This
project is financed by the LSC, SEEDA and
the European Social Fund
LOCAL
NEWS
MKOB
WIDE NEWS
Plans for Rail Link Between Oxford and Milton Keynes
Work to create a rail link between Oxford and Milton Keynes may start next year. When completed the rail link should mean that it will take 12 minutes to get from Oxford to Bicester and 35 minutes to get to Milton Keynes. It is proposed that two trains would run an hour and these could travel up to 100 mph. It is thought that this could be in place by 2012. Firstly a detailed investigation must take place into construction and operations management plans and rail infrastructure designs.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 7th March 2008
Changes to the Running of Fire and Rescue Control Centres
Nine fire and rescue control centre services in the South East, including Buckinghamshire are to be run by a new company. Earlier in the year the Government decided to close 47 county-based control rooms and have them replaced with nine regional centres across the UK. The nine services in the South East include Buckinghamshire, Royal Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent and Isle of Wight. All of these services were opposed to the regionalisation of fire and rescue control centres and preferred a more localised service. However, the Government has decided that the South East control rooms will move into a centre in Fareham, Hampshire. The local services will move one by one over a period of 14 months starting in 2010.
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 5th February 2008
Milton Keynes Venues to Play Role in 2012 Olympic Games
It has been announced that Milton Keynes will play a large part in the preparation of visiting nations for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Seven training venues in Milton Keynes will be used. These are: the Stadium:mk for football and basketball; Radcliffe Leisure Complex for basketball, fencing and indoor volleyball; Stantonbury Campus Athletics Stadium for athletics; Tattenhoe Pavillion for hockey; Woughton on the Green for hockey; Milton Keynes Sports Club for hockey and the MK Centre of Cycling Excellence for road cycling and BMX.
Source: www.miltonkeynes.co.uk, 4th March 2008
New Furniture Retailer Coming to Milton Keynes
A new retailer is coming to Milton Keynes. Homeform who are a specialist furniture retailer from Canada have completed a deal on a 10,000 sq ft retail unit on Routeco Retail Park. The company sells kitchen, bedroom and bathroom furniture and appliances.
Source: Business Citizen, February 2008
Construction of New Office Space
Hampton Brook, the developers of a large office development in Milton Keynes have secured pre-lets for over 40 percent of the 20,000 sq ft office building. The construction of the office space, which is in Central Milton Keynes, has already started and will be ready by Summer 2009. The site will consist of prime ‘grade A’ specification offices, and there will be allocated on site car parking. The development will also meet BREEAM “excellent” energy efficiency ratings. This will be the first office space in Milton Keynes to meet this standard.
Source: Business Citizen, February 2008
Casino Will Create New Jobs in Milton Keynes
The Government has given the go-ahead for Milton Keynes to have a casino. Soon operators will be able to bid for gaming rights to run the new casino. Asper who already run casinos in Newcastle and Swansea believe that the Milton Keynes casino will create around 250 new jobs. It is thought that operators taking part in the bidding process will team up with venues such as the stadium:mk and the Bowl as possible locations for the new venue.
Source: www.miltonkeynes.co.uk, 28th February 2008
Budget Proposals for 2008
Under revised budget proposals Milton Keynes Council has announced that cuts to music tuition for young people will now be reduced by £113,000 over the next two years instead of the £250,000 which was originally planned. Across Milton Keynes there are around 5,000 children who receive subsidised music tuition.
The budget will also be used to tackle anti-social behaviour and £50,000 has been added to the funds for community safety and working with young people. This will allow two more community safety wardens to be employed.
More money is also being provided for improving GCSE results at lower-performing schools, regeneration, controls on houses of multiple occupation and flood prevention.
Source: www.miltonkeynes.co.uk, 19th February 2008
Increase in Bus Journeys in Milton Keynes
Figures from last year show that bus journeys within Milton Keynes rose by 26 percent to more than nine million journeys. Nationally the average increase was only four percent. The Council believe that the Milton Keynes increase reflects an effective partnership between the council and bus company Arriva. Arriva has put in a lot of investment in order to attract customers. They have spent £1.4 million on new vehicles and produced easy to understand timetables and maps. Simpler fares have also been introduced which allow a day’s unlimited travel. On many routes there is also now a service every 10 minutes.
