ICYMI yesterday, our hacks to beat the congestion charge. You'll never believe number 12! (Are we doing it right?) oxfordclarion.uk/twelve-easy-...

I am in Derby today, under my own steam, for the @publicissues.bsky.social Joint public Issues Team conference, For Goodness Sake #ForGood25 about social justice and action. I am keen to learn more about the Constituency Action Network jpit.uk/can

It's West Oxfordshire District Council today. We are just finishing our preparatory meetings. You can watch the public meeting here westoxon.public-i.tv/core/portal/... I have a motion asking for Work Experience to be promoted better within West Oxfordshire,

It's the last day of Witney Feast 2025. Nice write up in the Oxford Mail. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2546790...

Fair's open 🎠🎡

The Gallopers Service to bless the Feast is earlier this year - today it's at around 12:45pm at the carousel. There will be a procession from the church you can join in or meet on the field. And the fair opens today!

This is an excellent analysis of the "flag" situation. It's a blog post designed for school leaders but explains what is going on in terms we can all understand. And gives some helpful talking points for all of us, whatever our current standpoint. www.thebelongingeffect.co.uk/flags-when-p...

Yes! That's my mayor! So lucky to be working with a mayor with such heart and professional experience. Andy Bailey piece at @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2025/09/refu...

The safest place for fossil fuels is in the seabed/ground. They have caused enough harm already. Anyone who wants to extract more of them and burn them has no interest in solving the planet's problem, just in lazy and irresponsible short-termism. 🌍🌎🌏🌡️🙏

Date for your Sept diary - Wed 3rd, 6-8pm, Corn Ex, Witney Bus Users Meeting. This was a huge success last year. Come and feed into the continued improvement of bus services.

"Pro-immigration counter-protesters approached by the BBC declined to speak." 1) Not necessarily pro-immigration, rather, pro-treating people well. 2) SPEAK! Change the narrative. 🤦‍♂️ Hundreds of protesters gather at asylum hotel in Norwich area. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I am at WODC Council discussing decarbonisation of the Windrush Leisure centre - committing the funds required. It's a £2m project funded 75% from government. It's soo worth it! Even for our love-hate 50 year old building. It will bring centre emissions down 60%!

Tuesday 22 July: Witney Corn Exchange, 2-8pm Consultation event on the *policy* sections of the 2041 Local Plan, the plan that controls planning applications and other development of our area for the coming years. See more online - yourvoice.westoxon.gov.uk/en-GB/folder...

These are the MPs who think organisations proscribed by the terrorism act should actually be terrorist organisations. votes.parliament.uk/votes/common...

First female chancellor. We cry. No Biggie. It's a healthy response to pressure, frustration, disappointment and nastiness. Thatcher and May cried. Why the surprise today? www.independent.co.uk/voices/there...

This is HUGE Biggest game in town for decarbonising the historic city centre & beyond

Counterpoint: new Public First research shows every UK resident working adult (on a full time equivalent basis) is £466 a year better off on average as a result of international students. So let’s just publicise that instead of levying them www.publicfirst.co.uk/calculating-...

Had to. Nobody wants to see that. But let's hope there's real funding, investment and debt cancellation soon, otherwise it's just another movement of the cliff edge.

"Jimmy Shannon said he felt he had been prevented from speaking on behalf of disabled residents" That's an important factor - dissent must be allowed. For better policy. BBC News - Labour loses control of Cheshire council after councillors resign - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In the Thames Valley and wanting to celebrate @refugeeweek.bsky.social? Take a look at our list of events around the area - so many wonderful opportunities to celebrate refugees and the power of community. www.ccow.org.uk/events/ @refugeestogether.bsky.social @ctbi.bsky.social

TONIGHT! Première of a Witney film student's feature film - Los Banditos of Ducklington Lake. Shot in Witney. One night only. £5. Buy tickets here. www.cornexchangewitney.org.uk/event/los-ba...

Theologian, Walter Brueggemann, died this week at 92. This blog post from Feb hits home in the public realm. An uncomfortable contrast of awakening vs woke, where none of us come out as the good guys.

