News Services

• CPRE Oxfordshire Monthly Campaign Briefing. A monthly digest of local and national news about the rural landscape, including planning and environmental news. Sign-up and back issues
• CPRE Oxfordshire Bulletin. A full colour magazine published twice a year. Index and PDF versions
• CPRE Oxfordshire in the Media
• CPRE South East eBulletin. A monthly digest of campaign and planning news from around the south east, including the South East Plan. Sign-up and back issues
• RSS. Get the most up-to-date CPRE Oxfordshire news through RSS: CPRE Oxfordshire news
• CPRE in the news. Headlines and links to news stories featuring CPRE around the country

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CPRE Oxfordshire News Headlines

2010

August 2010

• August 27th: Cutteslowe wind turbine plans put on hold.

• August 26th: EiP Hearings into Oxford Core Strategy to resume on 14 September.

• August 19: Public Inquiry into Thames Water's proposed reservoir concludes.

July 2010

• July 30th: County Council signs contract with Viridor for incinerator at Ardley before planning permission granted.

• July 26th: The government responds to the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme consultation.

• July 16: Presentation of evidence on Abingdon reservoir concludes at Public Inquiry.th:

• July 13th: Oxford Core Strategy Examination - Resumption of Hearings.

• July 7: CPRE disappointed that Fewcott Wind Farm gets go-ahead on appeal.

• July 6: Ardley Incinerator plans will meet strong opposition at public inquiry, warns CPRE Oxfordshire.

• July 2 2010: Walkers braved the heat wave to do the Oxford Green Spaces Circular Sponsored Walk on Sunday.

June 2010

• June 24 2010: CPRE responds to the consultations on the Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan 3 (2011 - 2030) and the Thornhill Park & Ride expansion project 2010.
• June 17 2010: CPRE calls on Oxford City Council to take heed of the Coalition Government’s commitment to promote green spaces and wildlife corridors.
• June 14: Oxford Core Strategy EIP: resumption of hearing sessions postponed by Inspector.
• June 11: Public Inquiry into proposed Abingdon Reservoir to begin in Oxford on Tuesday, 15th June.

May 2010

• May 28: CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies and more say for local communities – but urges action to avoid policy vacuum.
• May 25: CPRE welcomes OCC's rejection of minerals quota for county.
• May 13th: New Coalition Government publishes its agreed policy on the environment.
• May 11th: Warneford Meadow has finally been registered a Town Green!
• May 10th: Secretary of State’s proposed changes to the South East Plan minerals policy have been published.

April 2010

• April 27th: Consent Order regarding South Oxford Strategic Development Area soon to be agreed.
• April 22nd: Northern Gateway plan has been scaled down by city planners.
• April 1st: First phase of eco-development at NW Bicester to go ahead.

March 2010

• March 24th: OBMH accepts the outcome of the Warneford Meadow Judicial Review and
  will not be proceeding to further appeal.
• March 23rd: High Court ruling brings Warneford Meadow one step closer to being protected forever.
• March 18th: SODC postpone decision on Core Strategy until after election.
• March 17th: CPRE Oxforshire submits its Statement of Case to DEFRA in advance of the public inquiry into the Thames Water Resources Magement Plan, which is proposing a large reservoir near Abingdon.
• March 15th: CPRE Oxfordshire issues its 'Manifesto for the Countryside 2010'.
• March 12th. CPRE responds to Oxford City Council's letter to the Inspector of the Examination in Public of the Core Strategy.
• March 11th: White Paper on High Speed 2 reveals new rail line is to pass through northeastern tip of Ploughley and Bicester District in Oxfordshire.
• March 9th: Public Inquiry begins into Fewcott wind farm.
• March 5th: Public consultation begins on Cherwell Core Strategy.
• March 4th: March 2010: Public consultation begins on West Oxfordshire Core Strategy.
• March 1st: Judge reserves judgement on case of Warneford Meadow Town Green.

February 2010

• February 23rd: CPRE responds to the TWA application by Chiltern Railways.
• February 10th: CPRE tells Inspector Pratt that the City Council ought to start again on its Core Strategy.
• February 8th: £9.5 million cash boost for NW Bicester eco-development.

