News

Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council

The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.

• 16 Sandford Park Charlbury
  1. Walnut - Reduce overall height by up to 4 metres (to previous pruning points) Reduce remaining crown circumference proportionately to maintain crown form 2. Cockspur Thorn - Reduce overall height by up to 2 metres (to previous pruning points) Reduce remaining crown symmetry by approximately 1.75 metres and prune to shape 3. Larch ? Remove major deadwood overhanging pathway
  WODC reference: 25/02158/TCA - Fri 05 Sep 2025 - Under consideration
• Charlbury Cricket Club Field Dyers Hill Charlbury Oxfordshire
  T1 Willow Large pollard on river bend. Remove failed section from river and re-pollard remaining crown. G1 Willow Line of willow pollards on right hand side of upper meadow. Pollard every other tree doing as many as possible. Reason for recommended work Health & Safety and good arboricultural practices
  WODC reference: 25/02133/TCA - Wed 03 Sep 2025 - Under consideration
• The Priory Church Lane Charlbury
  T1- A large Lime tree that is situated next to the house and alongside the graveyard. We are looking to remove the tree due to the damage it is causing to the retaining wall of the church yard, which has started to crack, as well as its close proximity to the house.
  WODC reference: 25/02118/TCA - Tue 02 Sep 2025 - Under consideration
• Old Rectory Church Lane Charlbury
  T1 - Walnut Tree - remove large snap-out in the upper crown and reduce the crown by up to 2 metres
  WODC reference: 25/02120/TCA - Tue 02 Sep 2025 - Under consideration
• 1 The Cottage Bayliss Yard Charlbury
  X2 Prunus spp. trees - Fell both trees to ground level using sectional dismantling techniques
  WODC reference: 25/02071/TCA - Thu 28 Aug 2025 - Under consideration
• Bell Hotel Church Street Charlbury
  Internal and external alterations to erect front railing and gate, single storey rear extension to the public house and new emergency access staircase together with the provision of kitchen extraction, signage and associated works.
  WODC reference: 25/02031/LBC - Thu 04 Sep 2025 - Under consideration
• Bell Hotel Church Street Charlbury
  Erection of a front railing and gate, single storey rear extension to the public house and new emergency access staircase. construction of garden bar/pizza bar and a storage outbuilding (retrospective) together with the provision of kitchen extraction, signage and associated works.
  WODC reference: 25/02030/FUL - Thu 04 Sep 2025 - Under consideration

Mon 8 Sep, 06:15 · Link

Bumper August Book Harvest

Like London buses, three books by Charlbury authors have all come at once. Unlike the  buses, they're going in intriguingly different directions. Catherine Merridale's Moscow Underground is a detective novel set in the capital of Stalin's Russia. Fergus Butler-Gallie leads us on a global tour of Twelve Churches key to Christianity. And, in Good, Occasionally Rhyming, Rob Stepney and Kathy Clugston take a voyage around the sea areas of the Shipping Forecast which have become a honey pot for poets from Seamus Heaney to Adrian Lancini. All three books are available from Jaffe and Neale. 

Rob Stepney · Thu 4 Sep, 17:26 · Link

Discount tickets for Charlbury

The Octoberfest plans are now in full flow for the event on Saturday 27th September!! Up until Friday 19th September, 25% discounted tickets are available for Charlbury residents and friends using the discount code CCCFriend. You can of course buy tickets on the day!! We are proud to announce that there will be 6 German beers on sale, burgers, bratwurst and crepes and a new exciting band line up with continuous music from 18.30!! Check out full details, timings and tickets through the link below.

Buy tickets online here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/charlbury-oktoberfest-2025-tickets-1542397375069?aff=oddtdtcreator

Paul D Jenkins · Thu 4 Sep, 10:11 · Link

OxRail 2040: Plan For Rail - Public Consultation Is Now Open

The County Council is asking the public to read and comment on their proposals for investment in, and development of, county-wide rail services over the next fifteen years. Whether you use the railways regularly or only occasionally, please read the document at       https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxrail-2040 and make your views known.

The consultation period opened yesterday and will close at 23.59 on Wednesday 1 October

Brian Murray/Cotswold Line Promotion Group

Brian Murray · Thu 4 Sep, 09:38 · Link

Charlbury Christmas Tree Festival 2025 – Bookings Now Open

The organisers of the Charlbury Christmas Tree Festival are pleased to announce that bookings are now open for this year’s event.

The festival will take place from Friday, 12 December 2025, to Thursday, 2 January 2026, with an official opening reception scheduled for Friday, 12 December, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.

Tree Sponsorship Individuals, community groups, and organisations are invited to participate by sponsoring a Christmas tree:

Outdoor trees: £40

Indoor trees (inside the church): £45 (indoor spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis for an additional £5)

Outdoor trees will be decorated with lights, and non-breakable decorations may also be used if desired. Competitions will be held for both adult- and child-decorated trees, offering an opportunity for creativity and community spirit to shine.

Supporting the Festival and the Church through tree sponsorship plays a vital role in the continuation of this much-loved Charlbury tradition. Additional donations to the church are also greatly appreciated and will be received with gratitude.

