Stories for 28 January 2005

Oxfordshire Business

Closure threat to soft drinks plant

Staff at a Kidlington soft drinks company are waiting for news on the future of their jobs after bosses said they were considering closing the plant.   more...

City's Allders store 'will be snapped up'

Large department store chains will be queuing up to take over Allders in Oxford, say property experts.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Confidence in police increases

Burglary is the crime of greatest concern to Thames Valley residents -- but most people say they are happy with the police's performance.   more...

Howard is one of the lucky ones

SIR -- Asylum Welcome exists to provide support to asylum seekers in Oxfordshire.   more...

Labour to blame for masts law

SIR -- New Labour MP Andrew Smith says that residents feel that their views have been ignored and they have been left out of the consultation process about the siting of a mobile phone mast (Oxford Mail, January 24).   more...

Council hails 4.5% increase in tax

County council leader Keith Mitchell has trumpeted this year's council tax rise of 4.5 per cent as the "lowest rise for some considerable time".   more...

Students remember victims of Holocaust

Oxford University students gathered outside the Sheldonian Theatre in Broad Street last night for a candle-lit vigil in memory of Holocaust victims.   more...

Candidates face electors

Voters will get the chance to quiz Oxford West and Abingdon's General Election candidates on February 4.   more...

Worries aired

The boss of Oxford Airport has moved to allay people's fears over plans for major changes at the airfield.   more...

Minister visits tsunami appeal call centre

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn praised staff at an Oxford call centre for their fundraising efforts for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.   more...

Club is urged to swap leaders

A member of Oxford's troubled Morris Motors Athletics and Social Club is to present a petition to chairman Tom Doliamie demanding a special meeting to nominate a new executive committee.   more...

Costly vision

An Oxford artist says his astronomical painting is worth an astronomical price -- £3m, to be precise   more...

Closure threat to soft drinks plant

Staff at a Kidlington soft drinks company are waiting for news on the future of their jobs after bosses said they were considering closing the plant.   more...

Teenager in court

A schoolboy accused of stabbing an Oxford student to death has appeared before a district judge.   more...

'Fight for our town' against house plans

People in Didcot and surrounding villages are being urged to "fight for the town" as public consultation on future housebuilding is launched.   more...

January 28: Endangered species

Lollipop wardens have provided an essential service for decades, doing strange hours in all weathers for modest rewards.   more...

Danger road limit cut

A new speed limit is to be introduced by Oxfordshire County Council on a busy and dangerous main road outside Bicester.   more...

No problems with flat plan

Town councillors have no objections to plans to turn two vacant shop units in Wantage into flats.   more...

Proposals lodged

Plans for the redevelopment of part of the Howland Road industrial estate in Thame have been lodged with South Oxfordshire District Council by owners of the adjacent metal castings factory W Lucy.   more...

'Glut' of crime measures

An Oxfordshire council is to write to the Government complaining about the "glut" of proposed new law and order legislation designed to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.   more...

'Rich' company must do better

SIR -- Sewage again came bubbling out of the manholes in Oxford Road, Littlemore, Oxford, on Friday, January 14.   more...

Mean streets

Lollipop ladies and gentlemen could soon become a thing of the past, driven out of their jobs by danger, abuse and even crime committed by the children they are trying to protect.   more...

'Direct funding will help schools'

Plans to hand new powers to Oxfordshire schools should see millions of pounds being released to heads by the local education authority.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: Davies backs United

Talented teenage striker Craig Davies insists he wants to remain at Oxford United.   more...

Speedway: Hamill and Hancock to join forces again

Former world champion Billy Hamill is set to renew his partnership with fellow American Greg Hancock as the Oxford Silver Machine team for the new season begins to take shape.   more...

Fixtures: The week's sporting calender

SATURDAY   more...

Football: Chippy hunt boss as Fowler quits

CHIPPING Norton Town are looking for a new manager, following the departure of Tim Fowler.   more...

Rugby: Henley's hopes are hit by Lubans blow

Lock forward Dave Lubans is missing as Henley visit Sedgley Park in a National League 1 match tomorrow (2.30) which is crucial to their hopes of beating the drop.   more...

Football: Banbury chief hails return of the Matt

Banbury United have been given a massive boost after striker Matty Gooderick declared himself fit for Southern League Premier Division action after ending his two-and-a-half year broken-leg nightmare with a goal in his comeback game.   more...

Badminton: Pollard stars as Oxon grab first victory

Faye Pollard produced a devastating display as Oxfordshire recorded their first win of the season in Division 1B of the Inter-County Championships with an 8-7 victory at Derbyshire 2nd.   more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Assault on Precinct 13 (15)

Was John Carpenter's 1976 thriller good enough to justify a remake? I don't think so.   more...

Stunning opera

The Ukrainian National Opera Of Odessa is being brought to the New Theatre, Oxford, by Ellen Kent and Opera International to perform a stunning version of Verdi's La Traviata on February 3.   more...

Jurassic gold

You only have to listen to bands like The Killers and Franz Ferdinand to know that we are in the midst of a serious 1980s revival.   more...

Nations unleash battle of words

Some of the best slam poets in the world will gather at the Zodiac club in Oxford on Tuesday to fight with words.   more...

Meet the Fockers (12A)

Ben Stiller says he's worried about being seen on screen too much at the moment - and he should be, considering he's slumped to this low standard.   more...

Man of war

Jon Lee Anderson denies that he's a 'war junkie' despite having hung out in Afghanistan, Liberia, Panama and now Iraq, preferring to describe his calling as "reporting on places that are engulfed in conflict, where history is being made".   more...

Twins cause mayhem

on January 29, Creation Theatre Company begins the celebrations for its 10th anniversary year with the opening night of The Comedy of Errors in the spectacular Mirror Tent at the BMW Group Plant in Cowley, Oxford.   more...

Laughter and sadness on bill

The double bill season continues at The Burton Taylor Theatre, Oxford, from Tuesday with two contrasting shows.   more...

Alternative gig

Top UK alternative outfit Six By Seven return to promote their new single Ocean/Clouds -- which they are giving away to everyone who comes along to their shows.   more...

Gonna be loud

Hardcore novices be warned -- January 30's joint-headline gig featuring Underoath and The Hurt Process at the Zodiac can be expected to be very loud.   more...

Quick fix

It's been a good few months for lovers of up-and-coming Oxford bands, with a series of showcase gigs and albums showing us where the future of rock and roll truly lies.   more...

Michael joins the food elite

It was quite a 26th birthday for chef Michael North this month. First came a celebratory lunch at Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck at Bray -- one of Britain's top trio of restaurants with three Michelin stars -- and then the news that his own even fatter duck, in fact a fully fledged Goose, had itself achieved star status in the 2005 Michelin Guide published that very day.   more...

Comedian opts for bald stance

Andy Parsons, the multi-award- winning 'slaphead King of Hilarity' is appearing at The Bullingdon in Cowley Road, Oxford, on February 2 for the pub's monthly comedy night.   more...