Help wanted!
The City and County Councils have encouraged WOM to apply for an active communities grant to establish a network of community guardians across west Oxford to act as a link between residents and local government, listening to local people and their concerns and sharing information with them on any impending planning applications, with the aim of putting local people at the heart of shaping our community and endeavouring to develop west Oxford solutions to local need. The guardians would receive support and mentoring and would each have a small budget to spend in their area. If you are interested in becoming a community guardian, please contact Stanley Skogluns at skogluns@hotmail.co.uk or on Oxford 246001.

Grafitti busters are needed to help remove graffiti on the towpath adjacent to Abbey Road. Please contact PC Jan Warner at Jan.Warner@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk if you’re willing to help.

West Oxford Branch Surgery
Susanna Pressel, city and county councillor, is organising a petition against the planned closure of the branch surgery at WOCC. Contact her at cllrspressel@oxford.gov.uk.

Frideswide Square
Both options under consideration involve gyratory systems, one with a central roundabout the length of the square, the other with two small roundabouts linked by roadway going east/west. The proposal is to do away with traffic lights and marked crossing points, though these may be an option to be introduced later.

It is envisaged that traffic will self-regulate at 10-15mph. The aim is that drivers should feel that they are intruding on pedestrian space and moderate their speed accordingly. There will be no separation of buses from general traffic. It is anticipated that the gyratory system will be inherently more efficient than a signalised junction.

Cyclox is not happy with either scheme from a cyclist’s perspective, feeling that neither is sufficiently refined to go to decision. OCCl says that once it has approval to proceed with detailed design, resolving the question of cycle provision will be one of its main priorities.” Cyclox understands that the council is quite happy to talk further about getting the proposals right. To read more about Cyclox’s objections, go to http://www.cyclox.org/what-we-say/cyclox-response-to-frideswide-square-consultation/.

Residents present at the WOM meeting discussed the positives and negatives of the respective schemes, and possible additions to them.

The proposals go to cabinet on 13 March.

The group is distributing and asking for the completion of the attached survey to establish specific crime issues and areas of concern for the community. This year surveys can be sent and returned via e-mail, but we will of course be completing them face to face at our “Have Your Say” or “Coffee with Cops” meetings where possible.

To return by e-mail, fill in the form, save as your own document and then e-mail back (the reply address is in the document). The results of the surveys will determine the three main concerns that the NAG will work to address over the following year.

Robert also pointed to a wealth of material on the Oxford City Council website relating to Osney Island’s conservation area status, including the comprehensive and well-illustrated area appraisal. These documents can be viewed/downloaded from http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decP/Osney_Town_occw.htm.

A previous year

Tea on the Towpath, Saturday 19 June from 2.30 pm ­to 5 pm, is the main OIRA event for 2010. We’ll have the gazebos, bunting, tables and chairs along the towpath with teas, coffee and organic juice for children, delicious homemade cakes and biscuits and locally produced fruit, cut flowers, vegetables, plants and preserves for sale. Bob Summers will be demonstrating how to make baskets and his lovely baskets will be on sale too. There will be a stall selling books and old gardening tools, and children are welcome to sell their old toys. Pasting tables are available for hire @ £10 to sell homemade crafts  etc (but no new or old clothes please).
 
Any offers of help to bake cakes, donate preserves and spare fruit, herbs and vegetables from the lottie, run a stall or help set up and take down would be very gratefully received. If you can help, please contact Bianca Elgar on 202977 or Elizabeth Newbery 793360.

National Flood Forum, the charity dedicated to helping flood victims, is launching the country’s first national survey on flood insurance, as well as urging the present government to honour their predecessors’ commitment to hold a cross party flood insurance summit.

To take this opportunity to voice your concerns and make sure you are heard, click here.

We’ll have more news on our summer event, Tea on the Towpath, and our review of OIRA’s constitution, bringing it up to date. We will bring you more news of plans to reduce flooding in West Oxford and we hope to have a member of the Environment Agency as our special guest star. OIRA is your association, so please come along and help to shape the future direction of your community association and join in the debate. And remember to come along and vote!