REGULATED rail fares, including season tickets, will go up by 4.8 per cent, while other tickets are set to rise by a larger amount.

The rises announced today mean nationally regulated fares, including season tickets, savers and standard day returns will go up by 4.8 per cent on January 2, while some unregulated prices such as cheap day returns, long distance open and advance fares, will increase by an average of 5.4 per cent.

First Great Western's regulated fares will rise by 4.8 per cent, while unregulated fares will rise by 6.1 per cent on average.

A spokesman for the company said some fares will be reduced, others frozen, and some unregulated fares increases will rise by up to 9.8 per cent.

Andrew Haines, First Great Western's chief operating officer, said: "We are investing £200m in trains, stations and customer services and have spent over £70m in the past year.

"More and more of the revenue we earn is being returned to Government year by year as national transport policy, and payment for it, changes."

PROTESTS are growing over the threat to close the Cogges Manor Farm museum, in Witney, as part of a revamp of the county's museums.

A fundamental review of the service has been ordered to save £250,000, including compulsory redundancies, as part of a 'complete overhaul' of the staffing structure.

Plans for the site could involve selling the 20-acre farm museum site, possibly for housing.

A leaked document has even warned that even with the proposed changes, the service could be left 'disabled and unsustainable'.

But campaigners are gearing up for a battle with County Hall over the plans.

A HISTORIAN has labelled Witney Town Council's refusal to back plans to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the town next year as 'rather sad'.

Charles Gott said Witney received its name in 969, but its birth as a modern town occurred in 1208, when Bishop of Winchester, Peter Des Roches, began creating the large market place - now Church Green - in the centre of the town.

Mr Gott, the co-author of three books on Witney's history, is planning to celebrate the anniversary in 2008, and would like schools and other local groups to put on their own events.

He approached the council to back plans for a year of celebrations earlier this year.

But town mayor, Chrissie Curry, said the council could not support the celebrations because there was too much evidence to suggest the anniversary fell at a different time.

Mr Gott, 71, from Weavers Close, Witney, has recently completed The New Book Of Witney, with his wife, Joan - the third history of the town the couple have written.

He said: "There is no document that says that 1208 is when it happened, but as far as we can make out from various documents and inferences, we think it is about 1208.

"The council said that because we cannot prove exactly what date it was, they felt they could not support it.

"I have not asked them to contribute money. One hoped they might find some money or could raise money to put up a banner saying 'The 800th Anniversary of Witney'.

"I can understand it, but I think it is rather sad."

TWO pioneering schemes are being run in Oxfordshire to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder.

The schemes which are the first of their kind in the South East, have been launched by the Oxfordshire Drug And Alcohol Team (DAAT) in partnership with police, the Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).

The Alcohol Arrest Referral Scheme (AARS) has been set up to deal with binge drinkers who cause crime and disorder as a direct result of their alcohol use.

In line with a national pilot, the Substance Misuse Arrest Referral Team (SMART) is running the scheme across Oxfordshire's custody suites.

Chief Supt Shaun Morley, Oxfordshire's police commander and chairman of the DAAT, said: "The service is aimed at those arrested for any alcohol related offence, ranging from binge drinking to alcohol dependency.

"It identifies alcohol-linked problematic patterns of behaviour. Through education and support, it gives an early intervention to reduce such behaviour and make an impact on key anti-social issues.

A SET of lower speed limits are to be introduced on Oxfordshire roads in a bid to cut down on the number of accidents.

Oxfordshire County Council has today approved new 50mph limits following research showing similar speed limit reductions have delivered a 30 per cent reduction in accidents.

New 50mph speed limits will be introduced on roads, including the B4017 from Abingdon to Drayton, the B4035 from Banbury to Broughton and the B4477 Minster Lovell to Brize Norton.

Meanwhile, new 40 mph speed limits will be introduced on the A417 between East and West Hendred on a trial basis, as well as on the B480 between Chiselhampton and Stadhampton.

Councillor Ian Hudspeth, head of transport at Oxfordshire County Council, said: "Our experience in Oxfordshire shows that reducing speed limits works. Our monitoring, along with national research, gives us sufficient confidence to go ahead."