Source: www.miltonkeynes.co.uk, 12th February 2008
Improvements Made to Milton Keynes City Centre Library
Milton Keynes City Centre library is being refurbished. Improvements will be made to the lobby area and there will also be new signs making the library more accessible. The improvements will create an area for people to sit and have a coffee and there will be computers available in the lobby for people to use to quickly check the internet. Last year the central library issued three quarters of a million books, DVDs and CDs; this makes it the second best used library in the country.
Source: www.miltonkeynes.co.uk, 21st January 2008
Re-Use Furniture Centre Will Stay Open
Bletchley Re-Use furniture scheme will not be closed down following a year long battle with Milton Keynes Council. The Council had argued that the scheme needed planning permission and was actually classed as retail premises because it was selling unwanted furniture to needy householders. In order to be able to run, the scheme would need planning permission for the site. Workers at Re-Use include young offenders on Community Service and they started a petition to fight for the scheme to continue. The Council have now allowed permission for the scheme to remain and the centre is looking to expand in the future.
Source: www.miltonkeynes.co.uk, 16th January 2008
Approval of Gatehouse Quarter Development
The commercial area of the Gatehouse Quarter development in Aylesbury has been approved. This is after years of disagreements over the plans between the council and developers. Planning permission has been granted on appeal for new office buildings, retail outlets, a care home and nursery. Originally the council had refused planning permission because the developer’s plans included a residential element. The council thought this was an unacceptable loss of commercial land, but the planning inspectorate has stated that the development should still go ahead. The new development should create 561 new jobs.
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 27th February 2008
Youth Dance Club to Close
Mandeville Youth Dance which was set up in 1988 as an extension of Walton Court Youth Club has closed. The club gave teenagers the chance to learn to dance and have fun at a small cost. Over the years it grew into an amateur dance group and members regularly entered competitions and put on shows. The group was self funded and also benefited form two grants from the William Harding Trust.
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 21st February 2008
Award for Aylesbury Pub
The Harrow pub in Aylesbury has recently won an award for delivering the best drinks experience to customers in the South East. The award comes from Punch Taverns, the largest pub company in the UK. It awarded The Harrow with a 2008 Shine Award. The pub was praised for its promotion of food, drink and for the variety of events it regularly holds.
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 22nd February 2008
Plans Submitted for Household Waste Recycling Centre
Buckinghamshire County Council has now submitted it plans for permission to build the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) on College Road North, Aston Clinton. This is following two public exhibitions. If the centre goes ahead it will process around 150,000 tonnes of waste a year and residents will be able to recycle paper, card, batteries, fluorescent tubes, textiles and garden waste. The new centre could be open to the public in spring 2009.
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 11th February 2008
New Car Sharing Scheme
Chiltern Railways has launched a car sharing initiative in order to try and help reduce travel costs, congestion and pollution. The scheme will allow passengers to share lifts and people who want to take part can register their details on a website. The system will then tell them if there is anyone else who will be making the same journey. The passenger can then contact the driver through a secure email and arrange to share the journey and the travel costs. The company behind the website is called liftshare and they have successfully established more than 900 car-sharing schemes across the country. More information on the Chiltern Railways Scheme can be found by visiting http://www.chilterncarshare.co.uk
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 8th February 2008
New Facilities at Playcentre
Work has started on a refurbishment of the Jonathan Page Playcentre in Aylesbury. The playcentre has been designated as a Sure Start Children’s Centre and the work costing £185,000 will allow Aylesbury Vale District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council to provide a wide range of services for families and children under five years of age. The playcentre will mainly be accessed by people who live in the Quarrendon and Meadowcroft area. Services which will be on offer include information on childcare and early years’ education, childminder support, activity classes for children, health sessions and links to Jobcentre Plus to support parents with training and employment. New facilities at the centre will include the creation of a family room and two consultation rooms, one of which will be used for interviews. Current facilities at the centre include an after school club and a school holiday playscheme. The building work is scheduled to be completed at the end of May.
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 14th February 2008
Funding for New Play Opportunities for Children
Aylesbury Vale District Council has been awarded £304,000 from The Big Lottery Fund. Over three years the money will be spent on improving play provision in the district. It will be used to fund five play projects which will contribute to the well-being and development of children and young people. Plans include creating new play areas at Somerville Way, Edinburgh Playing Fields and Carlton Close in Aylesbury. Money will also be used to support the council’s ‘Play around the Parishes’ project which is a mobile play service taking play sessions to children in rural areas. A summer holiday play scheme is also scheduled for Elmhurst over the summer. This will give children the opportunity to take part in games, sporting activities and arts and crafts.
