Saturday 25th October 2025
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Investigation reveals serious asbestos management issues in the University

Arina Makarina
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Investigation reveals serious asbestos management issues in the University

An investigation by Confront Power has revealed that Oxford University was recently in serious breach of asbestos management regulation. 

An audit conducted in 2019 revealed that information in the asbestos register was not consistent or up-to-date, with auditors PwC highlighting a critical risk that the University was non-compliant with UK legislation. A second audit in 2020 also revealed that the University had only surveyed 97 out of 160 of the highest-risk buildings, with only 23 of 72 asbestos management plans completed by their June 2020 due date.

Following Confront Power’s report, the University has emphasised that the procedures currently in place “pose no risk to the health of our students, staff, or visitors”.

A University spokesperson told Cherwell: “Like institutions across the UK higher education sector, the University has a diverse, complex estate, and we face legacy issues around asbestos-containing materials in some of our buildings.” They added that the University “proactively” engages in the risk management of asbestos in University buildings.

Confront Power is a not-for-profit organisation which specialises in investigative journalism.

The audits, obtained by Confront, were initially withheld by the University until the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued an order to release the documents. Oxford responded to the ICO claiming that disclosure of parts of the information in the audits could lead to panic among people inhabiting the buildings.

Confront Power reported in June 2025 that Oxford had paid out £850,000 in compensation for three claims regarding asbestos exposure internally. The University has 4,609 asbestos-containing materials across its buildings, including 24 buildings which are classified as “high-risk”.

An Oxford University and College Union (UCU) committee member said: “Oxford UCU is extremely concerned that information about the location and management of asbestos in University buildings – including the University’s own assessment that it is in breach of the Control of Asbestos Regulations – has been withheld from staff working in affected buildings.”

Asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, and the government introduced the Control of Asbestos Regulations in 2004. ‘Asbestos’ refers to a group of naturally occurring heat and water resistant fibrous minerals that were used widely in construction in the past. Exposure to asbestos can lead to cancer or asbestosis through inhalation.     

Long-awaited St Anne’s accommodation reopens with some delays

Willow Lock
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Long-awaited St Anne’s accommodation reopens with some delays

Students have been delayed from moving into newly renovated accommodation in St Anne’s College. After a two year renovation project, 82 bedrooms across eight Victorian houses on Bevington Road were meant to come into use, however residents in one of the houses have been placed in temporary accommodation due to an issue identified in a final inspection. 

A spokesperson for the College informed Cherwell in September that the houses would be completed by the beginning of the academic year, however completion of 8 Bevington Road has been postponed for several weeks. Two additional houses, 9 and 10 Bevington Road, are on track to be completed at the end of Michaelmas term but will be used as conference stock for the rest of the academic year.

One of the students impacted by the delay explained that those who balloted for the rooms “were aware there was a tight deadline” and “that the completion of the work would be close to the start of term”. They added that the process was executed “without fuss” and that they are grateful “to move into brand new properties within the College campus”.

Other students living near Bevington Road complained about the “loud building work outside [their window]”, and an intermittent loud whirring noise which was reported throughout the night.

A spokesperson for St Anne’s told Cherwell: “Contractors have been working on the Bevington Road houses for two years, and unfortunately it is not possible to renovate 10 Victorian houses and transform these into sustainable accommodation fit for future generations of students without there being a degree of noise.”

The renovated accommodation was designed to bring the building into the 21st century, whilst maintaining its Victorian heritage. St Anne’s Domestic Bursar, John Banbrook, told Cherwell that the removal of gas boilers will “contribute to the college’s sustainability goals and will ensure the Bevington Road houses are eco-friendly and fit for the future”. He added that “maintaining the character of many Victorian features” was carefully considered.

Prior to the renovation, access to the buildings was through “ad hoc infill structures…in a poor state of repair”, whilst the landscaping did “not contribute positively to the appearance” of the local area. The original buildings’ rooms were also described as “outdated” and the heating system was “inefficient”, with kitchen and bathroom provisions “below par”.

