corporate Strategy 2024-28
Last month we published our draft Corporate Strategy 2024-28.
The draft strategy sets out our plans over the next four years across our five priorities:
- Good, affordable homes
- Strong, fair economy
- Thriving communities
- Zero carbon Oxford
- A well-run council
We've worked with local partners, organisations, community groups and businesses to develop the strategy, but now we want to hear your thoughts.
This consultation ends on 21 March 2024.
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Proposed changes to parks and open spaces byelaws in Oxford
We're asking Oxford residents and park users to give feedback on proposed changes to existing byelaws on the city's 130 parks and open spaces. 🌳🍃
The proposed changes include:
- revoking old rules relating to ball games, climbing and wild swimming 🏊♀️
- amending byelaws to better reflect the way Oxford’s parks 🌳 are used – for example, seeking public views on removing the blanket ban on cycling to allow considerate cycling in parks
- making new byelaws to deal with new challenges and changing priorities that have emerged over the last 25 years, like e-scooters.
The consultation ends on 8 April.
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Vision Zero strategy consultation
Road collisions and injuries are on the increase across Oxfordshire, and Oxfordshire County Council wants to improve road safety for all road users across the county.
Oxfordshire County Council's Vision Zero strategy consultation is open and sets out the council's long-term ambitions for road safety in Oxfordshire.
The deadline to take part in the consultation is 17 March 2024
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City Council and County Council budget agreed
Oxford City Council agreed its Budget at a meeting on Wednesday evening.
The Budget, which is worth about £100m every year, includes £4.4m to redevelop East Oxford Community Centre, £4m to refurbish the council's leisure centres, and £7.6m to improve the energy efficiency of council homes. For more information and to watch the debate, visit our website.
Oxfordshire County Council's Budget was agreed on Tuesday.
The Budget, worth about £611m, includes real terms increases for both adults and children’s social care, extra money for highways, and investment to reduce air pollution and congestion. More information is on the Council's website.
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Innovative electric vehicle charging expands to new areas
ODS is delighted to welcome Surrey County Council, Buckinghamshire County Council and Solihull Council as the latest local authority to join the trial of the innovative Gul-e solution. 🎉
The Gul e-solution aims to help electric vehicle owners - who don't have a driveway at home, able to charge their vehicles.
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Stay Connected:
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@OxfordCityCouncil
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@OxfordCity
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@oxfordcitycouncil
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