Local News & Issues

To make it easier to find the news that you are interested in, we have divided the items into two categories. Since sections are quite long, each section can be shown or hidden by clicking on its title.

Local Issues:

These are the major issues affecting our local community and its surroundings. Other news is shown afterwards (click on heading to reveal)

West Way retail site redevelopment – The redevelopment started mid-2018 and will continue until 2021. The first shops are expected to open September 2020 (Coop, Tesco, Iceland, Lloyds & Chancellors). The latest Newsletter from Mace is here
- Residents’ dismay after trees felled at West Way – Oxford Mail 28 Feb
- New Oxford shopping precinct West Way opening soon – Oxford Mail 16 Jan
- West Way opening: small shops pray for footfall boost – Oxford Mail 19 Jan
- PICTURES: Botley’s West Way centre from opening to demolition – Oxford Mail 19 Jan
Louie Memorial Field Pavilion – The parish council is proposing to replace the existing Pavilion and Scout hut with a single, multi-purpose building. A planning application was submitted in March 2019 and everyone is encouraged to comment on it.
- Revamp of Louie Memorial Fields in Botley set for final approval – Oxford Mail 27 July
- Controversial new pavilion plan on Louie Memorial Fields site in Botley is approved – Oxford Mail 2 Aug
Oxford Flood Alleviation Channel – The environment agency is proposing to make a wide, shallow channel from the Botley Road south to Redbridge to divert some flood water away from the east of the flood plain to the west of it. It involves removing thousands of trees and involves huge earthworks. There will be a public enquiry mid-2019
- Oxford councils ‘object’ to land grab for flood channel – Oxford Mail Fri14 Jun
Oxford-Cambridge Expressway – A proposed new road from Oxford to Cambridge via Milton Keynes. https://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/18163397.new-oxford-shopping-precinct-west-way-opening-soon/Two possible routes for this affect Botley – either widening the A34 through Botley or using the A420 and then the A34 past Wytham. The No Expressway Alliance is opposed to the expressway at all and has support from the parish council and other local bodies.

Other Local News:

New B&Q in Oxford ‘ready to open’ but stores are shut due to coronavirus crisis – Oxford Mail Thur 27 Mar

Initiatives & Charities

Campaigns, consultations and petitions Who’s campaigning for what in our area? Campaign for Botley Skate Park. A number of local youngsters (and their parents) want a skate park to be built on Louie Memorial Upper Field and 866 people have signed their petition. Find out more on our special Issues feature. This campaign also has …

Local Government

This page contains information and links about all levels of Government and our elected representatives in this area. There are three levels of local councils in this area starting with Parish Councils at the most local level, then the District Council and finally the County Council. The Vale of White Horse District Council has useful …

Local Issue – West Way retail site redevelopment

Summary of issue: Plans are afoot to redevelop the West Way Shopping Centre site surrounding Elms Parade shops. Initially this was solely the east end of the site as descibed in early information provided on the VOWH District Council website however the area impacted on expanded considerably under the failed 2014 Doric scheme, then shrunk back slightly under the …

The Sprout Online

There is no printed copy of The Sprout for May 2020. Click on the image above to view the on-line version If you’ve mislaid or recycled your copy already and want to read it again (or any back copies). Don’t forget that Botley Library has spare copies. You can read some past copies on line (note …

Oxford Times etc.

Customers welcomed as DFS reopens in Oxford May 30, 2020
A FURNITURE store in Oxford has now reopened after homeware stores were given the green light from the Government.
Property forum discusses merits of trams in Oxford May 30, 2020
INTRODUCING lightweight, battery-powered trams to the streets of Oxford has piqued the interest of business gurus as a means of cleaning up the city.
North Oxford golfers ask for pause on housing plans May 30, 2020
GOLFERS want Oxford City Council to postpone the adoption of an important planning document for more consideration during the pandemic.
Hill End Film launched for 100 years of Wytham Estate May 30, 2020
A NEW film and poetry book have been released to celebrate the centenary of the Wytham Estate.
Botley Bridges hosts lockdown baby groups to assist parents May 30, 2020
A CHILDREN’S charity has started running online baby groups during lockdown to give local families support during the coronavirus pandemic.
Oxford housing charity Response wants landlords to help house 200 kids May 30, 2020
An Oxford housing charity is looking to rent 60 homes across the county for 200 kids.