Do you have a brilliant idea to boost health, wellbeing, or community spirit in the Bicester west ward? Our Community insight fund is currently OPEN for applications!

This year's Cherwell Business Awards celebrated the outstanding leaders, businesses, and charities that make the district a hub of innovation and community spirit. The overall winner was Banbury-based Contact Web. Well done to them and to all the other winners!

Two new electric vehicles join our street cleansing operation this week, as part of our work to tackle climate change. Each of these two new vehicles will save between 1.5 and 2 tonnes of CO2 a year with another seven on the list to be replaced soon.

It's #RecycleWeek! This week is all about celebrating the everyday items we can recycle from home. Did you know that we now collect toothpaste tubes for recycling? All you have to do is give it a good old squeeze and send it on its way to recycling heaven.

This #SecondHandSeptember, Peter Salisbury, chair of trustees at Bicester Green, reveals how regular Repair Cafés are a building a more sustainable, circular economy. Read more and find a Repair Café near you www.climateactionoxf...#SecondHandSeptember,#YourChoicesMatter

Thames Water are attending the burst water main on West Bar Street in Banbury. Please consider using an alternative route if you're travelling in the area. Thames Water will be posting updates on the situation at this address: www.thameswater.co.u...

Meet Mohammed from Fantastic Falafel! Mohammed has been delighting customers at Banbury Charter Market this year, and his authentic falafel offerings have quickly become a local favourite.

We'll be holding the first of our FREE Older People's Day events on Wednesday 24 September. Come and join us at Bicester East Community Centre from 9am to 1pm for taster sessions, including health checks, fitness, and repair activities.

Two people running an illegal dog breeding business in Cherwell were sentenced following an investigation by our licensing team.

Did you know hedgehogs are in decline across the UK? The good news is you can make a real difference right from your garden!

📆Applications for the Active Neighbourhood Ideas Fund for Banbury Grimsbury close on 19th September! Got an idea of how to make Grimsbury a better place to be active? We want to hear from you! 🏃‍♂️ Click below to make your voice heard, and be part of shaping your community.🗣️ lnkd.in/ecVUwdXs

The summer of sport has rolled into autumn, and if the start of the World Athletics Championships this weekend has got you wanting to grab your running (or walking!) shoes, why not check out the Go Jauntly app to find some beautiful Cherwell routes.

With the Renters’ Rights Bill set to come into force soon, landlords can get help navigating legislative changes at a special forum happening this week, hosted in partnership with the National Residential Landlords Association. www.cherwell.gov.uk/...

The Grimsbury area of Banbury now has a new Football Foundation PlayZone for the community to enjoy! It opened to the public for the first time on Friday evening and is ideal for use by groups of friends, local teams, schools and clubs.

We're pleased to announce that the concept design for the transformation of Bicester Market Square has been approved, with a £5.1 million budget from central government and county S106 funding.

The UK government is testing the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm. Compatible mobile phones and tablets will receive an alert, make a loud siren-like sound and vibrate. You will not need to take any action.

Very proud to have been invited to chair @cherwellcouncil.bsky.social Volunteer Sector Forum this morning. Thanks to all the speakers and to all the volunteer organisations that attended. You all help make Cherwell an amazing place to live!

✅ Our new Domestic Abuse Policy was agreed by the executive committee on Tuesday. It's all about making sure people receive sensitive and tailored support when they get in touch with us for help with housing or escaping an abuser. (1/2)

We're delighted to have so many colleagues from local partner organisations joining us for the Cherwell Voluntary Sector Forum. On the agenda are speakers from Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action, Age UK Oxfordshire, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Fire & Rescue Service.

The August bank holiday weekend is nearly here! This means our offices at Castle Quay and phone lines will be closed from 5.15pm today (Friday, 22) and will reopen for business at 9am on Tuesday, 26 August.

Did you know we have a wonderful team of Youth Activators that work with schools across the district? Harry B, Harry H, Laura, Hayley and Sophie run a range of sessions with primary and secondary schools.

Last week we saw a record 8,731 people watch online as our planning committee resolved to approve Oxford United’s application for a new stadium at the Triangle site in Kidlington. Read more about the decision and next steps at, www.cherwell.gov.uk/...

National Allotments Week runs until 17 August. However, if you want to grow something edible but don’t have an allotment, how about planting a community orchard? Find out more here www.climateactionoxf...

We’re thrilled to share that our business waste team has been shortlisted for a Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) award! 🏆

Banbury - Princess Diana Park / Summerfest Playday is ready to GO! 👍 @cherwellcouncil.bsky.social

We're delighted to be joining our partners at the family friendly The Greatest Summer Fest 2025 at Princess Diana Park in Banbury on Wednesday. The free event will have a range of fun activities for everyone to get stuck into, from play zones to zorbing & music to face painting!