January 2010

• January 28th: First major national survey of the environmental state of Green Belt land and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife is published today by CPRE and Natural England.
• January 14th: Date set for Warneford Meadow Town Green Judicial Review.
• January 11th: Procedural Meeting on City's Core Strategy postponed.
• January 5th: CPRE responds to the Planning Inspectorate about the implications of the legal challenges to the South East Plan for the Oxford Core Strategy.
• January 4th: Viridor appeals against OCC's decision to refuse planning permission for an incinerator at Ardley, near Bicester.

2009

December 2009

• December 10th 2009: Bicester will receive a share of £60-million government fund allocated to new eco-towns.
• December 8th: DEFRA publishes details of the public inquiry into the Abingdon reservoir, which will be held in June/July 2010.
• December 3rd 2009: Summit to be held over eco-extension to Bicester.
• December 1st 2009: The Planning Inspectorate asks City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges to the South East Plan for the Core Strategy.

November 2009

• November 26th 2009: Public invited to have their say on future of Radley Lakes site.
• November 19th 2009: ‘Resounding Victory’ for Oxford’s Green Belt says CPRE.
• November 17th 2009: Bolsterstone appeals the decision on the wind farm at Fewcott.
• November 9th 2009: Gordon Garraway, CPRE Rights of Way Consultant, wins this year's Marsh Award.
• November 5th 2009: City Council planning wind turbine in Cutteslowe Park.

October 2009

• October 28th: Inspector's Report on City Core Strategy delayed due to uncertainty over SDA to the south of the city.
• October 20th 2009: OCC Planning Committee reject planning applications for both incinerators!
• October 15th 2009: Oxfordshire County Council could approve two incinerators.

September 2009

• September 29th 2009: CPRE Oxfordshire wins legal challenge to South East Plan.
• September 21st 2009: Cherwell District Council says eco town progresses behind the scenes.
• September 14th 2009: CPRE’s Legal Challenge to SE Plan likely to be heard in New Year.
• September 11th 2009: CPRE opposes the proposed 'Northern Gateway' business park at public review of the city council's local plan.
• September 8th 2009: “Proposed Incinerator at Ardley will seriously damage the local environment and have a major impact on the transport network” warns CPRE Oxfordshire.

August 2009

• August 28 2009: Cycling septuagenarian highlights threats to Oxford’s Green Belt
• August 25 2009: "Don’t sacrifice landscape for the environment” warns CPRE in response to City Council’s Horspath wind turbine project.
• August 5 2009: The Secretary of State has called for a public inquiry into Thames Water's draft Water Resources Management Plan.
• August 4 2009: August 4 2009: CPRE opposes the proposed development at Grenoble Road at a public review of the city council's local plan.

July 2009

• July 16 2009: .CPRE welcomes Government's decision to drop Weston Otmoor from final eco-town shortlist
• July 14 2009: Government due to announce eco-town sites on Thursday.
• July 10 2009: MPS Call for action to protect scenic countryside from aircraft noise.

June 2009

• June 29 2009: New Branch Chairman elected at CPRE's 2009 AGM.
• June 15 2009: CPRE Oxon takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat.
• June 5 2009: Oxford and Buckingshire Mental Health Foundation Trust challenge Town Green status of Warneford Meadow.

May 2009

• May 29 2009: Radley Parish Council calls off bid for Town Green Status as Northmoor Trust is nominated manager for Radley Lakes site.
• May 11 2009: CPRE publishes '2026 - A Vision for the Countryside'.
• May 6 2009: "South East Plan Shockingly Bad News for Oxfordshire" says CPRE.

April 2009

• April 30 2009: Public consultation on eco-town ends today - CPRE Oxon submits its response.
• April 23 2009: Cherwell District Council throws out wind farm proposal.
• April 19 2009: CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' Campaign Walk and Rally.
• April 6 2009: OCC Planning Committee vote to register Warneford Meadow as a Town Green!
• April 6 2009: Eco-Towns Policy may have unlawful consequences says CPRE National Office QC.