The St Anne’s spokesperson added: “The renovation of our Bevington Road houses was a matter of necessity, not choice, as the houses were in urgent need of renovation to make them fit for future generations of students. A key factor in our regeneration was to increase our existing housing stock, increasing the number of rooms available for students and providing accessible rooms where needed.|

The final cost of the project was £14.8 million, with funding provided through a combination of donations and the College’s own funds. The College told Cherwell that the rooms would cost students the same rate as the other rooms in College, which is currently £1,974.90 per term for an ensuite room.

In November 2022, Cherwell reported that the Bevington Road renovation would create a room shortage. This resulted in St Anne’s requiring more students to live in accommodation in Summertown, 25 minutes away from College, and many others to arrange their own accommodation.

At the time, one St Anne’s student expressed their frustration to Cherwell, saying: “Many people applied [to St Anne’s] as one of their big selling points was three years of onsite accommodation.” Since then it has become policy for the majority of second years to arrange their own accommodation, often privately renting. Students privately renting have had to arrange second year housing and find a group to live with as early as Michaelmas term in first year, and have reported issues with high rent and bills, mould, and damp in rented properties.

In reply to concerns about the costs of private rent, Mr Banbrook said that the College “provides grant funding for those that need financial support as well as advice on renting in the local community”.

The College spokesperson added: “Unfortunately there was no way to achieve this [the renovations] without taking these rooms out of circulation while the work was being done. College has provided extensive support to assist students with finding other accommodation, including housing students in off-site St Anne’s buildings like Robert Saunders House, usually graduate accommodation, and providing financial aid.”

How to survive Oxford

Ava Doherty
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How to survive Oxford

Welcome to Oxford, the place where ambition goes to drink, cry, and write 3,000 words on “liminality” at 3am, where people say “I’m just popping to the Bod” and genuinely mean it.

You’re here because you were clever once. Now you’re mostly tired. Oxford isn’t about academic glory. It’s about surviving a term system designed by someone who clearly hated joy. You’ll arrive bright-eyed and quoting Virginia Woolf. By Week Five, you’ll be negotiating with your tutorial essay like it’s a hostage situation.

Oxford isn’t so much a university as a social experiment in exhaustion, ego, and caffeine. Still, it’s beautiful, in that dysfunctional, emotionally unavailable way. Like a cathedral with commitment issues. So before you drown in deadlines, societies, and the creeping suspicion that everyone else has figured it out, here’s a guide. Not to thriving, that’s ambitious, but to surviving, politely.

1. Sign up for everything, then panic elegantly.

You’ll join rowing, choir, debate, and a society that earnestly discusses “the ontology of soup”. You’ll be elected treasurer of a committee you didn’t know existed. At some point, you’ll realise you spend more time in committee rooms than your own room. That’s fine. Burnout is just enthusiasm without manners.

2. Nobody actually cares about your grades.

Yes, even the person who claims they “didn’t revise for Mods.” Everyone’s bluffing. Everyone.
Your tutors won’t remember your mark by next term, and your friends certainly won’t care. Do the work, then let it go. There’s a life beyond the footnotes.

3. Beware the loud intellects.

Some people treat every corridor conversation as an audition for BBC Question Time. They quote Foucault for fun and sigh over a misused semicolon. You don’t need to keep up. Let them exhaust themselves on the Rad Cam staircase while you quietly enjoy the chaos from a safe distance.

4. Burnout is inevitable; honesty helps.

Oxford will chew you up politely and spit you out, often in sub fusc. Talk to your tutors before your stress manifests as involuntary eye twitching. Talk to friends before you start “experimenting with isolation” as performance art. Don’t romanticise the ruinous effects of overworking. Transparency is underrated. Suffering alone is overhyped.

5. Flirt like your life depends on it.

If you like someone, tell them. Oxford runs on repression; any genuine emotion counts as rebellion. People disappear fast here, into dissertations, internships, or mild existential dread. Say what you mean to your library crush before they vanish into the untraceable depths of the Bodleian. Be brave. Worst case, you get a story. Best case, someone you can split Hassan’s chips with at 2am.