Booking and Contact Information Booking for the 2025 Charlbury Christmas Tree Festival is available online: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehRktNnnLbO5tLQ7K3gaCaRXY_EGwdYnfcB7JARSFvdQhO7A/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=112802403958658262410

For further information, please contact the organisers at charlburyctf@gmail.com . The organisers look forward to celebrating with the town in what promises to be another memorable celebration of community, creativity, and festive spirit.

Anna Boardwell · Wed 3 Sep, 15:59 · Link

West Oxfordshire District Council proposes to close Charlbury's public toilets

West Oxfordshire District Council is planning to close the public toilets by the Co-op. Their press release says:

“West Oxfordshire District Council will be considering proposals to speak with local town and parish councils on how to best manage public toilets, with the aim of protecting key facilities into the future.

“The Council has conducted a review of the public toilets that are owned and managed by the Council. As part of this review, the availability of other nearby public toilets was also considered. The review highlighted that some facilities are underused and the cost of running certain facilities is extremely high. In some locations, it can cost the taxpayer as much as £11.06 every time someone uses the toilet. Overall, the cost of managing the public toilets in the district amounts to around £270,000 per year despite a 20p charge for use.

“West Oxfordshire District Council operates 13 public toilets across the district, in nine towns and villages. A charge of 20p is applied at all sites.

“The proposals would see seven facilities in places like Witney, Burford, Bampton, Chipping Norton, Woodstock and Kilkenny Country Park continue to be prioritised and run by the council, unless the local town or parish councils wish to take them on.

“Two public toilets, in Charlbury and Chipping Norton, are leased and it is proposed to surrender those leases. In Chipping Norton another toilet facility will remain, and in Charlbury usage is low with alternatives available.”

Tue 2 Sep, 13:20 · Link

Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council

The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.

• 14 Woodstock Road Charlbury
  Variation of condition 2 of permission 23/00572/FUL to allow alterations to the design of the internal layout and footprint shape together with adjustments to the position and shape of some of the glazing elements
  WODC reference: 25/01981/S73 - Thu 28 Aug 2025 - Under consideration
• Land South Of Woody Lane House Woody Lane Charlbury Oxfordshire
  Ash - Fell to ground Maple - Fell to ground
  WODC reference: 25/01931/TCA - Mon 11 Aug 2025 - Under consideration

Mon 1 Sep, 06:15 · Link

Climate Workshops inspire Charlbury Pupils

Charlbury Primary School recently participated in an exciting climate education programme, delivered through a partnership between the charity Climate Ed and the Ridge Climate Care Awards created by Charlbury based Ridge Clean Energy.

The Ridge Climate Care Awards encourage sustainable living and aim to reduce eco-anxiety among young people. Meanwhile, Climate Ed delivers free climate science education, carbon literacy and climate action workshops to primary schools.

Over five weeks, Year 6 pupils took part in workshops on climate science, travel and emissions, food choices, and the carbon cost of everyday items. Alongside this, they worked towards the Ridge Climate Care Awards, reinforcing their learning with practical, hands-on activities.

Claire Gilbert, Climate Ed’s local volunteer manager, proposed the idea of combining both programmes to maximise the impact of climate education. Teresa Hall, Community Partnership Co-ordinator at Ridge Clean Energy, took on the role of Climate Ed volunteer at Charlbury Primary School. She said, ‘Running the Climate Ed workshops alongside the Climate Care Awards offers a powerful, action-oriented learning experience. This combined approach has the potential to inspire lasting behavioural change and foster climate awareness as pupils transition to young adulthood.’

Charlbury School Headteacher Kate Robertson praised the initiative, saying pupils were “buzzing with their new learning and positive experience.”

The programme ended with a celebration of achievements: 24 pupils received Bronze Awards and three gained the Silver Award which were presented by Charlbury resident Alison Derham who is a Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire and holds the education brief for the county.

This joint effort shows the positive impact of combining education and action, giving our young people the tools and confidence to tackle climate change.

daniela jenkins · Wed 27 Aug, 12:17 · Link

Victoria Fountain at the Playing Close gets a spruce-up!

Charlbury Town Council has arranged for the fountain to be cleaned using a specialist method called DOFF cleaning – that’s a gentle but very effective steam-based process which removes dirt, algae and moss without damaging the historic stone.

🗓 Here’s the timetable:

Mon 22 Sept – scaffolding goes up

Tues 23 & Wed 24 Sept – cleaning work takes place

Thurs 25 / Fri 26 Sept – scaffolding comes down

Thanks for bearing with us while this important restoration work is carried out – we can’t wait to see the fountain looking its best again! 💧

Lisa Wilkinson · Tue 26 Aug, 15:49 · Link

Wine & Jazz

Please join us for a wine tasting at Bobwell Farm in aid of St Mary's church and its community initiatives. Please use this link to book your tickets or scan the QR code on the poster.

https://forms.office.com/r/41h2H3hJHP

daniela jenkins · Fri 22 Aug, 15:27 · Link