Enterprise Oxfordshire's Spark and Accelerator programmes provided a very impressive 1,300 hours of support to 165 businesses in their first delivery phase. www.cherwell.gov.uk/... 1/3

Bicester Garrison/ Ambrosden - Your Playday is ready to GO! 👍 @cherwellcouncil.bsky.social

It’s #NationalBreastfeedingWeek, we’re proud to support breastfeeding families, whether you're visiting us or returning to work.

It's fab to see the latest progress on our new Football Foundation PlayZone, which we're delivering in partnership with Banbury Town Council at Chandos Close. 1/3

Join Cherwell District Council for free physical activity sessions for 5 to 11 year olds on 6 & 8 August in #Banbury 📅 Book your space ➡ https://bit.ly/4ootyHc @cherwellcouncil.bsky.social

We’ve had an amazing response to the #Bicester mural project. Thank you to everyone who’s submitted so far! To give one last opportunity for more local talent to get involved, we’re extending the submission deadline to Friday, 8 August at 5pm Apply now: www.cherwell.gov.uk/Bicester-mural-project

🏅Cherwell’s Youth Activators programme has encouraged pupils to get active on their own terms and engaged families in after-school sports and games, reaching: 🔹3,355 pupils in Term 5 🔹4,711 pupils in Term 6 🔗To learn more about our programmes, visit lnkd.in/gwHMz6q @cherwellcouncil.bsky.social

Looking for some ideas for child-friendly activities over the summer holidays? Next week we will be holding free physical activity sessions for 5 to 11 year olds on Wednesday, 6 August and Friday, 8 August.

The deadline to submit your mural proposal is fast approaching! If you want to be a part of bringing bold colour and creativity to the centre of Bicester make sure to submit your interest by 5pm this Friday, 1 August!

Have our incredible #Lionesses inspired your children to lace up their boots and try out football? Why not check out our free park sessions for 5 to 11 year olds!

Our highly knowledgeable waste and recycling team will be hitting the road to visit local markets over the next few weeks with a pop up recycling stall. They'll be on hand to provide their top tips for managing your waste and sharing best practice for recycling.

We were very honoured to be joined by Tim Davies's family to remember our much loved and respected colleague with the installation of a bench memorial plaque on Sheep Street in Bicester.

Worried about rising energy bills? You may be eligible for free home upgrades through Oxfordshire County Council’s Warm Homes: Local Grant. Funding is limited, so apply now to avoid missing out at www.welcomethewarmth...

Dinner at a restaurant should be something you enjoy in the knowledge that it's been safely prepared in a clean kitchen. Our environmental health officers will take formal enforcement action if a catering business is committing serious food hygiene breaches. 1/3

Here's a quick look back a wonderful #Banbury Play Day! Thank you to everyone who came, and to our partner organisations for such an engaging, community-focussed day of fun. @archoxfordshire.bsky.social ‪@oxon-play-assoc.bsky.social‬

Fantastic day today at Banbury Playday! A brilliant turnout and great to see so many amazing organisations within the #Banbury community. We gave away a whole box of books for free to children- happy reading for all! Thanks to for having us @cherwellcouncil.bsky.social

Come to People’s Park tomorrow from 11am to 3pm for a day of child-friendly fun! Many of the fantastic community groups that make #Banbury such a special place to live will be in attendance, offering exciting stalls and activities for all ages. 1/2

A meeting of the council yesterday saw councillors approve the new Local Plan for submission to government. The Plan is a vision for sustainable development that will help protect our landscape assets and provide for new housing and infrastructure. www.cherwell.gov.uk/...

Staying on top of your hydration game doesn’t have to mean buying more plastic. The #Refill app helps you find places which offer free drinking water to encourage the use of reusable bottles and help cut plastic waste. 1/2

Is your small or medium business ready for a boost? If so, read on because the Cherwell Business Spark and Cherwell Business Accelerator programmes are set for a comeback! #SME #business 1/3

Are you a local artist to Bicester? Yes? We'd love to hear from you! We’re bringing bold colour and creativity to the centre of Bicester with three large-scale murals, located between Sheep Street and Pioneer Square, and we want you to be part of it.

There are lots of easy and affordable alternatives to leaving old furniture or white goods out in the street! 1/3

Calling all parents and guardians! There are still places available on the August Active Leaders UK course. It’s an affordable and inspiring opportunity for 14 to 18 year-olds to develop leadership qualities, confidence and employability skills. 1/3

Government will replace district and county councils with unitary authorities in a few years’ time. To help us get new local government arrangements right, we need to hear from you! Our public engagement survey closes on Wednesday. Visit twocouncils.org/get-...