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 24th January 2008
Volunteering Project Awarded £10,000 from Radio Show
A volunteering project run by Bucks County Council has won a £10,000 prize from Gold’s radio breakfast show. The money will be used on the ‘V’ project which aims to get young people aged 16-25 involved in volunteering activities. Young people in Buckinghamshire who are involved with ‘V’ will have the opportunity to work on the i-van project. This is a special van which is equipped with a multi-media ICT studio, recording studio and computers which will be used to run a music project. The i-van project will run for eight weeks and will culminate in a performance at a celebration event. At the end of the project young people will have gained valuable volunteering experience and will also have completed a Certificate in Community Volunteering.
The volunteering opportunity is open to young people aged 16-25 who are looking to enhance their CV with new skills. They should have an interest in music and working with other young people. More information on the project can be found by contacting Frances Northrop on 01296 432438 or emailing frances@i-van.org.uk
Source: www.aylesburytoday.co.uk, 5th February 2008
University Must Revise Plans for New Student Village
Councillors have objected to a proposal from Bucks New University for a 672 room student village on the former Compair factory site in High Wycombe. The council has recommended that the plans are revised to meet certain conditions. The current proposal does not include any parking spaces for students, and the council would like car parking to be included so that students with cars do not impose on local residents. Some committee members were also unhappy with the design of some of the suggested buildings. Previous plans by the university included a nine-storey high block with 936 rooms, but almost 40 residents objected to this which is why the university reduced the number of proposed rooms to 672.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 27th February 2008
Cressex School to be Rebuilt
Councillors have decided that a £31 million plan to rebuild Cressex Community School will go ahead. This decision was made two days after parts of the school building were damaged by a suspected arson attack. Two separate fires destroyed the English department and damaged the Modern Language block. Last year the school was promised the money by the Government’s Building Schools for the Future scheme. The plans will involve all 18 buildings being demolished, a new car park, playgrounds and new access from Holmers Farm Way.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 26th February 2008
School Team Enters Bank of England Competition
Students from John Hampden Grammar School recently competed in the southern England area finals of The Bank of England/Times interest rate challenge. The challenge involved teams of four taking on the role of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. The teams had to make a presentation about economic conditions and inflation for the Bank of England judges at an event held in Guildford, Surrey. The team from John Hampden Grammar School lost out to a team from Peter Symonds’ College in Winchester. The winners will now compete in a national final which will be held at the Bank of England.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 28th February 2008
Job Opportunities at New Eden Shopping Centre
Hundreds of jobseekers recently attended a fair at Wycombe District Council offices in order to find out about job opportunities at the Eden Shopping Centre. The new shopping centre is due to open in March and will create 1,700 jobs. It is thought that the new shopping centre will bring High Wycombe into the top 50 shopping towns in the country. Outlets which showcased job opportunities at the fair included, Starbucks, H&M, Beaverbrooks and Office.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 24th January 2008
Pledge to Reduce Number of Plastic Bags in Eden Shopping Centre
The House of Fraser store which will be opening in the Eden shopping centre has pledged to supply customers with paper bags instead of plastic ones. However, this will only be when the store does not have a sale on. When the store opens, customers will get their purchases in 100 percent recycled paper bags.