6. Alcohol is a tactical hazard.

One blackout is character-building. Two is reckless optimism. Beyond that, you’re in moral territory best left unexplored.
Hydrate. Snack. And remember, nothing good happens after the words “formal dinner afters”.

7. Criticism is mostly noise.

You’ll get essays back that read like crime scene reports. Take what’s useful, ignore the theatrics. Everyone’s improvising, even the people who look like they were born quoting Weber. Most tutors have seen worse. Logic abandoned mid-sentence and replaced with sheer audacity. You’ll be fine.

8. Fun is its own scholarship.

The 2am conversations, the delirious walks home from Bridge, the friendships held together by shared panic and overpriced coffee. That’s the real degree. In the end, Oxford isn’t about mastering knowledge. It’s about surviving brilliance and insanity in equal measure. It’s an extended tutorial not in academia, but in being human, flawed, curious, and occasionally spectacular.

9. Tell stories, not just essays.

In ten years, no one will care about your footnotes. They’ll care about the night you danced on the college lawns, argued with a Classics tutor about the morality of pigeons, or survived the Keble panto as an unconvincing shrub.

Your degree will fade. The absurdity and the people will remain. That’s the Oxford curriculum you can’t fail.

New nightlife champion on Oxford City Council

Sophi Hayes-Hoyle
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New nightlife champion on Oxford City Council

A role championing Oxford’s night-time economy has been created at Oxford City Council. Labour Party councillor James Taylor was appointed to the position last week at a full council meeting in an effort to support new businesses in bolstering the city’s nightlife, live music, and events. 

Taylor will advocate for the importance of Oxford’s vibrant cultural scene, advising the Cabinet Member for Planning and Culture in decision making. The Councillor is one amongst four unpaid Champions for the city, with other councillors advising respectively on the issues of Heritage, Cycling, and the Armed Forces. 

The introduction of this new role comes as the night-time economy faces decline nationwide. According to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), nearly 800 late-night businesses have been forced to close over the past five years, representing a 26.4% contraction in the late-night sector overall. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have accrued irreversible debts, failing to reopen sustainably. The cost-of-living crisis has simultaneously reduced footfall and customer spending.

UK nightclub closure has only intensified in recent years: 65 nightclubs closed between December 2023 and June 2024, a rate of closure only increasing since. Students and residents of Oxford experienced this first-hand with the closure of ATIK nightclub in June 2024, with Kiss Bar following suit later that year.

In a press release, Council Leader Susan Brown acknowledged the importance of small businesses in promoting musical talent and equal opportunity, calling Oxford “the home of Radiohead, Supergrass, Foals, Ride and Glass Animals”. Brown added: “Events, live music and the night-time economy are key industries in Oxford.” Taylor has also expressed a desire to re-establish Cowley Road Carnival, held only once since 2019.

Although the UK Government has pledged to tackle the problems facing the nighttime sector, Plush’s Company Director Stuart Hayles told Cherwell: “This has failed to materialise, and late night venues are still paying thousands of pounds a year on business rates based on estimated turnovers from before the pandemic.”

Coining a term for the increasing number of cities around the country where nightclubs are virtually non-existent, lobbyists have warned that the UK faces a crisis within the hospitality industry due to the rise in ‘night-time deserts’.

With Kiss Bar having been home to ‘Intrusion’, Oxford’s goth and industrial night, and ‘METAAAL!!!’, Oxford’s heavy metal club night​, the decline of the nighttime economy threatens spaces for cultural and artistic expression. Michael Kill, CEO of the NTIA, identifies this as an urgent problem for burgeoning artists and the wider cultural sector, warning against “the silent slide into night-time deserts”. 
Local business owners like Stuart Hayles are ready to welcome the council’s new role. Hayles told Cherwell: “I am confident that they would be highly supported by businesses within the city.” A champion for Oxford’s nightlife could improve late night public transport services, introduce safety initiatives and monitor anti-social behaviour, all whilst bolstering the local economy.