March 2009

• March 31 2009: Cherwell District Council to support eco development at NW Bicester if ten caveats are recognised.
• March 27 2009: CPRE lanches 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign.
• March 15 2009: CPRE opposes proposed incinerators in Oxfordshire.
• March 12 2009: CPRE comes out in support of local residents opposed to the Bryant Homes plan to build 100 houses on Eynsham floodplain.
• March 11 2009: Final two Assessment Reports on proposed eco-towns are published.
• March 6 2009: SODC's draft Core Strategy proposes Green Belt reviews for Berinsfield and Wheatley.
• March 5 2009: Housing Minister visits site of proposed eco-development in NW Bicester.
• March 3 2009: Consultants suggest NW Bicester eco-development has potential.
• March 2 2009: Thames Water issues its Statement of Response to Defra.
• March 1 2009: Eco-town enquiry extended.

February 2009

• February 26 2009: Another Assessment Report is published on Transport - with nothing positive to say for Weston Otmoor.
• February 19 2009: CPRE expresses concern that an updated map of the 'northern gateway' site, released by Oxford City Council, has been enlarged to take in part of the Green Belt.
• February 1Oxfordshire County Council passes the application to build the Cogges Link Road8 2009: .
• February 12 2009: Oxford Times to put eco-town questions to Housing Minister.
• February 12 2009: Two new reports by independent consultants raise further questions about merits of Weston Otmoor.
• February 10 2009: Thames Water to submit its Statement of Response to Defra by Friday 27 February.
• February 9 2009: George Lloyd Jones, of St Edward's, Oxford, wins the CPRE Stephen Hart Memorial Art Competition.

January 2009

• 28th January 2009: Cherwell District Council calls on Secretary of State to reconsider scope and content of eco-town Sustainability Appraisal and the form of the proposed PPS.
• 27th January 2009: High Court rejects Judicial Review Challenge.
• 20th January 2009: Campaigners against the Cogges Link Road launch a surprise Town Green application to stop the development.
• 20th January 2009: Warneford Meadow remains under threat.
• 15th January 2009: Weston Otmoor would have a damaging impact on Bicester says a report by consultant Arup & Partners.
• 8th January: Weston Front Judicial Review Proceedings on eco-town consultation to take place on 22 and 23 January.

2008

December 2008

• 17th December: Radley Lakes to be gifted to local community and managed by local wildlife organisation says RWE npower.
• 18th December: 86% people disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposals for Weston Otmoor admits Parkridge.
• 11th December: Campaigners against Cogges Link Road start new attack.
• 8th December: The case (for the reservoir) is very far from proved" says Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency.
• 3rd December: House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee say housing targets are putting pressure on greenfield land. It also calls for re-examination of eco-town proposals.

November 2008

• 28th: CPRE raises funds for The Wychwood Path-side Hedgerow Project.
• 28th:Weston Otmoor and Cherwell eco-town roadshow.
• 13th: Ed Vaisey MP secures a debate in parliament on the proposed reservoir.
• 11th: Prime Minister's Office responds to HandsOff! Our Green Belt petition.
• 6th:Cherwell District Council's Eco-Town concept reflects current housing plans.
• 5th: CPRE Oxfordshire Press Release: 'CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes Government's admission that Weston Otmoor is unsuitable for an eco-town'.
• 4th: Thames Water's Statement of Response postponed until February 2009.
• 4th:CPRE Oxfordshire Press Release: 'CPRE Oxfordshire renews attack on Government's eco-town plans as policy statement looms'.

October 2008

• 21st: Oxford City Council plot to fast track plans to grab Green Belt land.
• 17th: Warneford Meadow Town Green application successful.
• 17th: CPRE comments on Oxford Core Strategy.
• 7th: SODC kept in dark over boundary review.

September 2008

• 30th: New coalition, led by Shelter, backs eco-town.
• 26th: SODC leader, Ann Ducker, says she will not agree to shift boundary between South Oxon and Oxford City.
• 15th: Homelessness charity Shelter is under fire for using £100,000 of Government money to publish eco-town propaganda.
• 12th: CPRE NO welcomes testing of eco-towns in High Court.
• 11th: Parkridge makes public its 'Weston Otmoor - Final Bid Presentation'.
• 9th: Planning Inspectorate dismisses appeal by Oxford University to build depository in Osney Mead. See CPRE Oxon's opinion given at the public inquiry in July.
• 9th: CPRE West Oxon launches fierce attack on planned Cogges Link Road.
• 8th: Oxford City Council bids to change its boundary with SODC to pave way for urban extension.