Wycombe Friends of the Earth have recently launched a website which backs a campaign to make Eden a plastic bag free zone. Last year they presented a petition containing more than 1,000 signatures to Daniel Tomkinson, the centre’s manager. He has stated that he will discuss the proposal with store managers once they have been appointed.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 23rd February 2008
Permission Given For New Homes on Former School Site
Barratt Homes has been given planning permission to build 64 new homes on the Old Downley Middle School site. Permission had previously been refused in May 2007, but the developer decided to appeal. The new homes will be built around a community centre which remains on the site. The 64 homes will consist of two, three and four bedroom terraced and detached houses, of these, 19 will be affordable houses.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 6th February 2008
Possible Village Drop-in Centre for Teenagers
A drop-in centre could be created for teenagers in Bourne End and Wooburn. Bourne End and Wooburn Parish Council have come up with the idea of providing a place for young people to meet up on one night of the week in both of the villages. A part-time youth worker was employed in the area at the beginning of January and if this position becomes a success the Parish Council may take on a full-time worker. The Parish Council has been working hard to improve facilities for young people; this has included plans to provide a mobile skate park in the summer.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 23rd January 2008
South Bucks Secondary Schools are Over Subscribed
Secondary schools in South Bucks are over subscribed with 949 pupils missing out on 3,668 places. At Dr Challoner’s school for boys, 90 pupils did not get into the 180 places that were available, 125 pupils did not get into Great Marlow School and at Beaconsfield School 97 pupils missed out on the 97 places. At Holmer Green Senior School, 118 pupils who had applied for a place did not gain one of the 150 places that were on offer. However, Chesham High School still has 42 places free after offering places to all those who had applied. Across South Bucks there is a total of 81 children who have not yet been allocated a school despite being within the catchment area.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 4th March 2008
Increase in Council Tax in South Bucks
Householders in South Bucks will have an increase of more than £60 in council tax after South Bucks District Council recently set its council tax bill. The bill of ratepayers has gone up 4.51 percent and this works out at an additional £1.16 rise per week for the average householder. Most of the tax collected goes to Buckinghamshire County Council, with only 10% going to South Bucks District Council and the rest to the police, fire authorities and parish councils.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 4th March 2008
Creation of Beaconsfield Youth Council
Teenagers aged between 13 and 19 in Buckinghamshire will have the chance to air their views and opinions in a youth council which is being set up by Buckinghamshire County Council. Young people who take part in the initiative will first identify issues and then if they think there are not enough things for them to do they will have the opportunity to organise events. The youth council will work with Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) and Beaconsfield Town Council. More information on the youth council can be found by contacting Sarah Wood on 07904 185568 or emailing sawood@buckscc.gov.uk
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 5th February 2008
Top Marks for Amersham and Wycombe College
Amersham and Wycombe College recently received the best results across Bucks in the School and College (post-16) Achievement and Attainment Tables. For 2006-2007 the college achieved the highest results for any colleges in Bucks. The college had an average point score of 688 which was the second highest score in the whole of the Thames Valley region.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 24th January 2008
Re-opening of 17th Century Pub
The Swan Inn, a 17th century pub on the High Street in Amersham has re-opened with a new landlord in charge. James Cann is the new landlord and the pub has recently been refurbished. A number of events are planned at The Swann Inn including an evening in aid of the Wooden Spoon charity and a wine tasting event.
Source: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk, 28th February 2008
Plans for Rail Link Between Oxford and Milton Keynes
Work to create a rail link between Oxford and Milton Keynes may start next year. When completed the rail link should mean that it will take 12 minutes to get from Oxford to Bicester and 35 minutes to get to Milton Keynes. It is proposed that two trains would run an hour and these could travel up to 100 mph. It is thought that this could be in place by 2012. Firstly a detailed investigation much take place into construction and operations management plans and rail infrastructure designs.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 7th March 2008
Acting Opportunity for Young People from Oxford
Youngstar TV and Film School are looking for young actors to take part in a new film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The film is set in Oxford and Youngstar TV and Film School are looking for young people aged between 10 and 20 who live in Oxford to audition for parts. Louise Hart runs the school. She said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for young, local people to develop their acting skills. It’s open to anyone to come and have a go, regardless of whether they have acted before. And for anyone wanting to get into acting, it’s a great chance to work alongside professional film crews and actors, meet new people and just have fun.” Anyone who is interested in the project should contact 0238 047 7717.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 6th March 2008
Secondary School Allocations in Oxfordshire
Oxford County Council have announced that 90 percent of the 6,158 children who will be starting secondary school in September got their first choice of school. Last year the figure for Oxfordshire was 92 percent, however this year figures for Oxfordshire are higher than the national average of 79 percent. 440 Oxfordshire children were allocated their second or third choice of school, and 191 will not be going to their first, second or third choice of school.
