Stories for 17 August 2005

Oxfordshire News

Damp squib

I must correct councillor Ed Turner on his statement that I suggested there will be no benefit to the community from the redevelopment of Rose Hill (Oxford Mail, August 12).   more...

A waste of money

I wonder why money is being wasted on a nature park in North Hinksey Lane, Botley, when we already have one on the corner of Arthray Road and Westminster Way? Beryl Lane, Westminster Way, Botley, Oxford   more...

Alleyways go respectable

Alleyways notorious for flytipping and being used as boltholes for vandals could be cleaned up by giving them names, according to a councillor.   more...

'Nappy tax' idea upsets parents

A 'nappy tax' could be imposed on parents to meet the cost of changing toddlers at nurseries and pre-schools, according to new guidance from Oxfordshire County Council.   more...

Fire chief warns of redundancies

The reward for loyal and flexible fire emergency control room staff in Oxfordshire will be redundancy, according to the county's chief fire officer.   more...

Boy or girl: Keep guessing

Ministers have rejected Oxford MP Evan Harris's demands for parents to be allowed to choose their baby's gender.   more...

Festival may take flight again

Organisers of Oxfordshire's Festival of Flight say they are planning a similar event for next year following the event's huge success at the weekend.   more...

River rivals gear up for races

A team from Oxford's French twin town Grenoble will make their debut at one of the city's biggest rowing events this weekend.   more...

We're not trying to stop housing

Phillip Anderson completely misses the point in his letter regarding Castlemill boatyard (Oxford Mail Letters, August 11).   more...

Case for parking

Frank Sobott asks why the City Council is doing nothing to provide more cycle parking in the city centre (Oxford Mail letters, August 15).   more...

Council criticism is so undeserved

If the County Council was even one 10th as incompetent as John E Wilson would have us believe (Oxford Mail, 12 August), you would expect the parents of the 80,000 children who attend our 350 schools every day to be crying out for new management, but I don't think they are.   more...

Smokers cost county

One fifth of Oxfordshire adults are smokers whose habit puts financial strain on county businesses and an added burden on the health service, according to figures released today.   more...

Little Freya's big adventure

A girl of seven sparked a massive police hunt and a nightmare for her frantic parents after climbing a five-foot fence and disappearing.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: Goffe is hero for brave Thame

Thame Utd 2, Ashford 2: Substitute Tom Goffe grabbed the late equaliser as Thame United started life at their new Aylesbury home with a 2-2 draw in last night's Southern League Division 1 West encounter.   more...

Football: Pitch invader faces 3-year ban

The Oxford United supporter who ran onto the Kassam Stadium pitch after Danny Morgan's 88th-minute equaliser against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, could face a possible three-year ban from football.   more...

Aunt Sally: Super Pratley powers home

Neil Pratley was in devastating form as he clanged off 16 dolls for Woodman in their 3-0 defeat over Red Lion Brill in Section 2.   more...

Cricket: Four in row for never-say-die Oxon

Oxfordshire's Development XI reclaimed the Tom Orford Trophy by making it four wins out of four.   more...

Athletics: Swords edged out in national

Oxford City's promising young middle-distance runner Bea Swords missed out on a medal in a dramatic photo-finish in the under 15 girls 800m in the AAA national track & field championship final at the weekend.   more...

Football: Banbury battle back for draw

Banbury Utd 1, Grantham 1: Banbury United came from behind to earn a useful Southern League Premier Division point against Grantham at Spencer Stadium last night.   more...