Embracing AI undermines academia

Emily Henson
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Embracing AI undermines academia

Intelligence and Oxford are usually synonymous. After a term or two, this idea generally wanes amongst its student population, but there is an underlying truth that people at this University have some idea of how to think. Why, then, is artificial intelligence being repeatedly imposed upon us; arriving in our search engines, eBook services, and most recently, across the entire university? The use of AI is rapidly changing from being a choice, made largely by hungover undergraduates, to an expectation coming top-down from the University administration. This assumes the worst of Oxford’s students – ignoring the genuine desire to work hard and improve – and instead views academia as a means to an end, rather than a worthwhile occupation in itself. 

First infiltrated was the eBook services. No person accessing a 1970s monograph on coinage in revolutionary America has any use for a vague and inaccurate summary. There is an immediate assumption of laziness that emerges when this is an unavoidable feature. I’ll save you the tangent on Britain’s anti-intellectual culture, but we live in a world that increasingly caters to the lowest common denominator. Maybe it’s asking too much of online book providers, but one should be able to read and seek information unencumbered by constant simplification. 

The most glaring issue with AI is that it is often factually wrong. The University uses literature reviews as an example of AI helping, but it cannot assist if it does not understand the work in the field. An AI summary of ‘Dress and Society: Contributions from Archaeology’ by Toby F Martin and Rosie Wench highlights Virginia Woolf as a “key concept”, having been quoted once. While my grip on medieval dress archeology may leave my tutors somewhat wanting, I can say with some certainty that Virginia Woolf does not play a major role. AI is only capable of clinging to words it has seen a lot, much like a three year old recognising their own name. 

While this example is obviously incorrect, had it flagged something more inconspicuous, the error could have easily gone unnoticed. When using AI in the very way the University recommends – which involves aforementioned literature reviews or identifying research gaps – this error becomes a significant issue. 

Most disturbingly, the AI writing the summary seems to think that it is the author of the book. Claiming “we seek to promote [dress] as fundamental to…understanding past societies”, appears relatively innocent, if not hugely accurate. However, it is this claim of authorship which is more worrying. Martin and Weetch did not argue that. It is one thing to have a poor summary, it is another to put words into the authors’ mouths. 

Recently, the University has taken the embrace of AI one step further, providing access to ChatGPT-5 for all staff and students. OpenAI – the company behind ChatGPT – has been sued multiple times for using copyrighted work to train its models. While I would not recommend looking to Oxford University governance for overly moral decisions, I had hoped that the ideas of intellectual property and authorial remuneration might somewhat resonate. Instead, the University is funnelling money into a company that undermines these values. 

The University is struggling with AI usage. I am not ignorant to that, nor to the idea that by facilitating it, they have better means of controlling the usage. But by embracing AI like this, Oxford University is simply giving up on trying to engage properly with the most pressing issue facing academia today. In doing so, the administration is letting its students down.

Where the University gives advice on AI usage, it is often a direct replacement for actually engaging with another person. In some cases, like working on writing in an academic tone, this may be helpful. In others, like hearing a “range of perspectives” or having “critical questions about a text”, speaking with others and simply thinking can have the same outcome – with the added benefit that the student might actually grow intellectually, rather than just being ready to answer the next question. 

I struggle to see how any humanities subject is benefited by AI. Everything that I know current humanities students are asking it to do is harmful to the education we are supposed to be getting. Developing the ability to think critically and understand – rather than just learn information – is the hallmark of an Oxford degree. So while an AI chatbot might be able to aid you in regurgitating ‘facts’, continued usage undermines the very point of why we are here. 

A few months ago, a joke of ‘just having a think’ circulated on social media. While light-hearted, it speaks to a wider sentiment. We have not evolved as a species in the past few years to lack the capacity for thought, nor the desire for it. Tech companies and the University treat AI as some inevitable, coveted invention: this is simply not the case. Oxford is full of intelligent and engaged people; people who want to do the work, and want to have opinions on it. By facilitating copious AI usage, the University fails to deliver on its centuries-long tradition of encouraging independent and original thought. 

