Oxford News by HANA - Edition 60

Oxford Outlook: Quiet, please!

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Private wealth and public squalor. Those were the biting words coined by the influential American economist JK Galbraith in the late 1950s and used by critics of Britain in the “selfish” 1980s. There’s a kind of deja vu (note the French) about them today.

I've just returned from a short break in Brittany – lucky me! – and it’s been a revelation. Its rural highways are immaculate – pas de potholes!; there’s a notable absence of lorries and delivery vans on its winding roads, and barely any roadside litter. In short, it was a surprisingly pleasant driving experience without incident of any kind.

Back in Grande-Bretagne, it’s a very different story. The first route to adopt a new pilot scheme intended to cut traffic on local roads has been confirmed by Oxfordshire County Council (OCC). Under its Quiet Lanes scheme, Shepherd's Pit Lane in Stanton Saint John near Oxford will be shut to through traffic toward the end of the summer, according to a BBC report in this week’s newsletter.

At least a dozen more roads – including a link between Witney and Carterton – could be closed to through traffic using “physical measures” in an effort to encourage more people to use the routes for cycling and walking. Residents and emergency services will be exempted, apparently, though it’s unclear how this will work in practice.

Not surprisingly, the Quiet Lanes scheme is already proving controversial with some motorists and local politicians who say the road closures will simply push traffic and congestion on to other roads, and risk cutting off rural villages. They have a point.

OCC are attempting to deal with the symptom, not the cause. Plainly, we need to get haulage off our roads, especially the manic A420, and on to our railways again. That way, motorists, cyclists, horse riders, even walkers can all enjoy our quietened local byways. Just like, ahem, the Citizen Camemberts across the Channel.

• So much for local democracy. The move by the government to strip Cherwell District Council of its ability to decide on important planning applications is shocking. The designation means all planning decisions on major developments in north Oxfordshire could bypass the council and instead go straight to the government’s Planning Inspectorate for approval. The government may hit its housing targets as a result of this “power grab”, but where’s the local accountability?

• Sad to learn this week of Jeremy Clarkson’s health battle. In the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm, he reveals he has “aggressive” prostate cancer. Not nice. The television presenter and journalist is no stranger to health scares: he suffered a near-fatal bout of pneumonia a while ago and a few years later underwent an urgent heart procedure to have stents fitted after being told he was just “days away” from a potentially fatal heart attack. Now this. He must surely rue his infamous 2017 column in The Sunday Times when he boasted that getting on for three-quarters of million cigarettes, which he claimed to have smoked over a 43-year period, had seemingly done him no harm. We wish him well.

• Oxford University’s St Catherine’s College has had a rough time of late, what with its ongoing structural issues disrupting student life and racking up multi-million pound costs to remedy the problems. But what a coup for the college to announce that two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett will teach contemporary theatre there as a visiting professor! The Australian star, who shot to fame as Elizabeth I in the 1998 movie Elizabeth, has described her appointment as an “electrifying opportunity”. A major inspiration to Oxford students, of course, but can we humble locals be allowed to come and watch the odd masterclass please?

Mark Skipworth | Oxford Editor

Databox

We continue our focus on places which most resemble Oxford. This week it’s York –home to the marvellous Minster and featured in one of Shakespeare’s most striking soliloquies (“Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun of York” - Richard III).

York is the 10th most similar place to Oxford. One would think York would rank higher, but four London boroughs clutter up the top ten. Anyway, let’s look at the numbers, courtesy of the Office for National Statistics.

• Population (2024)

Oxford: 166,034. York: 209,301.

A surprising stat. York is significantly bigger than Oxford in terms of people. This could be a reflection of housing availability and affordability (see below).

• Population change (2024)

Oxford: +3.3%. York: +2.7%.

Not much in it. It’s measured over five years, so is subject to change.

• Median age (2024)

Oxford: 31 years. York: 38 years.

Oxford is clearly younger than York. That’s a big gap. It might explain the tendency of Yorkshire folk to be ever so slightly more grumpy than the rest of the country.

• Employment rate (2023)

Oxford: 80.8%. York: 79.4%.

Nothing really in it. Both areas doing well on the jobs front.

• Average house price (March 2026)

Oxford: £473,994. York: £311,177.

A substantial difference. Two theories: 1) Yorkies are better at haggling. 2) It’s cold up north.

• GCSEs in English and Maths (2024-2025)

Oxford: 69.3%. York: 77.8%.

Oh dear, Oxford. Lagging well behind York on these crucial educational measures. This column has previously mentioned that it’s simply unacceptable Oxford fails to get more than 30% of its kids through English and Maths. It’s all very well being the City of Dreaming Spires, but if a large proportion of local youngsters cannot write and add up to a sufficient standard, it’s a problem – a problem that needs sorting as a priority.

Scroll down for property news and more things to do in and around Oxford…

Top Stories From Oxford This Week

Jeremy Clarkson reveals he has ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer

Telegraph -

In the season finale of "Clarkson's Farm", Jeremy Clarkson announced he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the episode released on Wednesday, Clarkson, 66, is seen telling series regulars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland of his diagnosis, both of whom are visibly shocked by the news. The former Top Gear presenter did not clarify what stage of cancer he had been diagnosed with but described it as "aggressive".

Read more at Telegraph (1 min)

Sport

Oxford Outlook: Leather on willow

A reversal of fortunes in the Home Counties Cricket Premier League Division One. Oxford Downs lost but Banbury pulled off a win.

Both teams remain in the top four, with a third of matches played. So, still a long way to go as the heavens often decide results in this game.

Oxford Downs CC

Downs were downed by Finchampstead by six wickets on Saturday. Oxford scored 190, but the boys from Berkshire eased past that total with plenty to spare. It was a blow for Oxford Downs as they were going well.

Banbury CC

Banbury took a mere 20.4 overs to see off rock bottom Aston Rowant by seven wickets on Saturday. Just 87 runs were required to seal the win. Hardly time to polish off a carefully prepared picnic. Banbury landed 25 points, which sees them into third place.

Top of the table

1 High Wycombe CC (112 points)

2 Finchampstead CC (99 points)

3 Banbury CC (98 points)

4 Oxford Downs CC (93 points)

5 Harefield CC (73 points)

High Wycombe look unassailable right now. But both Banbury and Oxford Downs are very much in the hunt. Keep slicing the sandwiches, folks. There are still 12 games to go.

The Sports Desk

Oxford Cricket Club told to vacate ground by end of season

BBC News · June 13, 2026

Oxford Cricket Club must vacate its long-time ground at the Oxford University Press Sports Association Ground by the end of the season, as OUP has deemed it unsustainable to maintain the facilities. This closure will also impact the adjacent OUP Bowls Club and other sports groups using the site.

Read more at BBC News (1 min)

Property news

_{What’s on in and around Oxford?}

Didcot gears up for first ever Pride festival on Saturday

BBC News · June 12, 2026

Didcot is celebrating its first Pride festival this Saturday at Northbourne Community Centre, featuring a family-friendly event from 12:00 to 16:00 BST and an adult-only evening show starting at 18:00. With entertainment ranging from a Dolly Parton tribute to cabaret and drag performances, organisers emphasise the significance of the event in showcasing community pride.

Read more at BBC News (2 mins)

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