Dear Reader,
Welcome to the October 2009 edition of the Oxford West End Newsletter, keeping you up to date with the latest news and programme developments around the regeneration of Oxford's West End. The newsletter is published three times a year, in Spring, Summer and Autumn/Winter, so look out for the next edition in Spring 2010. We hope you enjoy our newsletter and welcome feedback to the editor, as well as any comments or questions you may have about the West End regeneration, at westend@oxford.gov.uk.
West End Community Group (WECG)
The West End Community Group meets on a regular basis to discuss topics affecting Oxford's West End, covering everything from development within the area to general issues such as crime, litter and homelessness. The last WECG meeting, in October 2009, featured presentations and lively debate on the subject of marginalised groups within the West End. The next meeting, entitled "The West End: How do we become a community?", will take place on Tuesday 16th February, 6:30-8:30pm, at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College. The meeting is an open forum and all are welcome to attend; please feel free to simply turn up on the day. Further details will be uploaded to the Oxford West End website well in advance of the meeting.
Old Fire Station Gets New Lease of Life
The Old Fire Station at Gloucester Green is to be redeveloped by Oxford City Council in partnership with Crisis, the national homelessness charity. This development is funded largely by the Government's Places of Change Programme, which is delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency. Crisis and Oxford City Council have also committed capital to the project.
The premises will be refurbished throughout to create a high quality community resource by providing a mix of multi-use spaces, including a performance space, dedicated creative arts spaces and office spaces for like-minded organisations, to operate alongside a social enterprise cafe and Crisis Skylight's award-winning training centre for homeless and vulnerably housed people. Extensive consultation has taken place over the last 18 months with voluntary, arts and cultural organisations, local residents and businesses across Oxford, identifying the range of services that could be offered in the refurbished building. This work culminated in a report that was passed by City Executive Board in January 2009, approving the project business case and authorising the capital development to proceed. The project team, made up of representatives from Crisis, Oxford City Council and an appointed external project manager, have now recruited a design team, including architects and related consultants, and full design work has commenced. It is hoped these designs will allow a planning application to be submitted after the autumn. If permission is granted construction will ideally start in the summer of 2010, with a newly refurbished Old Fire Station available by 2011. For more information email
ciara.devlin@crisis.org.uk or nparry@oxford.gov.uk.
Oxford on Track for Rail Improvements
Plans for long awaited improvements to Oxford Railway Station are to be revealed in November by Oxfordshire County Council. Network Rail intends to build a new platform on part of the long-stay car park in Becket Street and as part of the County Council's Access to Oxford project, they will be replacing the pedestrian and cycle bridge over Botley Road to ensure that the new platform is well connected to the existing station. There are also plans to make improvements to the forecourt area to better accommodate buses and taxis. It is expected that the new scheme will be operational by mid-2011. These plans form the first phase of a Masterplan for Oxford Station being developed by Oxfordshire County Council. The Masterplan will outline a long-term vision for Oxford Station taking into account other rail proposals announced in recent months, such as the Department for Transport's electrification scheme. The County Council and Network Rail will be undertaking a series of meetings with key stakeholders during November and December, with public consultation taking place early in 2010.
West End Scoops Oxford Preservation Trust Awards
The transformation of a West Oxford pub into stylish accommodation was recognised at the Oxford Preservation Trust's recent environmental awards. A key redevelopment project for the West End Partnership, Wharf House - one-time watering hole in Butterwycke Place - was honoured alongside some of Oxford's most celebrated buildings, such as the Sheldonian Theatre. Judges praised the 'enlightened approach' to converting the former pub, which was one of just two buildings to survive the redevelopment of the West End's St Ebbes district.
A second West End project to receive an award was the Bonn Square regeneration, which saw the transformation of a once-neglected central area into a contemporary, attractive and vibrant public space. Debbie Dance, director of Oxford Preservation Trust, said: "The Awards celebrate the work of others and their contribution to Oxford and its public domain. It was a delight to give a plaque, the highest award, for the redevelopment of Wharf House. At Bonn Square, seeing people enjoy using the space shows what a positive contribution it has made to the City centre. It all bodes well for the West End's future."
Oxford West End - Did You Know?
West Oxford is situated in the Thames flood plain. In Anglo-Saxon times the first settlers sought higher ground in this watery landscape, and the suffix "ey" in the place names Hinksey, Binsey, Osney and Medley derives from the Old English word for "island".
Transform Oxford Puts the Finishing Touches on Queen Street
Major improvements to Queen Street have restored this important central shopping precinct, once teeming with traffic, to a functional and attractive thoroughfare. Bus flows have been significantly reduced, improving air quality, and the pavements widened to free up space for pedestrians. New surfacing and street furniture, in keeping with the redesign of the adjacent Bonn Square, have enhanced the appearance of the street and significantly reduced noise levels. The scheme reflects Transform Oxford and the West End Partnership's joint aspiration to transform the centre of Oxford's streets and consolidate the city as a world-class economic centre while enhancing its status as an international heritage site. See before and after pictured below.
Christmas in the West End
The West End festive season kick offs with the illumination of the Christmas lights on November 27th as part of Christmas Light Night. The event will see a procession of local children holding lanterns walking through the city while the lights are switched on. The Museum of Oxford will take part with a special late opening until 8pm for families while Modern Art Oxford will celebrate into the night with free exhibitions, cake decorating, live music in the yard and mulled wine and cider on sale. The procession will finish at Oxford Castle where a Winter Wonderland event is planned, featuring ice sculptures and a variety of Christmas activities.
The Christmas season continues at Oxford Castle with a German-style Christmas market from 10th - 20th December, featuring more than thirty stalls selling hand-made products, hot mulled wine, German Christmas cakes and seasonal, local food. School choirs and brass bands will perform carols throughout the 10-day period, and a Victorian carousel will add to the festive feel. Click here for further details.
Oxford's landmark Carfax Tower is being cleaned and re-lit as part of Transform Oxford's programme of improvements, with a £15,000 contribution from the West End Partnership. The 13th century Tower is all that remains of the original St. Martin's Church. The clock (pictured above) features mechanical figures called 'quarterboys' which hammer out the quarter hour on bells.
Download the October 2009 newsletter in a print friendly format.