Source: www.oxfordmail.net, 6th March 2008
County Council Carry Out Traffic and Transport Survey
Oxfordshire County Council has just finished carrying out its largest ever travel survey. For six months the council has carried out roadside traffic surveys at 48 sites across Oxfordshire. Rail passengers, park-and-ride users and bus passengers have also been surveyed and 4,000 residents have been asked about the types of journeys that they make. At the most congested areas, such as Oxford’s ring road, video surveys and traffic counts were also conducted. The council will now analyse the information that has been gathered to find out where road users in Oxfordshire are travelling to and from. The results will be used by the council to make plans on how they will spend money to make journey times more reliable.
Source: www.oxfordmail.net, 5th March 2008
Plans to Turn Pub into Flats and Shop
A developer in Oxford wants to demolish the Friar pub in Marston Road and in its place create a landmark building. The man behind the plans is Clinton Pugh also owns Café Coco, Kazbar and the Lemon Tree in Oxford. He hopes the redevelopment could help regenerate Marston. The proposals include eight one and two-bedroom flats and three shops and have been submitted to Oxford City Council.
Source: www.oxfordmail.net, 13th February 2008
Additional PCSOs for Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys
Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys estates are to get two more Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). Three years ago Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys were the first area in Oxford City to get PCSOs, by the end of March the estates will have a team of six.
Source: www.oxfordmail.net, 6th March 2008
Acting Opportunity for Young People from Oxford
Youngstar TV and Film School are looking for young actors to take part in a new film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The film is set in Oxford and Youngstar TV and Film School are looking for young people aged between 10 and 20 who live in Oxford to audition for parts. Louise Hart runs the school. She said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for young, local people to develop their acting skills. It’s open to anyone to come and have a go, regardless of whether they have acted before. And for anyone wanting to get into acting, it’s a great chance to work alongside professional film crews and actors, meet new people and just have fun. Anyone who is interested in the project should contact 0238 047 7717.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 6th March 2008
Oxford Community School Could Have Foundation Status
Oxford Community School is looking for foundation status. This would mean that governors would have control over student admissions, recruitment and the school’s building and grounds. If the move gets the go ahead, this would be the first school in Oxford and the third in the county to have foundation status. The school would still be funded by Oxfordshire County Council, but it would have greater “autonomy and flexibility” over decisions.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 1st March 2008
Careers Event Held for Year Nine Pupils
450 Year Nine pupils at the Cooper School and Bicester Community College recently took part in a hands-on career day to help them choose their GCSE subjects. The Going 4 It event was organised by Bicester Village and the town’s Chamber of Commerce and was held at the Cooper School. Students were given the chance to find out about higher education and apprenticeship schemes and also speak to representatives from more than 40 businesses.
Source: www.bicesteradvertiser.net, 14th February 2008
Approval Given for New Health Centre
Health chiefs have given their approval for a new health centre in Bicester, this is despite worries from campaigners that the new centre will not be big enough. There are plans for a state-of-the-art primary care centre offering a number of services and 12 beds. This could be either next to the primary care centre or somewhere else in Bicester. The centre could offer out-patient services, provision for some day-care procedures, a minor injuries clinic, physiotherapy, community nursing teams, out-of-hours GP services, blood testing and X-rays. Campaigners argue that at least 30 beds are needed in order to cope with demand; they have been fighting for a 30-bed community hospital for more than ten years.
Source: www.bicesteradvertiser.net, 12th February 2008
Teenagers Join Local Neighbourhood Action Group
A group of teenagers from Chipping Norton have joined their local Neighbourhood Action Group to prove that young people can make a positive contribution to their community. Neighbourhood Action Groups consist of volunteers who work with the police to identify issues and help solve problems. The five teenagers are all students at Chipping Norton School and decided to join after a police officer visited their school to tell the students about what they did and that they were looking for young people to join the Neighbourhood Action Group meetings. The group meets every six weeks at Chipping Norton Police station and PC Simon Towers who runs the meetings has reported that he is pleased that so many young people have recently joined.
Source: www.oxfordtimes.net, 14th February 2008
Permission Given for New Care Home and Hospital Complex
The go-ahead has been given for a new care home and hospital complex in Chipping Norton. The current Castle View care home will be replaced by a 50-bed home which will also have an intermediate care wing. Chipping Norton’s War Memorial Hospital is going to be sold off and replaced with a new primary care centre with clinics, X-ray, facilities and a maternity unit. Castle View and the War Memorial Hospital will stay open until the new facilities are ready.
