Oxford Pedestrians Association - OxPA

16/10/2026

Members of Oxford Pedestrians Association (OxPA), Oxford City Council, and Oxford Civic Society met to celebrate the installation of 13 benches in Oxford, to encourage people to walk as a form of urban transport.

Benches have been placed in Headington, Littlemore, Cowley, St Giles, Botley Road, St Aldate's, Merton Street, Jericho, Blackbird Leys and Wellington Square, thanks to a bequest from the family of late OxPA member Keith Holly.

Each bench comes with its own line of poetry. Sushila Dhall, chair of OxPA, said: “It is thanks to so many people and organisations that we managed to get all the benches installed. Together we have achieved something to be proud of, a truly positive contribution to Oxford.”

From

This week: the latest kerfuffle over cheese, there's a shortage of homes and lab space in the city, we're not decarbonising fast enough, but on the plus side there's a shiny new recycling centre and the best school story we've ever seen (from St John Fisher in Blackbird Leys). It’

15/10/2026

👉🔗 The report: https://cohsat.org.uk/oxford-ltns-5-years-on-over-100-injuries-avoided/

A report on 5 years of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in East Oxford shows that they have reduced road casualties by over 100. The report by the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel Oxfordshire (CoHSAT) also points to the health benefits of reduced air pollution and performance of Cowley Road shops.

Casualties have been reduced by 20 a year, with most of the reduction on boundary roads rather than inside the LTN areas. CoHSAT say this is because LTNs reduce traffic turning into and out of LTNs.

Air pollution reductions have been measured by Oxford City Council within LTNs, and also on boundary roads and other sites in Oxford. Not all the reduction is due to LTNs but there is no evidence of displaced pollution.

Air pollution from vehicles can have severe health effects, including heart and lung disease, and affecting child brain and lung development. CoHSAT cite this as a reason it should be a priority.

CoHSAT have also surveyed vacant shops on Cowley Road in the LTN area, and found one fewer than a pre-LTN survey. If Cowley Road had followed national trends there would be 3 more vacancies.

Robin Tucker, Co-Chair of CoHSAT said "Data clearly shows residents are less likely to be harmed by collision or pollution thanks to the LTNs. Cowley Road shops outperform national trends. Reducing rat-running traffic means it's safer for people to walk, wheel or cycle to the shops or bus stop."

27/09/2026

👉🔗 https://oxfordclarion.uk/all-hands-to-the-pumps-rescuing-an-oxford-college-barge/

🚨Clarion weekend read🚨
After a meticulous restoration and a challenging tow up the Thames, Eddy, the oldest surviving Oxford college barge, is back on the city’s waterways and in search of a permanent home. We spoke to its owner, Bruce Heagerty.
👇Link, as ever, in the comments👇

25/09/2026

Absolutely bumper (to bumper) edition today - the best writing on Oxfordshire’s biggest stories…

All the Oxford news in a packed edition of the Clarion Weekend:
🚴‍♀️ Oxfordshire matches the Netherlands
⚽️ OUFC 1, FoSB 0
💩 Sewage works on the move?
🐌 Joyeux anniversaire à Pierre Victoire
📅 Your essential events guide

👇Link, wouldn't you know it, in the comments👇

05/09/2026

Oxford Open Doors is next weekend. With so many fantastic sites open to the public, how do you know which ones to choose? We asked architectural historian Madeline Odent for her shortlist. 👇Link in the comments👇

Oxford Preservation Trust
Oxford Bus Museum
Lincoln College Oxford
Rhodes Trust
Yarnton Manor
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
Oxford Castle Prison
Rewley Road Fire Station

05/09/2026

FREE ENTRY on Saturday 12 September - Oxford Open Doors 2026 🎉

Step inside Oxford’s history for free and discover how it has changed over the course of the centuries through collection items, video, audio, and interactive displays.

🎟️ Reserve your spot at the link or just come along on the day. Opening times 10am-5pm, last entry 4.30pm.
https://tinyurl.com/2bxpsvw2

Plus, get the chance to explore some of the thousands of building plans which are stored in the Town Hall archive, on display in Museum Makers at MOX:

Plans, Plans, Plans! at the Museum of Oxford
Saturday 12 September, 11am-3pm
Free, drop-in
More info: https://tinyurl.com/vwbab4fa

[Image description: Two people looking at exhibition displays in the MOX galleries; one of them is leaning forward. Text reads: Free entry! Saturday 12 September]

21/08/2026

All the Oxford news in your weekend roundup. Featuring:
🚂 Cowley Branch Line bust-up
🎸 Grassroots music fund
🚌 “Bring back our buses”
🎮 Video game museum opens
🎒 Walking & cycling news, weekend reading, events and more!

👇Link in the comments!👇

18/07/2026

“nb: all unmarked swans belong to the Crown”

There’s so much more here https://oxfordclarion.uk/up-the-swans/

This year’s Royal Swan Upping concluded yesterday in Abingdon, five days after setting off up the Thames from Middlesex. The Clarion’s photographers bring you this report. 🦢Link in the comments🦢

14/07/2026

And so to the south and east of the city to admire 2 more OxPA plaques newly installed on new OxPA public benches…

The first is at the bus stop on Birchfield Close.

And the second at the junctional roundabout of Sandford Road and Cowley Road in Littlemore.

Please take a moment to seek these new additions out, sit awhile and let the quotations drift about your mind…

07/07/2026

*** Headington bench plaque pics ***

The 13 benches provided by OxPA are now having their plaques fitted so we thought we'd show them off!

The benches are a legacy from late OxPA member Keith Holly. Friends of Quarry and Cllrs Pressel, Fry & Upton also gave funds from their budgets.

Please take a moment (or longer!) to admire or use them...

Margaret Road Recreation Ground

Green Road

Trafford Road

Pullers Lane