Source: Witney Gazette

CARTERTON is hoping for Lottery money to improve a key town centre site.

The town has been shortlisted for up to £80,000 Big Lottery Funding for its project 'Put Heart into our Square'. Repaving, new seating, and a mosaic developed by the community, working alongside a professional artist, are aimed to turn Tower Square into an attractive focal point and meeting area.

The scheme will be competing head-to-head with an Oxford project on Tuesday, November 27, on ITV Thames.

Maxine Crossland, who has played a key role in developing the project, is urging local people to vote on the day.

She said: "Ten years ago, Carterton was branded 'the ugliest town in England.' "Finally we have a chance to improve things.

"Our dream is to redesign the square and create a safer, more welcoming area, with attractive planting and paving, set with plenty of seating.

A LOCAL victory for farmers' markets in West Oxfordshire could be rolled out across the country.

District councillors have given the go-ahead to three separate planning applications for the Thames Valley Farmers Market Co-operative to put up roadside signs in the days before markets take place.

On Monday, despite strong protest from Witney Town Council about setting a precedent for fly-posting, the co-operative followed previous victories for the signs in Chipping Norton and Charlbury.

Pete Williams, spokesman, said: "We have now set a template for other councils and counties across the country.

THE pupil who lost his life in a road accident in Witney has been praised as a gentle boy who had a sense of humour and fun.

The headteacher of Henry Box School paid tribute to teenager Andrew Edwards and said it was a "difficult time" for the school reeling from two deaths in a matter of days.

Andrew, 13, died after he was hit by a car in Ducklington Lane, Witney, on Friday night.

On Thursday afternoon, the school's former head of technology Christine Diacon, died after being hit by a car on the A40 slip road near High Cogges.

Headteacher Nicky Edmondson said: "Andrew was a gentle student who was well-liked within a circle of friends for his unique sense of humour and fun."

Miss Annalies McIver, Head of Year 9, said: "Andrew will be sorely missed by the staff and students at The Henry Box School.

"Andrew was a gentle student, with a lovely sense of humour, which kept his classmates' spirits up.

DARTS legends Eric Bristow and John Lowe will be taking to the oche for an unusual sporting showdown.

For, instead of some top flight player, the hotshot aces will be taking on the have-a-go mayor of Witney, Chrissie Curry.

But although Ms Curry has the odds stacked against her, she is determined not to be totally humiliated in the civic showdown later this month, and has been busy putting in plenty of practice.

Ms Currie is raising money for Against Breast Cancer, and is being partnered by chief Witney fundraiser for the charity Jeanne Chattoe.

The pro darts players, who will be in town to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Charity, are hoping for a sell-out crowd at the Langdale Hall on Friday, November 30, from 7.30pm.

The pair are also taking part in the Christmas Fair on the same evening.

PEOPLE in Burford will be learning how to beat bogus callers.

A mobile police station and display stands will be set up in Frethern Road, from 9.30am to 1.30pm on Wednesday, November 21, and police will be providing advice on how to deal with suspicious callers.

Information packs, containing leaflets and stickers to put on front doors, will be handed out to residents, particularly the elderly and vulnerable.

Trading standards, Anchor Staying Put and Age Concern have teamed up again to offer their services at the event. Trading standards will advise on rogue traders while Anchor Staying Put provides a small repairs service to the elderly and disabled.

Bogus callers awareness days have recently been held in Woodstock and Chipping Norton following an increase this year in distraction burglaries across the district.

Bill Butcher, crime reduction adviser said: "West Oxfordshire is just one of the many districts that suffers from distraction burglaries. We want to crack down on this despicable crime by getting important advice out to residents.

"Previous events have proved very successful and Burford is one area that has suffered several distraction burglaries this year."

Witney MP, David Cameron, has added his backing to the Bogus Callers campaign: "I think this is a very worthwhile campaign, which we can all get behind.

"We all have a responsibility - politicians, neighbours, businesses - to strengthen our communities and create a society that is safe."

Source: Witney Gazette

A TAILOR-MADE clock has finally been installed at a village hall, almost 100 years after the building was opened.