August 2008

• 27th: CPRE Oxfordshire responds to Thames Water's consultation on dWRMP.
• 25th: CPRE Oxfordshire responds to SODC consultation on South of Oxford Urban Extension.
• 7th: CPRE Oxfordshire supports OCC initiative to switch off street lighting at night.

July 2008

• 18th: CPRE Oxfordshire rebuttal to Parkridge's 'myths' about eco-town.

June 2008

• 30th CPRE NO says Goverment should re-think its 'eco-town' programme.
• 25th CPRE Oxfordshire response to the 'eco-town' consultation.
• 24th OCC to tell government it has major concerns about 'Weston Otmoor'.
• 24th GARD commissions an expert on water resources to scrutinise Thames Water's WRMP
• 23rd Eco-Town Challenge Panel Report.
• 6th National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Consultation on proposed changes to air routes over Chilterns AONB ends.
• 6thThe proposed eco-town scheme near Weston-on-the-Green would need substantial amendments in order to go forward, the Government has hinted.

May 2008

• 13th. CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes the news that fly-tipping rates are dropping in west Oxfordshire.
• 16th Vision 20:26 - The Future of Oxfordshire's Countryside.
• Thames Water publishes draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) .
• Green Belt Loss a Daily Reality Despite Government Pledges says CPRE NO.

April 2008

• Weston Otmoor included on a list of potential eco-town locations.

March 2008

• Proposed changes to the airspace over the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
• Sites identified for 3,700 homes in West Oxfordshire.
• The long-awaited countdown to a Cogges Link Road, Witney, is about to start.
• Planning Inspector averts ‘creeping urbanisation' into the Green Belt in Horspath.
• 20th Wind turbines proposed for Hinksey Heights and Cuttleslowe Park.
• 4th Southfields Golf Course saved from development.

February 2008

• 28th Battle to save Radley Lake goes on.
• 18th. RWE npower announce decision to defer plans to fill Thrupp Lake.
• Development of Shipton-on-Cherwell Quarry gets Green Light.
• Cogges Link Road to be one of the alternatives for consideration by OCC.
• Plans for wind turbines in Cowley and Sandford.

January 2008

• Government response to the Report of the Independent Panel delayed until later this year.
• 25th. Warnford Meadow Town Green Inquiry adjourned till 18th May.
• 14th. County Council Rejects Application For Town Green Status for Radley Lakes.

2007

December 2007

• NO NEWS HEADLINES

November 2007

• NO NEWS HEADLINES

October 2007

• 29th. Does Natural England threaten Oxford’s Green Belt?
• 26th. CPRE calls for Thames Water to adopt "repair, reduce and recycle" for its 25 year strategy
• 25th. CPRE Oxford Autumn 2007 Bulletin published. Tranquillity, the Green Belt, Grenoble Road, Green Grid, nuclear power, South East Plan and much more. Read it online
• 20th. CPRE is calling for a joined-up approach to finding the best solutions to replacing the fragile medieval bridge at Newbridge
• 16th. "Devastated at the result, devastated at the destruction that will now hit Thrupp Lake." Radley Lakes is refused Town Green status
• 12th. CPRE calls for a Green Grid for Oxford.

September 2007

• 26th. A Water Resource Strategy for the South East. CPRE South East has published a comprehensive study of water supply in the South East.
• 25th. Campaigners dismayed at delayed Radley Lakes judgement
• 21st. As the deadline for comments on the Warneford Meadow appeal closes, CPRE maintains that the Health Trusts have not submitted applications of adequate quality
• 10th. Cycle to Recycle: A Radley Lakes Protest on 15 September 2007
• 10th. Oxfordshire is losing its rural tranquillity at a greater rate than ever before
• 7th. Warneford Meadow Town Green Appeal
• 7th. "Worst of both worlds". Government inspectors cut the level of affordable houses planned for Central Oxfordshire by nearly 1,000
• 5th. CPRE South East eBulletin on the Inspectors Report: "There should be no doubt that this report will deliver increased urban sprawl while failing to tackle the problems of housing affordability, and will lead to worsened congestion that will ultimately constipate the economy."

