GENERAL elections could look quite different across Oxfordshire in the near future, as proposals for the new areas MPs would represent have been published. The Boundary Commission has drawn up plans for new parliamentary constituencies across England to reflect the fact that the population is growing in the south of the country and shrinking in some parts of the north. Each constituency is by law meant to have between 69,724 and 77,062 residents under the representation of a single MP. In Oxfordshire, the changes, if agreed, would mean Layla Moran, not Anneliese Dodds, would represent Oxford City Centre as is currently the case if they were both elected at a general election using the new boundaries.
A SECONDARY school is set for a major expansion in order to take in 150 more pupils. Lord Williams’s School in Thame will see a range of refurbishing works take place, with the school hoping to offer 12 forms of entry rather than 11 from September of next year. The school is set to get a new English block and a ‘state-of-the-art accessible ICT suite’ as part of works taking place in both the upper and lower sections of the school. The English suite in Oxford Road will be the sole new building, with other works set to be refurbishments. Costs of the work are not currently fixed.
WARNINGS of class downsizing and even school closures have been made after research by the Oxford Mail found nearly 2,000 primary school places vacant across Oxfordshire. On April 16, parents and carers found out what school their child would attend, with 93 per cent offered their first choice in the county. However, following an FOI submitted to Oxfordshire County Council by this paper, it can be revealed that 1,910 reception places are still empty. The data reveals that dozens of schools still have spaces for entire classrooms, with some having more than 40 places. The county council – the local authority responsible for overseeing the majority of Oxfordshire primary schools – said the number of vacancies was down to the falling birth rate in the area.
Local authorities across the county have issued the public notices for planned roadworks. These notices often cover roadworks, in addition to both licensing and planning applications.
Drainage works: As of Thursday (April 22), drainage pipe works mean a part of Park Road in North Leigh will be closed for approximately two weeks. The section of the road between the A4095 and the Bluebell Gardens housing estate will be closed until the works are complete, anticipated to be by May 7. The alternative route for traffic is via Park Road, Common Road, the A4095 and vice versa. Appropriate traffic signs will be displayed to indicate when the measures are in force.
Plans for a flyover bridge as part of a new road and river crossing linking Didcot with the Culham Science Centre has been labelled “damaging” as four councils object to the current plans. The road and river crossing over the River Thames just outside Abingdon, has been driven by a boom in the science sector and with hopes it will create enough space on the roads for 11,711 new homes on several sites around Didcot. Oxfordshire County Council has drawn up plans as part of a package of major road improvement schemes in the Didcot area. Plans include widening the A4130 from A34 Milton Interchange towards Didcot from single to dual carriageway; a new Science Bridge over the A4130, Great Western Railway Line and Milton Road into the former Didcot A Power Station site; a new Didcot to Culham bridge between the A4130 and A415; and a Clifton Hampden bypass.