A new travel planning website for journeys in and around Oxford has launched. Oxford Travel Options www.oxfordtraveloptions.co.uk is created by Low Carbon Oxford North and the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership (ZCOP). It shows transport options and tools for transport beyond the private car.

It's already captured the imagination as a cult classic, and we have only seen the trailer... It's time to get your tickets for the premiere of Witney's own movie, Los Banditos of Ducklington Lake. 15. Fri 13 June, Corn Exchange. www.cornexchangewitney.org.uk/event/los-ba...

Why is the BBC Giving Farage this platform to spread his lies?

Farage just said "something extraordinary is happening" - yes, BBC 2 is broadcasting his 2-bit speech. Why?! (I caught it whilst channel-hopping. It's half term)

The new splash park in Witney is brilliant. I just went to see. My kids loved it when it was new 10 years ago. And now this new one is in glorious technicolour. 🌈🖍️💦

Phillipson making waves. And mention that a woman ought to succeed Starmer. Yes please. Soon. A socialist one. labourlist.org/2025/05/brid...

I know many people who have emigrated to Witney. They are not strangers. Friends, colleagues, pupils, acquaintances. All welcome.

Good interview on Radio 4 with Tom Wheatley, President of the Prison Governors Association. He stressed the importance of relationships in prisons and the humanity of the inmates.

Here is the link for BBC South Today coverage so far of the VE celebrations in the Corn Exchange. Coverage at 0.40 and 3:56 during the news bulletin. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Notice how the graphic from the Met Office that the BBC has used and cited has the °C symbol but the BBC persists in omitting the ° and quoting temperatures in coulombs, C. BBC News - UK to see warmest April weather in seven years www.bbc.com/weather/arti...

It's interesting watching Labour be Labour about steel. It was painful to watch the other blast furnaces die in recent years. (They need decarbonising, but I like industry - I am a chemist who did a CREST Award in Redcar with ICI and British Steel, in 6th form). www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

100% agree. And the tax-payer trope has clear racist origin. Everyone should read this research: www.jstor.org/stable/10.51... Pity it's not more easily available. blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...

Forgive the rant, but what the hell is this Administration doing?  Not gonna be easy to undo the damage, folks. But I’ve got some ideas on where to start.

The Oxford Mail is running two set pieces based on a "Town Hall Rich List" published by The Taxpayers' Alliance. It lists local government pay inc pension etc (so salaries sound higher). Here's 1) why I don't like the word, taxpayer 2) what happened when they found out what headteachers are paid...

More sunshine on Cogges with @duncanenright.bsky.social and the team today. Lots of recognition and support.

Great news. It's really bumpy, stony and muddy further up.

Since voter ID was imposed in 2023, voters have been turned away from polling stations over 40,000 times. It’s a pointless barrier to participation.

Lots of interesting conversations in Market Square this morning as the sunshine brought 10 councillors and, thankfully, more residents out to talk at Councillors at the Café.

🚨 Outrage as 20 police officers break into Westminster Quaker Meeting House and arrest six. 🚨 This shocking violation of a place of worship is a direct result of crackdowns on protest and dissent - freedom of speech, assembly and democracy are at risk.🕊️ 👉 www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Deeply concerning

8 and 9 April, Corn Ex, a brilliant chance to see Every Brilliant Thing. Kate will perform a show close to her heart, by a Witney playwright. And raise money for the Mayor's Charities. Not to be missed.

With all the discussion around the 20th anniversary of Who 2.0, my favourite bit of Rose is…

"why you do not need to worry that your taxes are being wasted on “free cars for fat people” – and why the [motability] story caught light anyway." www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

The Chamber of Commerce are collecting your thoughts on Witney. Short survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/WitneyCham...

We're all hawks and arms traders now. (*Not in my name).

Conservative councillor would like a "balanced approach" to road space reallocation. Let's do it. - upgrade pavements - more busgates - more cycle lanes - decentralise private vehicles www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

One way to minimise the Trump effect: please stop using the word "deal" where a tacky sale ✴️label is not appropriate. Agreement? Treaty? Negotiated settlement? Law? Contract? Resolution? Accord?