Source: www.oxfordtimes.net, 14th February 2008
Skidz Motor Charity Needs More Funds
Skidz is a charity run in Banbury which helps young people get into a career in the motor industry but it is currently struggling to find the money to survive. A number of volunteer instructors help out at Skidz to teach young people the basics of car mechanics. The scheme is targeted at young people who have difficulties in mainstream education but enjoying practical based activities. They get to service cars for customers and also prepare donated cars for re-sale.
The charity costs £150,000 a year to run and about £50,000 a year comes from schools which place pupils on the project. Therefore the charity still has £100,000 to find. Running costs are the major problem and the rent for the building they use is also fairly high. The charity began in 2004 and since then around 300 young people have taken part in the scheme; many of these have gone onto apprenticeships and employment in the motor trade. More information on Skidz can be found by visiting http://skidzbanbury.org.uk/
Source: www.oxfordtimes.net, 14th February 2008
Planning Permission Refused for Flats
Campaigners who have been fighting to save the 1920s Regal cinema in Wantage from being converted into flats have had success. A Government planning inspector has refused the plans for the conversion. This is the second time that planning permission for the site to be transformed into flats has been refused. Friends of Wantage Cinema are pleased with the news as they would like to see the cinema resurrected.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 6th March 2008
Proposed Cuts to Willowbrook Leisure Centre
Managers at the Willowbrook Leisure Centre, in Ladygrove, Didcot may be reducing opening hours from 83 per week to 25. This is because of budget pressures. From April 1st new opening hours of 5pm to 10pm Monday to Friday are being mooted. However, the opening hours of the gym would not be affected. The announcement of the reduction in hours has led to the creation of two petitions in protest at the proposals. The reduction in hours would affect a number of children’s after school clubs and also clubs which use the facilities on weekends. SOLL Leisure run the leisure centre on behalf of Didcot Town Council. Each October the company applies to the town council for a grant to run the venue. The company had wanted £75,656 for 2008 to 2009, but the town council only agreed a sum of £50,000.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 5th March 2008
Feedback Wanted on Didcot’s New Arts Centre
Didcot’s new arts centre called The Cornerstone Centre is currently under construction and due to open later in the year. The managers of the centre are now asking local residents from south Oxfordshire to give feedback on the sort of events they would like to see at the centre. The aim of the centre is to provide events which will entertain all sorts of people. The new building will consist of a 278 seat theatre and four other areas which will be available for workshops, classes and exhibitions. The centre will also house a café and a bar.
In order to gain feedback the Cornerstone Team is encouraging people to complete questionnaires. These are available from the town’s SOLL leisure facilities, Didcot library and local businesses. Questionnaires are also available by calling 01491 823832, emailing cornerstone@southoxon.gov.uk or visiting http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/cornerstone
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 5th March 2008
Celebration Held to Mark Opening of New School
Dunmore Primary School in Faringdon Road, Abingdon has officially opened. The new school was built after an amalgamation between Dunmore Infant School and Dunmore Junior School. The new school officially opened at the beginning of January but the recent celebrations were the earliest date that the school could mark the opening. Poet John Foster attended the event and he spent the day working with the children and reading them poems.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 3rd March 2008
Youth Club Needs a New Venue
The Sweatbox Youth Club which is held at King Alfred’s Community and Sports College in Wantage is due to close following major changes at the school. The school is selling of its East site which is where the youth club is located. This means that the club is having to look for new premises. Gary Kingett is area youth manager for Wantage, Grove and Farringdon. He would like there to be a new venue somewhere between Wantage and Grove so that both communities can benefit. He would like the new venue to be a central hub for all youth organisations and also a place where young people can have access to support services to do with drugs, contraception, education, counselling and support.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 1st March 2008
Drama Group Secures Council Grant
Backdrop has been a successful venture for young people in Wallingford. The initiative started last year after drama graduate Polly Gibson won backing from the town council for the drama group. As a result they provided her with £1,000 for the scheme. The group went on to stage four major productions using the town hall, the Castle Gardens, St Leonard’s Church and the former Waitrose building as backdrops for their performances. This year members of Backdrop have secured £5,000 from Oxfordshire County Council’s Chill Out fund. The drama group are now working on their new production which will be staged at the Kinecroft on Friday 4th July.
Source: www.theoxfordtimes.net, 29th February 2008