Oxford student arrested ‘on suspicion of inciting racial hatred’

Éilis Mathur
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Oxford student arrested ‘on suspicion of inciting racial hatred’

CW: Antisemitism 

A student at the University of Oxford was arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning after a video of him chanting “put the Zios in the ground” at a pro-Palestine protest was posted online. It is believed the student has been suspended from the University as a result. Earlier today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticised Oxford’s “slow” response to the case. 

The student, who studies Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Balliol College, was participating at a Palestine Coalition demonstration in central London on Saturday 11th October. In the video, he leads a crowd in the chant: “Gaza, Gaza make us proud, put the Zios in the ground.” He also said that the chant had been “workshopp[ed]” in Oxford. 

The Metropolitan Police issued a statement saying they have arrested a man “on suspicion of inciting racial hatred” as part of their investigation into chants at Saturday’s protest. They said he was arrested at an address in Oxfordshire and “remains in police custody”. 

A spokesperson for Oxford University told the BBC that they were informed a student had been arrested, but that “the precise basis for the arrest has not yet been disclosed to the university”. 

The Telegraph has also reported that the student was subsequently suspended. The University was unable to confirm this but told Cherwell: “It has the power to take immediate and proportionate action including, as appropriate, suspending a student from membership of the University.” 

Under Statute XI, the Proctors have the power to impose “precautionary measures”, such as suspension, pending a criminal investigation. This can be appealed by the student.

The University’s statement continued: “Oxford University is unequivocal: there is no place for hatred, antisemitism or discrimination within our community, and we will always act to protect the safety and dignity of our students.”

Sir Keir Starmer criticised Oxford University for their handling of this case. During a visit to the Community Security Trust this afternoon, a charity which monitors antisemitism in the UK, Starmer said that universities “should not be a place where Jewish students fear even to go”. 

Starmer called out universities for their poor responses to cases of antisemitism and, in particular, described Oxford’s reaction as “slow” in the “clearest of clear cases”. The Telegraph also reported that ministers have been in close contact with the University to ensure that antisemitism is eradicated from the student body. The University declined to comment further on this matter. 

The Metropolitan Police declined to comment.

The student and Balliol College have been contacted for comment.

How Students Can Use Their Social Media Presence to Land Jobs (Without Selling Out)

External Contributor
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Let’s be honest—social media can feel like a weird mix of flexing, memes, and mild existential dread. It’s where we post selfies, random thoughts, and the occasional dog picture. But it’s also where recruiters, employers, and internship coordinators go stalking—uh, I mean, researching. The good news? You don’t have to suddenly become a “LinkedIn influencer” or sound like a walking ad to make your social media presence actually help your career. You can stay authentic and make yourself look like a legit candidate.

So how do you do that without turning into a corporate robot? Let’s break it down.

1. Start by cleaning, not curating

You don’t have to delete every picture of you at a party or your hot takes about pineapple pizza. But it’s smart to scroll through your older posts and make sure nothing screams “bad judgment.” Think of it like doing a little digital spring cleaning: untag yourself from the wild freshman year stuff, maybe make private that meme account you ran in high school, and check your bios for cringe. Employers aren’t expecting perfection—they just want to know you’re not chaotic evil online.

2. Show what you actually care about

Instead of trying to “brand” yourself (ugh), just show your real interests. If you’re into environmental science, post about cool sustainability projects. If you’re studying journalism, share an article you wrote or a photo from an event you covered. Think of it as letting your future boss get to know what kind of person they’d be working with—not a product, but a passionate human being.

And don’t underestimate the casual stuff! Tweets about your favorite podcasts or photos from a volunteer gig can say a lot about you without sounding rehearsed.

3. Use LinkedIn… but don’t let it use you

LinkedIn has a reputation for being a bit stiff, but it doesn’t have to be. Instead of spamming the “open to work” banner, post about things you’re genuinely learning or struggling with. Employers appreciate honesty more than buzzwords. For example, if you bombed your first group project but learned how to manage deadlines better, that’s a solid story to share. You can even connect with alumni from your school—they’re often down to help if you reach out respectfully (and don’t open with “pls hire me”).

