Move aside Laurel & Hardy, the new boys are in town.

Westgate deal signed with John Lewis

JOHN Lewis has signed an agreement to deliver a new department store in a redeveloped Westgate Centre, (OXFORD not Chippy) it has been announced today.  The store extending over three floors will create 500 new jobs, with an entrance located in the basement of the Westgate Centre’s new car park. The new flexible format department store in Oxford will have a target opening date of 2017 and will highlight fashion, home and consumer electronics' concepts in a contemporary setting. The news comes as the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre in Oxford took a major step forward, with a crucial legal agreement reached between the Westgate Alliance and Oxford City Council.

Andy Street, managing director, John Lewis, said: “Oxford has long been a sought after location for us and we’re delighted to be able to expand our reach to customers across the region for the first time, providing them with more convenient access to our inspiring products and great service. We’re looking forward to becoming part of the local community.”
Richard Akers, of the Westgate Oxford Alliance, said: “We are delighted that John Lewis is anchoring our new development adjoining the Westgate Centre, which we own jointly with the Crown Estate. This is an exciting project and this enables us to press ahead with a planning application for the scheme, which will confirm Oxford city centre as one of the leading retail and leisure destinations in the UK.”

Meanwhile as reported in a previous story WITNEY Mayor Harry Eaglestone has welcomed plans to build a new Morrisons store in the town centre. He said: “It is good news because Morrisons has always been very competitive with its prices. “When you read about shops that are empty in other towns and high streets, it just shows that Witney is doing very well in comparison.” also MOVES to extend Banbury’s Castle Quay shopping centre have been welcomed by business leaders.
Centre owner Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) is developing plans for a hotel, cinema, shops, bars and restaurants.
It would extend the centre’s footprint by 25 per cent, from 600,000sq ft to 754,000sq ft and create up to 500 new full-time and 1,000 part-time roles.
It is being seen as a attempt by the firm to shore up the town centre’s offering after a major retail park plan was approved. Centre fund manager Cameron Murray said the plan “reaffirms SWIP’s commitment to Castle Quay and maintaining Banbury’s town centre offering”.
He said: “We are delighted to confirm we are in the early stages of developing a proposal to extend Castle Quay shopping centre.

There you are it's all going on around us, new shops in our nearest towns to entice us away from Chippy, Westgate in OXFORD, the Castle Centre in BANBURY and a new supermarket in WITNEY, meanwhile back in La,la Land the objection to Sainsbury's has pushed Chippy further back into the dark ages, there is still NO sign of the Co-op development going ahead unless you count new tills as development. now the Co-operative as a whole is seen as a basket case and has credit rating is on a par with Greece, highly unlikely.  I hope Experience Chipping Norton will see they have to entice more villagers into town by selling what the customers want rather than what they want them to buy. When will the town and  retailers wake up and realise it's the big names and big shops attract customers not little shops, the little shops then benefit by the extra shoppers generated.

Man charged with burglary- West Oxon

Tuesday 14 May 2013, 2:47pm

Thames Valley Police has charged a man in relation to seven burglaries in West Oxfordshire.

Danny Lane, aged 33, from The Beeches, Chipping Norton, was arrested on Thursday (9/5), and subsequently charged with seven burglaries. He appeared before Banbury Magistrates' Court on Monday (13/5), where he was remanded in custody to appear at Oxford Crown Court on Friday (17/5).

The charges are in relation to burglaries on the following dates at the following addresses:

On Thursday 9 May 2013 in Churchill Road, Chipping Norton.
On Tuesday 7 May at a house in South Newington.
On 29 April at a house in Lidstone Road, Enstone.
On Saturday 13 April at a house in Church Street, Chipping Norton.
On 25 March at a house in Henley Avenue, Iffley, Oxford.
On 24-25 January at a house in Wharton Road, Oxford.
On 10 April 2013 at a house in Headley Way, Oxford.
A 22-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with the above offences. She has been released on police bail until 20 June.

Press Bureau
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While everyone is wondering about who controls the EU this is is what the map really looks like.

New county cabinet unveiled
Re-elected Chipping Norton County Councillor Hilary Biles new job in newly re-elected county council leader Ian Hudspeths cabinet will be cabinet member for public health and the voluntary and community sector.
Ed: Great! What a pointless soulless job that must be, hard luck Hilary.

So Obama supports Cameron over the EU? Looks like Cameron may have played his hand too soon, not only is he showing he chooses to ignore his own peoples wishes but has shown he is prepared to go further afield to reinforce his view.

 It is quite clear now why he wants to wait to 2017 for the referendum? It takes time to organise, as it's not an election issue he will say this is too important for just the UK electorate  so needs time to ensure EVERY British passport holder around the world has an opportunity  to  vote particularly those working and living in the EU, also every retired or working British passport holders  living in the Commonwealth and particularly America where Obama can instil his views to ensure the UK stays in the EU. Heir to Blair! You betcha!

What makes it more galling is we thought it was being held up because of Clegg, the reality is it is the one thing they are working together on.

So David Cameron is off to the States today to do a so-called deal worth £10 billion instead of staying to sort out his EU mess, readers may remember the last time Cameron was in the States the police swooped on Rebecca Brooks and arrested her while her good (LOL) friend Dave was conveniently to save him embarrassment thousands of miles away. Beware Dave's friends!

Would you believe this is a cupboard at the JR!

Within the last 24 hours there have been two burglaries to outbuildings in the Tew area of West Oxfordshire. A John Deere Lawn Tractor, a Stihl Chainsaw, a Green Honda 600 Quad Bike plus other equipment have been stolen. Please be aware and make sure all sheds and outbuildings are secure. Ring TVP on 101 if you see or hear anything suspicious.