The £2,500 timepiece is also fit for the new Millennium, even though it has taken the Carter Institute, at Clanfield, seven years to see the project finally come to fruition.

The one metre in diameter public clock had to be specially made by Steve Fletcher - pictured right - of the Clock Workshop, in Witney's Bridge Street.

It was specially designed to fit into an original alcove, set into the external brickwork of the institute, when it was built in 1910.

And it has state-of-the-art technology, using transmissions from the country's radio signal station at Anthorn, on the west coast of Cumbria - which also controls the time on electronic networks, like speed cameras, cash machines, and mobile phone billing systems. Mr Fletcher said: "It also automatically adjusts to power cuts and the changes for summer and winter time. People in Clanfield will certainly have the correct time."

Colin Fowler, spokesman for the Institute, said: "We decided this was to be our Millennium project for the village. Finally, the building has its public clock."

Source: Witney Gazette

The average UK price of unleaded petrol has passed £1 per litre for the first time, a research group has said.

A litre of unleaded petrol now costs 100.08p, according to the latest data from industry researchers Catalist.

Petrol prices have risen sharply on the back of record global oil prices, which have increased as a result of supply concerns and the weak dollar.

Duty on petrol and diesel was also increased by 2p a litre from the start of last month, further lifting prices.

The average price of a litre of diesel is now 103.32p. Diesel broke through the £1 level two and a half weeks ago.

This time last year one litre of unleaded petrol cost 86.11p.

Weak dollar

Petrol retailers have warned for some time of escalating prices as wholesale crude prices soar and the impact of rising fuel duty makes itself felt.

The weak dollar has driven up oil prices because some investors have been using the commodity as an alternative to holding dollars.

The UK pound has climbed past the $2.10 level against the US dollar, the highest it has been in 26 years.

At one point, the pound touched $2.1052, before paring gains to trade at $2.1042.

The weakness of the dollar has also seen the euro benefit, with the single European currency strengthening to record levels against the greenback.

Analysts said the dollar had weakened because of speculation that US interest rates would be cut in coming months.

They also said it reflected fears that China may start offloading some of its huge dollar currency reserves in favour of other foreign currencies.

And predictions that the Bank of England's monetary currency committee may keep interest rates at 5.75% on Thursday have also favoured the pound.

'Diversify reserves'

The dollar and pound were last at similar levels in September 1981.

Earlier, the euro jumped to a new record against the dollar, as it moved to beyond $1.47.

Another currency performing strongly against the greenback is the Canadian dollar, which currently buys more of its US counterpart than at any time since 1950.

In early trading on Wednesday, the "loonie", as the Canadian currency is affectionately known, broke through the $1.10 mark.

FARMERS' markets in West Oxfordshire have won a battle to keep their roadside advertising signs.

District councillors have given them planning permission to keep using the 610mm (2ft) square signs at Chipping Norton and Charlbury.

But there is another battle on, to win similar consent for Witney and Woodstock.

The go-ahead, by Monday's meeting of the council's uplands planning sub-committee, was against a background of a determined crackdown on illegal fly-posting by a different council department.

The Thames Valley Farmers' Market Co-operative have been putting up the signs for the monthly markets for the past 18 months, but were told they would be prosecuted if they continued doing so.

They were advised to seek planning permission, costing more than £1,000, and were then dismayed to learn that planning officers were recommending refusal on the grounds that it would set a precedent for an increasing clutter of roadside signs.

Pete Williams, spokesman for the Co-operative, said yesterday: "All but one of the uplands councillors supported us.

"That's very encouraging. We have played it by the book, and won this first round.

A SPEED camera has been taken away from one of the main commuter roads in and out of Witney.

It will be coming back after maintenance work to the site on the B4022 at Oxford Hill.

The camera is one of 67 at fixed sites on Oxfordshire's roads, and was installed about six years ago, after residents campaigned for pedestrian safety measures.

Dan Campsall, of the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership, said the whole unit had to be taken out for routine maintenance to the base of the pole holding the camera equipment.

"We are not entirely sure at this stage when it will be reinstated. The island where it is mounted is quite narrow, and the work may require temporary traffic measures," added Mr Campsall. "People want motorists to slow down as they travel through their communities, and that is why it is there."