4. Grow your following the smart way

Okay, real talk: follower count shouldn’t define you, but it can help your voice get seen. If you’re trying to grow your reach a little—especially on platforms like Instagram or TikTok—make sure you do it organically. Don’t use tools like UseViral. The followers you gain should be people genuinely interested in your content, not just numbers on a screen.

5. Don’t fake a “personal brand”—build a reputation

There’s a big difference between being “marketable” and being “memorable.” Posting things you genuinely care about, treating people respectfully, and showing consistency over time builds a reputation that feels real. The goal isn’t to sound like a marketing campaign—it’s to show that you have ideas, curiosity, and some level of self-awareness (which, let’s face it, already puts you ahead of half the internet).

6. Balance your online and offline worlds

Your social media presence is just one piece of the puzzle. Go to events, join clubs, attend workshops, and talk to actual humans. Then, share your experiences online in a way that feels natural. That’s how your digital self connects with your real-life self—and employers notice that balance.

At the end of the day, your social media should feel like you, not a commercial. Post things that make you proud, curious, or inspired, and people—including employers—will naturally gravitate toward that energy. You don’t need to chase followers or act like an influencer to make social media work for your future career. Just be real, be smart, and remember: authenticity ages way better than hashtags ever will.

Are you listening comfortably? Audio drama and theatre

Rhys Ponsford
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Are you listening comfortably? Audio drama and theatre

When people think of podcasts, they probably wouldn’t associate them with theatre. Yet it was this seemingly unlikely convergence between the two forms that led me to attend the London Podcast Festival at King’s Place on September 7th. I was curious to see staged performances of audio drama. Indeed, part of my excitement lay in my fascination with the relationship between theatre and audio drama in the first place. Audio drama is an increasingly influential art form, with popularity continuing to surge every year. One of the most famous shows, Rusty Quill’s The Magnus Archives, hit 100 million downloads on Spotify alone in 2025. This popularity was reflected in the turnout at the Festival, where every event I attended was either almost or completely sold out.. Audio drama’s demographic is a diverse and youthful one, which responds positively to shows that push the form to its absolute limits. It has the potential to highlight the voices of marginalised groups, like queer and BAME individuals. And yet it still feels underrepresented in discussions both around literature and theatre, despite being a genuinely exciting sphere of artistic creativity.

The absence of audio drama from discussions of art is not a concern for me alone: prominent audio dramatist Amber Devereux, notable as the creator of the experimental speculative audio drama, The Tower, remarked how “audio drama as a distinct storytelling form as well as the theory of sound storytelling is something Ella [Watts, the writer of Arthurian post-apocalyptic fantasy show Camlann] and I spend a lot of time talking about, and it’s wonderful to read that we’re not alone in that! It’s also exciting that writing like this exists out there[;] there are tragically so [few] texts looking into audio drama and storytelling properly”. Staged audio drama is a different beast entirely to a conventional stage play. While elements like body language and physical humour are reintroduced, it is still defined by the trappings of the recording studio. Actors stand in front of microphones while performing with a script in hand, and creators are much more reliant on sound design and foley to convey a setting than a typical stage play; elaborate sets and props are rare. It is the audience’s  imagination which projects the world around the actors.

What staged audio drama performances can often lean on, however, is the listener bringing in their pre-existing conceptions of the show’s setting. There are instances where a person’s image of a character clashes with the actor in front of them. Yet this is part of the appeal of actors for audio drama. The second event I attended touched on this, featuring the cast and creators of the science-fiction comedy Wolf 359. Emma Sherr-Ziarko noted how acting in audio allowed her to play “Sigourney Weaver/Ellen Ripley”-type action heroes – roles otherwise denied to her in stage performances, due to her physical appearance. Still, staged audio drama performances are the ultimate hinterland between audio drama and stage plays, a text half-translated and trembling with resonances from physical and audial language.

Both live audio drama performances I saw did an admirable job of making the most of their stage, however. These were Camlann and a Python-esque sit-com called Wooden Overcoats, about two rival undertaker companies on a tiny Channel Island. From side-eyes and intentionally comedic multi-roling, to moving offstage and into the aisles between onlookers, both combined the power of the audience’s imagination and the novelty of the physical presence of the cast before you to create something distinctly unique. Perhaps staged audio drama belongs in a special category of its own. I would certainly say so.

