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City & Kidlington Thursday, March 1 - Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Weekly leisure guide for in and around Oxford
Out& About leisure time in &
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Sister Act Live Choir to light up New The atre
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oxfordshireguardian.co.uk
Campaigners demand exit from Brexit
Connor death: Doctor sorry for her failings
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Join The Jacksons for disco day at Common People
Trekking the Great Wall to say thank you Page 15
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Cable car scheme floated to relieve congestion problems By Owen Hughes CABLE cars could soon be sailing over the heads of Oxford commuters if councillors “move quickly” to get the radical plans off the ground. Green Party councillors first suggested the idea of aerial cars above the city’s skyline in their amendments to last week’s city council budget. Green group shadow member for transport, culture and communities, city councillor Dick Wolff, said plans are still “in the very early stages”. Cllr Wolff is one of three members of the recently formed ACT4Oxford group, which hopes to introduce the alternative method of transport to Oxford. He added the Aerial Car Transport system would be “15 times cheaper than trams”. “Quite where the idea first came from, I’m not absolutely sure. “The first time I heard about it was at a residents’ group in the city centre, about introducing cable cars from Redbridge Park and Ride into John Lewis, but that was before John Lewis was built. “There’s no fi xation on a particular route, but they don’t only have to go up or down hill. “I spoke with [county council leader] Ian Hudspeth yesterday, and I’ve spoken with an expert in Toronto, who we would like to get over to get his opinion.”
Oxford Civic Society will discuss alternative methods of transport at its day conference in July, but Cllr Wolff said he fears that would be “too late”. “Highways planners are already modelling congestion charges and restricted access to the city centre, so this idea is very timely, but we have to move quickly,” he said. Lois Muddiman from Low Carbon West Oxford said the organisation would support research into cable cars as part of a “wider, integrated transport solution including better, safer, cycle and pedestrian routes”. She added: “We urgently need to get more people out of their cars and onto alternative methods of transport. “We can envisage cable cars being used by residents, commuters and tourists as an alternative way of travelling to the centre of Oxford or to key destinations such as the JR.” The futuristic urban gondolas would bring Oxford in line with European cities such as Brest, Toulouse and Lyon. Plans to introduce a suspended transport network in Bath last year met significant opposition from residents concerned the cable car would dominate the landscape and allow travellers to see into gardens and houses. No costs have been suggested for the network, but the Green Party have asked Oxford City Council for £24,000 to fund initial research.
Saddling up for cycle ride
From left, Dave Bexon group sales and marketing director at Redrow Homes, Richard Best CEO of Iconic Cycling Events and cyclist Carl Jenkins
THE race is on for cyclists to secure their place in this year’s annual Bike Oxford ride. Now in its fifth year, the ride will take place on Sunday, May 20 and will once again raise money for Helen & Douglas House in Oxford and Ronald McDonald House. Individual riders can also nominate their own charity. Riders will have the choice of three new rides – a 25-mile social tailored to novice cyclists and families or the 50 or 80-mile challenges for the keener rider. Organised by cycling experts Iconic Cycling Events, last year’s Bike Oxford attracted more than 1,200 riders from Oxfordshire and beyond. This year’s event is championed by national property developer Redrow Homes and will start and end at the Oxford University Rugby Football Club ground on Iffley Road. Entry is £36 per ride for the 80 and 50-mile rides or £26 for the 25-mile ride. New to 2018 is a family entry for the 25-mile route at £70 for two adults and two children under 16. Visit www.bikeoxford.co.uk for more information and to register.
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