There are three proposals for reorganising local government around Oxfordshire and a consultation on them is running. Here I just look at some of the transport and planning implications.
The Oxford Clarion has an explanation, but the options are: 1) "One Oxfordshire", retaining the existing Oxfordshire boundaries as a unitary authority and merging the functions of the district and city council into that; 2) "Two Councils", dividing what is now Oxfordshire plus West Berkshire into Oxford & Shires and Ridgeway; and 3) "Three Councils", with a Greater Oxford and North Oxfordshire and Ridgeway councils taking the rest. more
The Oxfordshire policy on 20mph speed limits says that to be eligible an area must "be within the extent of the built-up environment of the town or village where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix in a frequent and planned manner" and "be in an environment that explains and justifies a lower speed limit to the driver".
A small addition to this would I think make sense. There are sections of road which are not within a built-up area, but which are key walking or cycling links. They may link a village to a bus stop or a strategic cycling route, for example, or an outlying housing cluster (hamlet) to a village centre, or a school to a town centre. Where such sections of road are relatively short and lower speeds would make a significant difference, perhaps because there are no footways or cycling infrastructure, or because crossings are necessary, I think they should be included in the scope of the 20mph policy. more
I am now a British citizen, after a pleasantly low-key ceremony last Thursday in the County Hall. more
Taking advantage of the last few weeks of nice weather, we visited Harcourt Aboretum on the last Sunday of October and then Warburg Nature Reserve on the first Sunday of November. more
A few weekends ago I went on a short cycle trip, with someone I had met on an earlier cycle tour, to two sights I hadn't known about: Wheatley windmill and Bishop Edward King chapel. more
We slept in and had a lazy Sunday morning, but after lunch we drove down to Dorchester, which is just twenty minutes away. more
Brill buildings
Camilla took the day off on my birthday and we drove out to Brill, where we looked at the old windmill (we couldn't go inside as it is only open in summer), had lunch in the Pheasant (moderately expensive, but rather good), and wandered across the common. We then visited the RSPB reserve on Otmoor. more
