A CAMPAIGN group who previously fought to save Blackbird Leys Grade-II listed church have now said they will agree to the its demolition if public benefit ‘outweighs’ its loss. The Church of the Holy Family in Blackbird Leys first revealed plans to update their building, with new space to rent and flats to sell, in 2018. The church, built in 1965, is Grade-II listed due to its unusual heart-shaped plan, intricate interior and timber roof. Since the planning application was put forward in 2018, several campaign groups have objected to its demolition. Recent reports, however, revealing the cost of replacing the roof, which is currently leaking, have caused some campaigners to say that public benefit of a new church and living space could outweigh its preservation.
By Andrew Ffrench @OxMailAndyF Business reporter covering Didcot and Wallingford. Call me on 01865 425425
A Chiltern Railways’ train heads into Oxford station above the Sheepwash Channel – the swing bridge still with its rails can be seen on the right The days when trains ran into the Rewley Road station and goods yard in Oxford are now a distant memory. But there is one reminder - the swing bridge which gave access to the site and which is to be restored to its former glory. The bridge, at the north end of Oxford Station, allowed trains to cross the Sheepwash Channel, a stretch of water linking the River Thames with the Oxford Canal.