August 2007

• South East planners should leave the reservoir decision to the Environment Agency. 29 August
• Planners will create two Oxfordshires: Oxfordshire to get 56,400 more houses, 4,000 in the Green Belt. 29 August
• Will the South East Plan flood even more housing into Oxfordshire? The county may get 10,000 more homes than planned. 22 August
• Will the South East Plan deliver sustainable development? CPRE Briefing on the EiP Inspector's report to published shortly. 16 August
• CPRE welcomes the decision to reject planning permission for a large hotel at Oxford Golf Course. 9 August
• The Heathrow injunction followed a precedent set at Radley Lakes. Both were injunctions too far. 6 August

July 2007

• Planning Disaster. Time is short for objections to the government's plans to take planning powers away from local communities.29 July
• Planning and the Environment 2007. An analysis of Planning and Housing White Papers, and other recent planning and environmental policy statements (pdf). 29 July
• More aircraft noise for the Vale of White Horse. Proposed flightpath changes. 28 July
• MP Boris Johnson opens the 50 mile Oxford Green Belt Way. 13 July
• Warneford Meadow. The inquiry into Town Green status begins on 10 September. 2 July.

June 2007

• Trap Grounds. CPRE awards its coveted Mark to the Friends of Trap Grounds. 30 June.
• Radley Lakes. Town Green inquiry hearing ends. 22 June.
• The "Churchill Wall". CPRE says tear it down. 1 June.
• Oxfordshire Golf Club. Proposals for hotel development should be refused. 1 June

May 2007

• Oxfordshire Bulletin Spring 2007. Includes Trap Grounds, Radley Lakes, Warneford Meadow, South Oxfordshire roundabouts, Bicester overflows and more...
• Oxford in 2026. Southfield golf course under concrete. The Marston to Summertown gap infilled with housing. 177 acres of green fields could go in the next twenty years. 21 May
• Oxford Core Strategy to 2026. CPRE says that the preferred options will lead to significant loss of open space within the city. 11 May
• Radley Lakes: Open letter from CPRE to RWE npower published in local newspapers. 3 May
• Leading author Bill Bryson is set to become CPRE’s new national President. 2 May

April 2007

• Upper Thames Reservoir. Thames Water's plans are delayed for at least two years. April
• Warneford Meadow. The proposals are thrown out by Oxford City planners but the battle is not over. 25 April
• Warneford Meadow. "possibly the oddest decision ever to be put to an Oxford planning committee". 25 April
• The curious tale of roundabout advertising in South Oxfordshire. 25 April
• Set back in efforts to get Radley Lakes injunction lifted. 19 April
• Warneford Meadow decision due on 25 April. 18 April
• Forestry Commission considers prosecuting RWE npower for tree felling at Radley Lakes. 2 April
• Radley Lakes: the Town Green Hearing. 2-5 April 2007

March 2007

• CPRE Oxfordshire publishes a policy on Affordable Rural Housing. 30 March
• Oxford City Council launches its consultation on the Core Strategy. 30 March
• Proposals to build offices on former allotments at Bicester approved. 21 March
• Oxford City Council publishes its Preferred Options for the Core Strategy. 16 March
• Government clamps down on illegal outdoor advertising. 16 March.
• Is a review of Oxford's Green Belt needed? CPRE statement. 16 March.
• Radley Lakes. Catch up on the campaign in ten uneasy steps
• "Let's turn green belts a deeper shade of green and create turquoise belts along rivers." Environment Secretary David Miliband outlines his vision for "A Land Fit for the Future" to CPRE. 9 March 2007
• 550 join protest march at Radley Lakes. 10 March 2007
• New tranquillity maps published. 5 March 2007

February 2007

• Lineside Vegetation: Limiting Rail Company Damage February 2007
• Oxfordshire at the Examination in Public into the South East Plan: Briefing papers from CPRE
• Radley Lakes Town Green application gets the go ahead to go to inquiry. 21 February
• 250 people march against the destruction of Radley Lakes. 19 February
• The destruction of Thrupp Lake is an act of vandalism. 9 February.

January 2007

• Warneford Meadow: Where will the proceeds from sale go? 25 January.
• Warneford Meadow: Decision delayed by applicants. 25 January.
• Warneford Meadow: A Vote of Confidence from Councillors. 23 January.