Oxfordshire weekly round-up: 2 March 2024 - 8 March 2024

  • Published
The sarcastic Oxford welcome sign near LittlemoreImage source, LDRS
Image caption,

The sign on Oxford's Eastern bypass near Littlemore was added to on Sunday

A story about an Oxford welcome sign where names of twinned cities were replaced with slogans such as "affordable housing" was among our most read this week in Oxfordshire.

A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Oxford and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

Cheeky welcome pops up on route into Oxford

Image source, LDRS
Image caption,

Oxford City Council said the broken sign had been cleared away and other similar signs were being checked

A sarcastic welcome sign has appeared briefly on a main route into Oxford.

The names of twinned cities on the original sign were replaced with "affordable housing, free-flowing traffic, zero rough sleepers, low retail rental and safe cycling".

It concluded: "And then Alice awoke to find that it was all a dream!"

Oxford City Council said the tongue-in-cheek sign, which was spotted on Sunday, had already been broken up and removed before its contractors arrived.

Councillor resigns ahead of general election

Image source, Oxford City Council
Image caption,

Tom Hayes had served on Oxford City Council for almost a decade

A councillor has resigned after a decade ahead of the upcoming general election when he will stand as a candidate.

Labour councillor Tom Hayes had represented St Clements ward on Oxford City Council since 2014.

He is the party's candidate in the parliamentary seat of Bournemouth East in the general election, which is expected to take place this year.

Hospital carries out new 'miracle' heart procedure

Image source, OUH
Image caption,

Rosalind Walsh, 79, from Cheltenham said the procedure had been "a miracle"

A patient who received a new minimally invasive treatment for a severe heart valve disorder has described it as a "miracle".

Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) said it carried out the country's first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacements (TTVR) in December.

The procedure was used to help sufferers of tricuspid regurgitation, a disorder in which a valve in the heart does not close properly.

Northern lights: Oxfordshire gets spectacular surprise display

Media caption,

The strong aurora display was even spotted in Oxfordshire

The northern lights provided a surprisingly strong display as aurora watchers had their cameras ready to capture the stunning display.

While there was an ongoing weak solar storm, the aurora ended up being visible from the Scotland's Highlands down to Cornwall.

Amateur astronomer Mary McIntyre, from Tackley, spotted the phenomenon.

Appeal for memories of 'forgotten' Army camp homes

Image source, Oxfordshire History Centre
Image caption,

In 1950, the huts were made into homes with several bedrooms

An archaeologist is trying to trace anyone who remembers what post-war life was like at an Army training camp that was later turned into homes.

Wendy Austen, a volunteer at the Shotover Preservation Society, wants to hear memories of Slade Camp in Oxfordshire as part of a new project.

Huts at the site between Brasenose and Magdalen woods became home to dozens of families in the 1940s, '50s and '60s.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, external, X, external, or Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.