Anthony Morris RSPB Otmoor pics A NEW national park should be created north east of Oxford to protect wetlands and woodlands in the area, an environmental campaign group has said. The 36 square mile reserve would cover most of the rural countryside north east of the Oxford Ring Road, between the A40 to the south, the A34 to the west, and the M40 to the north and east. It would include Otmoor, where there is already an RSPB nature reserve, Bernwood and Stowood forests, the site of special scientific interest at Sydlings Copse, and the Cherwell valley near Water Eaton. Campaign group Bioabundance has called for the area to be protected, possibly as a National Nature Reserve.
Janet Dineen, 63 lives in Didcot and her daughter Sarah Swanborough is buried in East Hagbourne cemetery. Sarah was not expected to make it to her first birthday when she was born with brain damage, curvature of the spine and epilepsy. Her mother Ms Dineen explained she almost died giving birth to Sarah and she spent the first five years of her life in intensive care, before Ms Dineen cared for her until she died age 23 with pneumonia in January 2010, just two days before her birthday. Ms Dineen went to visit her daughter’s grave at St Andrew’s cemetery to pay her respects on the anniversary of her daughter’s death and what would have been the week of her daughter’s birthday. However, when she arrived, she found the cemetery flooded.
The site is at land to the west of Windmill Road in the town. The masterplan includes onsite parking and shared green spaces for residents and the wider community. The proposed design also includes proposed upgrades to local infrastructure where the Phoenix Trail footpath and cycleway meets Windmill Road.
New zebra crossing: Oxfordshire County Council proposes to construct a zebra crossing, for use by pedestrians, in Radley. The crossing, designed to improve pedestrian safety in the area, will be located in Church Road, approximately 135 metres northwest of its junction with St James Road.
Fibre optic cables: Two lengths of Sires Hill, Didcot will be be closed to vehicles from February 4.
Charity finally completes move to old police station );
THE Fish volunteer centre in Sonning Common has relocated after almost two years of planning.
The charity has moved from Kennylands Road to the old police station in Lea Road after raising £150,000 to pay for it.
The move was delayed twice due to heavy rain in November and the third national lockdown that began last month.
Clive Mills, the former Fish chairman, who oversaw the process, said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to move at long last as it has been a long time coming.
“It was a big, big team effort and it just shows the strength of our charity and the great work that has happened over the last 43 years. Many great people have come through this organisation.”