Is an eco-town a contradiction?

I am reminded to think about the eco-town subject as councils across Oxfordshire are called to unite in their thinking - see this item on the Oxfordshire County Council website. So here are my concerns:

• No matter how many new houses are built to be eco-friendly this can only make a small dent in the fact that the UK's existing houses are very poor on the eco-scale. Surely we would be seem more serious as a society about Climate Change if we addressed the larger subject rather than be seen to tinker round at the edges.
• An eco-town sounds like a grand idea that has some poor downsides. To me THE primary goal of an eco-town is to reduce travel time to workplaces. That is as a society I feel we should stop building housing estates separate from industrial estates. Instead they should be mixed up. Get the workplace close to the home so we can all bicycle.
• Instead the current eco-town concepts seem to me to focus too much on houses on the fringe of towns and cities necessitating new transport links, thus altogether increasing our combined carbon footprints.

The above observations and thoughts are my own opinions. It may be that these have been considered by planners and taken into account. My guess, though is that both National and Local government does not have the will or resources to address the real problem.

Could Kidlington have a railway station again?

There have been people looking whether Kidlington could have its old railway station re-instated. There are huge problems against this, including lack of, what is often called, line capacity. Read more on what Oxfordshire County Council have done, and great news about increasing of capacity by dualling of the line.

Shoe shop closes

Part of what this blog is about is community. Sadly Kidlington loses a part of that whenever a shop of repute closes its doors. That happened recently when Foster and Sons closed its doors recently. Read more on the Oxford Mail website.

Watch for the local elections coming soon

Check details on the Kidlington Parish Council website.

Prince Charles visits Bletchingdon today

Residents in Bletchingdon who have homes built by built by Oxford Citizens Housing Association are being visited by Prince Charles. Read more at the Oxford Mail.

Could Bio-fuels soon come to Oxfordshire?

As part of a bid for EU funding that Cherwell District is party to the £2.5m could be spent on bio-fuel projects. Read more on the Cotswold Journal.

Our very own airport

Did you ever want to know the vital statistics of Oxford Airport - then visit the relevant page on A-Z World Airports.

Park & Ride to Kidlington Shops

Plans are afoot for Kidlington to be able to have buses from Water Eaton Park & Ride for commuters into Kidlington. We may have excellent car parking in Kidlington, but they are always full. Anything that gives further parking options must be good, and one that makes fuller use of Oxford's expensive and comprehensive Park & Ride system must also be a good thing. Read more here.

Who is bidding for incineration?

Oxfordshire has a problem of what to do with its waste. Having asked for tenders from interested businesses they found no one was interested. So what they have decided, in their wisdom to do is to incinerate the waste. Now it is commonly thought that incineration is about the worst possible option, by a long way, so we really must ask why? However there is another question - which business has tendered to provide an incinerator? I mean we are told there are no tenders. If there are no tenders then who on earth is the council going to build and maintain an incinerator! I am quite sure incinerators do not come for free - do they? For residents of Kidlington and nearby villages this is an even more important subject since two of the possible locations for this "free" incinerator are the Gosford Silo near the Water Eaton Park and Ride, and the Quarry at Shipton-on-Cherwell. For the full list of sites click here.

Where the Radcliffe Infirmary meets St Johns Ambulance

The stories around the Radcliffe Infirmary must make for at least a unique and Oxfordshire history. With their relocation to the JR an era has ended. A presentation of that history is being presented on Tuesday, 29th January at St John's Ambulance in Kidlington for anyone interested. Read more on This is Oxfordshire.

Gay eggs?

Bill Heine's radio show today on Radio Oxford featured as guests the duo who run Willowbrook Farm in Hampton Gay who supply organic eggs. These eggs are available (at least) via the Kidlington Co-op and are some of the best eggs we have ever tasted so it was good to hear something of the people behind the eggs. There is much more to them than just eggs - find out more on their website which you can visit here.

Oxfordshire's waste goes up in flames

According to LetsRecycle, incineration is the likely solution to many of Oxfordshire's waste problems.

CSE aviation closes losing 80 jobs

A company at Kidlington airport is to close its doors and so lose 80 jobs. See the Oxford Mail for more info.

Flooding potential

If you live near the River Cherwell around Gosford area then watch out for flooding. If you look at the area bounded by the heavy line - then these houses are most at risk. The map image from the right is snagged from the environment agency website where you can find up to date information. When visiting the website enter your postcode in the relevant box. As an alternative you can also call the floodwatch action line on 0845 988 1188.