FREE INSIDE
GROUP
OXFORD & Kidlington
FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Play2Give champion scoops award p9
WEEKEND TV GUIDE
Thursday, June 22 - Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Book your tickets now at www.o2academyoxford.co.uk
FREE
Advertising/Newsdesk: 01235 511700
TAKE ONE
www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk
Council reassures tower residents ‘they are safe’ By Eva Astreinidou PEOPLE living in tower blocks in Oxford are seeking reassurance they are safe after the fire tragedy in West London last week. Oxford City Council put out a statement on the day of the Grenfell Tower inferno telling tenants ‘fire safety is a top priority for us’. A total of 79 people are now thought to have died or are missing presumed dead after the blaze last Wednesday. Council leader Bob Price said: “My heart goes out to all those affected by the tragic fire in West London. Fire safety is a top priority for us, and I wanted to reassure our own tower block residents about their safety here in Oxford.” In the statement, the council also confirmed that the external cladding fitted to the blocks is fire retardant. But chairman of the Oxford Tower Block Leaseholder Association Darren Hazell said they cannot know one way or the other. He said: “If I could see a fire report that it has been tested and does not have a combustible effect [then it would be fine]. I am afraid no one is the wiser on whether this will go up like the London flats. “No one will be sleeping well until we have more information.” Cllr Mike Rowley, board member for housing, said the cladding is designed ‘to the highest standards’.
He added: “Of course, we are not complacent. We are re-inspecting every aspect of fire safety now, and we will do so again when there is a detailed final report on the Grenfell Tower tragedy.” All five tower blocks in Oxford – Evenlode and Windrush in Blackbird Leys, Hockmore in Cowley, Foresters in Wood Fram and Plowman in Northway – are currently undergoing £20million of repairs. The cash will fund structural repairs, new cladding, replace the windows, upgrade communal electrics and improve fire safety systems. Also during the project, sprinklers, which are not yet a legal requirement, are being installed in all the towers by the end of the year. On Monday, Oxfordshire fire and rescue said: “[Our department] has full information about Oxford’s tower blocks and plans in place to deal with potential incidents. “We regularly train for such scenarios and make safety visits to the tower blocks. “With our advice the city council has improved fire safety in recent years. This is based on sprinkler systems and updated fire alarm systems.” The cladding systems in all five tower blocks are made of aluminium or an aluminium composite. The cladding at Grenfell Tower contained flammable polyethelene.
From left, Annette McCullagh, room leader babies, Old Station Nursery; Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, MD, Oxford Science Park; Eva, Riley, Almustafa, Darcey, Ramona Kantschuster, nursery manager, and Rebecca Banas, nursery nurse
Avast me hearties! Pirate ship launches LITTLE pirates were aboard to welcome a new pirate ship that sailed into a refurbished nursery at The Oxford Science Park last week. The new wooden ship has been built in The Old Station Nursery, which opened at the park after a £100,000 refurbishment in January. The latest fun-fi lled addition to the nursery is part of the further
£1,000 investment in an outdoor play area, allowing children to enjoy the outdoors and learn at the same time. Nursery manager Ramona Kantschuster said the ship has been a “huge hit with the children” and would enhance children’s imagination, creativity, and the way they interact with each other.
She added: “Learning through play is a vital part of development and enables children to explore the world and acquire new skills.” Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, managing director at the science park, who was joined at the ribbon cutting ceremony by the four little pirates, said the pirate ship is a “positive addition to the nursery”.