The speed limit on the road is 30mph.

The partnership has no plans to introduce more fixed sites in the county, preferring instead to use mobile camera enforcement.

David Robertson, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, lives in Witney at Newland Mill, which leads on to Oxford Hill. He said: "It is serving its purpose, because the accident record on that stretch of road is now good."

Source: Witney Gazette

Organisers of the markets in west Oxfordshire have been told they will be prosecuted for putting up roadside signs, advertising the monthly events in Witney, Woodstock, Charlbury and Chipping Norton.

Now they are "playing by the book" and seeking planning permission for the 2ft sq signs, which are tied by string to street furniture.

They would only be put up once a month for a maximum of three days at a time - the same as they have in fact been doing for the past 18 months, with the agreement of Oxfordshire County Council's highways department.

But planning for the signs is the responsibility of West Oxfordshire District Council and, despite it promoting the markets, it looks likely it will refuse permission.

Pete Williams, of the Thames Valley Farmers' Market Co-operative, said: "We're playing it by the book, even though it's costing us over £1,000 to put in these applications for each town.

"They are only up for two days, once a month. In a recent survey, 70 per cent of people said they came along to the markets because they had seen the signs.

"If we can't put them up, we will obviously lose trade."

CONSERVATIVE Party leader, David Cameron, chose on Thursday to lay down his latest challenge to Prime Minister Gordon Brown on his home turf in Witney.

Billed as 'Today Has Been Cancelled', the Witney MP said November 1 would have been the day for a General Election, but the Labour Government backed down.

He was speaking to an invited audience of about 70 party supporters, most of whom would have been out on the streets canvassing for votes, along with 16 Tory prospective parliamentary candidates.

"But, cheer up," he told them, "they can't go on forever. Change is on its way."

TV camera crews were also in attendance at the town's Corn Exchange to hear Mr Cameron outline nine key policies already on the party agenda.

He also spoke about new ones to be unveiled in the next few months.

MEMBERS of Witney's Country Market (formerly the Women Institute's) are preparing for the Christmas rush.

Customers to their weekly market, on Fridays, from 9am to 10am, at the Masonic Hall, Church Green, will get a chance to see just what they are cooking up for Christmas, and place their orders in advance.

Cake-maker Jo Prizzey, who is also the market's county chairman, explained that things got so rushed during the build-up to Christmas, that customers liked to know they could order their home-made Christmas cakes, mince pies, decorative sprays, hand-crafted dolls, and all the other things they made, in advance.

"Every week, we will display the various festive goods that can be ordered and picked up on the Friday before Christmas," said Jo.

Apparently one of the most popular items offered are the ready-to-ice Christmas cakes. The decorative sprays for the table and front door are in high demand too.

Other items that are sold at this thriving little market include freshly laid free-range eggs, seasonal vegetables (many of which have been harvested on the morning of sale), old apple varieties, and plants. "People know that we sell out quickly, so there is normally a big queue waiting for us to open the doors at 9am," said Jo.

Source:Witney Gazette

WITNEY'S Windrush leisure centre is opening its doors for a free family fun day on Saturday.

Activities include plenty for children, from parachute games and roller disco to football session and family float session in the swimming pool.

But centre operators, Wycombe Leisure Ltd, say the day, from 10am to 5pm, is for people of all ages and also includes free table tennis and badminton as well as a Tour-de-France style bicycle challenge.

A full programme of the day's activities is available from the centre or by download from the Wycombe Leisure Ltd website, by clicking here.

Oil prices have hit a new record of $94 a barrel, as US government data showed a surprise fall in crude stockpiles for the second week in a row.

New York light crude jumped $3.62, or 4%, to $94 a barrel, while London Brent traded at $90.74 a barrel, up $3.30, in late afternoon trade in Europe.

The US government's figures showed that domestic crude stocks fell by 3.9 million barrels last week.

Analysts had forecast an increase of 100,000 barrels.

"I am very surprised, the crude number is insanely bullish, it's a big drop, for the second week in a row," said Mike Wittner, global head of oil research at SocGen in London.

Volatile trade

The US is the world's biggest energy consumer and therefore, the state of its inventories is a key concern.