Part-Night Lighting Consultation now live

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Good Morning,

We are writing to let you know that the public consultation on the proposed Part-Night Lighting Implementation Framework is now live on ‘Let’s Talk Oxfordshire’ Part-night lighting and street lighting policy | Let’s Talk Oxfordshire

 

The Consultation is running until midnight on Sunday 6th July.

 

What this consultation is about

This framework is about how part-night lighting could be implemented in Oxfordshire. It is not about whether part-night lighting is right for specific areas. In September 2025, the council’s cabinet will decide whether or not to move forward with part-night lighting. If the decision is to proceed, we are proposing that towns, parishes or Oxford city wards apply for part-night lighting schemes in their areas and that a public consultation is carried out for each scheme.

 

About the framework

The draft part night lighting framework proposes to introduce part night lighting in Oxfordshire locations where:

  • it is requested by the local town or parish council/meeting, or local governance authorities
  • the part night lighting exemption criteria does not apply
  • local residents have been consulted via a public consultation, as well as stakeholders like the police, night economy employers and community groups
  • the part night lighting scheme is approved at Oxfordshire Council Council’s Delegated Decision by Cabinet Member for Transport Management

Please can you share this consultation with your residents, local community and stakeholder groups and your Councillors. We very much want to hear back from Parish’s and Town Council’s on their views and comments on the proposed Part-Night Lighting Implementation Framework, as if approved, then Parish and Town Council’s would be able apply for part-night lighting schemes in their areas.

 Printed copies of the consultation are also available; You can request a paper copy of the consultation documents by emailing: [email protected](External link) or call the county council’s Customer Services Team on 01865 792422 or download it from this page. We will provide a Freepost address on the paper survey form for you to return your completed survey.

Any queries or questions, please let us know.

We look forward to getting your consultation responses.

Kind regards,

Highways Maintenance and Road Safety Team

Oxfordshire County Council

Local Government Re-organisation

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Dear Town and Parish Council Clerks,

As you know, change is coming to local government. District and county councils have been asked to come up with proposals for new unitary councils and I am writing today with an update on our work.

Cherwell District Council’s preference is for two unitary authorities to cover Oxfordshire and West Berkshire and we are working positively and constructively with our neighbouring authorities to advance our proposal.

I am pleased to confirm that we have today started a period of public engagement on our preferred model of local government reorganisation (LGR).

We are inviting people to submit their views on a proposal for two unitary authorities with the working titles of Oxford and Shires Council and Ridgeway Council. If government decides to proceed with our proposal, further work will be done to decide the councils’ names.

This proposal aims to create strong, financially stable councils that provide high-quality, cost-effective, and locally driven services.

  • Oxford and Shires Council would comprise the existing district areas of Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire.
  • Ridgeway Council would be made up of the area of West Berkshire Council and the existing district areas of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

 Public engagement launched

From this week people are invited to take part in a wide-reaching series of public engagement activities, including an online survey and public drop-in events taking place across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

The public engagement exercise runs from 4 June to 16 July and people can take part and find out more by visiting https://oxfordandshires.org/home.

In our district, public engagement events are taking place as follows, giving members of the public a chance to talk to councillors and senior officers, and fill in a paper copy of the survey:

  • Monday, 23 June from 3pm to 7pm at Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington OX5 1AB
  • Tuesday, 24 June from 3pm to 7pm at Bicester Methodist Church (main hall), Bell Lane, Bicester OX26 6JQ
  • Monday, 7 July from 3pm to 7pm at Banbury Town Hall, Bridge Street, Banbury OX16 5QB

The aim of these engagement activities is to give our residents, businesses and local organisations the opportunity to let us know what’s important to them based around some topics the government has identified.

The feedback gathered will help inform our final proposed LGR solution, which we will submit to government for consideration in November.

As you know, Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council are both working on their own separate proposals and are carrying out their own public engagement independently to inform their work.

I will continue to keep you updated as our work on LGR progresses, but in the meantime, I would encourage you to visit https://oxfordandshires.org/home to find out more and to take part in the online survey.

With kind wishes,

Gordon.

Gordon Stewart

Chief Executive

Cherwell District Council

Sunday 8th June 6pm South Newington Occasional Singers Summer Concert

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Sunday 8th June 6pm South Newington Occasional Singers Summer Concert
 
Please do come along and enjoy the village choir performing a wide selection of popular choral and folk classics.
 
Music includes famous choruses by Elgar, Faure, Mozart, Vivaldi and Verdi plus singalong sea shanties, and a performance of Grieg’s Piano Sonata in E Minor
 
Conductor: Stuart Dunlop
Pianist: Kieran Galliard
 
6pm in the church, free admission, but a retiring collection for Cancer Research.
 

South Newington Open Gardens – Sunday 8th June 2025 -11:30am to 5pm

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South Newington Open Gardens day is being held on Sunday 8th June in support of Katharine House Hospice.   
 
Seven beautiful and varied gardens will be open from 11.30 to 5 pm.  The following gradens will be open
 
South Newington House (car parking at the field there)
Bush House, Wiggington Rd
College Farm meadows and garden, The Town
The Barn, Green Lane
Barnhouse, The Town
Foxlands, Moor Lane
Chapel House. The High Street
Just Plants, The High Street.
 
£7.50 to visit all seven gardens, children free. 
You can purchase tickets to the gardens at any of the above gardens alternatively, tickets to the gardens can be purchased from 11.300am in the Village Hall. 
 
Teas and cakes will be served in the Village Hall and visitors will be able to buy plants at Just Plants and also wander round the kitchen gardens at the Duck on the Pond.   
 
There will also be a scavenger hunt for children. Scavenger hunt details will be available at the Village Hall from 11.30am 
 
Further details can be found on the KHH website at https://khh.org.uk/whats-on/fundraising-events/south-newington-open-gardens/

Army Reserves Open Event 20th May 2025 7.30-9.30pm

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Curious about Army Reserves? Come along to the open event at the Army Reserve Centre in Banbury! It’s a great chance to discover what life is like as a reservist, explore available roles, and learn how military training can benefit your civilian career. You will be able to learn about all the skiing, cycling and other sport opportunities too!

Time: 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Tuesday 20 May

Location: 142 Vehicle Squadron

Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars

Army Reserve Centre

Oxford Road, Banbury

OX16 9AN

142 – Open Evening Poster