A flood watch alert has been issued for the river Cherwell following heavy rain this winter; the flood watch covers the full length of the river.
The Environment Agency has also issued flood watches for the River Ock, the River Ray, the Thame, Windrush and the Envenlode. Flood watch is the agency’s first level alert system warning that low-lying land is at risk of flooding and that householders should keep an eye on water levels near their properties; people have been warned not to attempt to swim or drive through the river.
The flood risk for the Thame has reduced and on Saturday, the flood risk was lifted. However, if the downpours continue, then it is possible that the alert will once more be raised. Seven rivers in Oxfordshire are still on high alert. More rain is expected today and the Environment Agency expects that river levels will continue to rise. Those who are worried about flooding can see the Agency’s website, or call Floodline on 0845 988 1188. 

Protestors demonstrating against Oxford City Council ’s Westgate area expansion plan claimed partial victory over Bonn Square Sunday after successfully halting security guards and police’s second attempt to evict protestors by squaring off the grass area with steel barricades.
The protest began when Gabriel Chamberlain, 34, decided to camp in Bonn Square’s threatened tree on January 4th to protest Westgate Partnership , the £1.5 m Westgate area redevelopment plan that will uproot the sycamore and remove the patch of grass with rock pavement. Since Chamberlain’s encampment, contractors and security guards have surrounded the reportedly 100-year-old tree with security fencing.
About 50 people gathered at Bonn Square for a peaceful protest Saturday afternoon when contractors started surrounding the area to install new barricades around the grass patch. Protesters then in response joined arms and swarmed inside the square chanting and waving flags and placards. With police intervention barriers were removed and without threat of arrest Chamberlain’s supporters were granted permission to remain on site for protest. A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the fences were removed because contractors ran out of steel barriers.
After thwarting fence additions protest organiser Danny Chivers, 29, seemed hopeful about the prospects putting enough pressure on the council and halting the development project all together.
Protester Brian Melling, 43, felt the partial victory signified the public’s disapproval of the project. “It’s not often you get a partial victory. The council said they have consulted the public but you can see how many people are here and what they think of what they are doing,” commented Melling to the Oxford Mail.
Tree protester Chamberlain expressed his further support for the 50 campaigners while calling down from his tree, “I think what these people have done is great. It’s not just about saving the tree but about saving the planet. This is the last bit of grass people can sit in Oxford and they are going to turn it in to stone. Why don’t they just leave the grass?"
Over the course of the weekend another, who Chamberlain identified as Eddie Beaumont, joined the tree encampment demonstration.

Chamberlain's mother Josephine Knight-Jacobs said, "I think what he is doing is brilliant. I am very proud of him. Too many people don't stand up enough in this country. I don't understand why they have to cut so many trees down."

Over the next few weeks you will be seeing a lot more multimedia content on Cherwell24. We have hugely expanded our broadcasting team and will be bringing you regular video features and news-in-depth investigations, as well as podcast news roundups.
27/1/08
Helena Zaba and Rachel Williams present C24's first gigging and clubbing roundup . Also, see Cherwell24's first video theatre preview . 24/1/08Our video team further explored the condition of the flooding in Oxford. 13/1/08
Our first releases have just been published – a look at busking and the Cornmarket Bagpiper , a report on the soon-to-be closed Greyfriars PPH and 'Oxford's Most Haunted ', where we go on the hunt for local spooks…We also have a podcast, a roundup of the news over the vac.Happy viewing and check back regularly!

C24 Editorial Team

Jack Pitt-Brooke, Rachel Williams, Helena Zaba and Tom Carpenter report on the Cornmarket buskers, including the famous Bagpiper and new regulations surrounding their trade.
 

Tom Carpenter, Sarah Karacs and Amelia Leeson report on the soon-to-be-closed Greyfriars PPH.
 

Sarah Karacs, Stephanie Illingworth, Christopher Allen and Rob Dacre dare to go hunting for local spooks…

To mark last week's panel discussion on online journalism, held by the German Union of Journalists:(Hat tip: Spreeblick) Cherwell 24 is not responsible for the content of external links

BILDBlog catches Bild out… It draws up from the vault nine bits of speculation about the future of Jürgen Klinsmann, all from the pages of the German tabloid.Apparently he was going to go to one of:

Chelsea
Liverpool
Tottenham
LA Galaxy
England national team
USA national team
Mexico national team
Germany national team
Australia national team

He went to Bayern Munich. Hmm. Cherwell 24 is not responsible for the content of external links

St. Annes?
or Lincoln?

By Nadya ThormanOxford and Cambridge have rejected a government attempt to forge stronger links between universities and academies. The government has appealed to universities to sponsor academies in order to raise educational standards in deprived areas. However Oxford and Cambridge Universities are not among the 20 universities currently signed up to the academy scheme and refuse to commit to sponsorship of local schools. The Universities Secretary John Denham intended university sponsorship of academies to help bridge the gap between universities and disadvantaged communities. He said, “It is clear that the universities that recruit the vast majority of students from a small minority of society are missing out on a huge amount of talent. Widening participation in higher education should be seen as talent spotting by universities.” The North Oxford Academy, which opened last month to replace Drayton school in Banbury, relies on charity funding. Martyn Maker, project manager for the school, said he would welcome a partnership. “We are keen to build links with different agents in the community. Cooperation with [the university] would encourage young people into further education.” A spokesperson for Oxford University said, “Oxford attracts able students from all across the country and we feel that it is important that our access work broadly reflects this national role.” The University maintains that it participates in numerous access schemes, both locally and nationally, which aim to improve application numbers from a range of different backgrounds. They added, “We would be reluctant to be formally associated with a single school.” OUSU Access Officer, James Lamming expressed his support for the University’s decision. “Oxford should reach out to talented students in every school, rather than focusing its efforts on one particular academy. Sponsoring a school also prevents a minefield of difficulties, including creating potential conflicts of interest in the admissions process and distorting local education provision.” Oxbridge has often faced criticism in the past for its low state-school intake, with only 54% of students at Oxford and 57% at Cambridge being drawn from the maintained sector.