So what comes next for audio drama? Well, it’s a future that has already been influenced by a former Oxford University student by the name of Jonathan Sims – writer of the same Magnus Archives mentioned earlier. The Magnus Archives has had a profound influence on the audio drama sphere as one of the most popular audio dramas of all time. It emerged in a 2014-2016 period that birthed so many titans of the form , and has since spawned a sequel that raised over £700,000 in crowd-backer funding (as well as, ironically, a theatrical spin-off show this October). Sims is a former St Hilda’s student, and also a prolific ex-member of OULES (the Oxford University Light Entertainment Society), showing that the University had a hand, however inadvertent, in influencing the form.

Ultimately, what is evident is that there is a clear demand both for typical audio drama and staged audio drama performances. Oxford would do well to not simply accept, but embrace audio drama as a new type of theatre and literature – a medium with near-limitless potential. 

Congestion charge introduced in Oxford

Laura van Heijnsbergen
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Congestion charge introduced in Oxford

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet has approved plans for a £5 congestion charge for drivers on six of Oxford’s busiest roads. The charge will come into force on 10th November and will stay in place until Botley Road reopens in August 2026. 

Motorists travelling on Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, Thames Street, and St Clement’s Street between 7am and 7pm will be affected, as will drivers on Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way travelling in the morning (between 7am and 9am) and early evening (from 3pm until 6pm), excluding Sundays.

Once Botley Road reopens, the congestion charge system will be replaced by a traffic filter trial, where drivers will be charged at least £35 for driving on these same six roads.

Anne Gwinnett, Chair of the Oxford Independent Alliance, has criticised the decision to implement the scheme in the face of what she called “a landslide rejection”. 74% of Oxford residents who took part in the council’s consultation said the scheme would have a negative impact, whilst a petition opposing the congestion charge, which started in June, stands at more than 13,500 signatures.

The Open Roads for Oxford pressure group, which opposes the congestion charge, was established in response to the scheme’s proposal. Emily Scaysbrook, a local business owner and Director of the group, told BBC News that it’s “reckless” of the council to introduce a congestion charge prior to the Christmas shopping season which “so many retailers and hospitality businesses rely on to survive”. 

Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for Oxford East, also spoke out against the scheme, calling it “extremely unfair”.

Moves to discourage driving in Oxford come amidst increasing environmental concerns about the impact of pollution from cars. In recent years concerns about pollution have seen the introduction of a zero emissions zone (ZEZ) in the city centre, as well as the electrification of Oxford’s buses.

Responding to criticism of the scheme, County Councillor Andrew Grant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It will enhance bus services, it frees up road spaces, it makes the air cleaner and it makes the roads safer. The evidence says this will make the city centre more vibrant and a nicer place to be”. Gant has also said that a recently announced scheme to offer free bus travel from park and ride sites in Oxford (using the funds raised by the congestion charges) will help to ”support local businesses”.

Cyclox, a local cycling group in Oxford, has come out in support of the scheme, with Cyclox member Thalia Carr, saying it would “improve things for people on bikes.

“Cars that do have to drive will be able to get to their destinations quicker, it means it’ll be safer for bicycles and it’ll be cleaner air for everybody”.

Oxford Sailors take on the Celtic Sea

John Frame
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Oxford Sailors take on the Celtic Sea

Many people would consider offshore yacht racing a somewhat daunting, if not downright insane, endeavour, but it’s how a determined crew of Oxford sailors chose to spend a week in the summer. 

Whether it’s friendly yet competitive club-level dinghy racing, relaxing cruising in the tropics, or gruelling ocean crossings, sailing can take many forms. In a racing context, the aim of the sport is to simply make the boat go as fast as possible – which can be a difficult challenge in ever-changing conditions at sea, requiring a unique combination of physical strength, tactical planning, and intimate knowledge of the boat’s systems.

Yacht racing has had an illustrious history from its early days as a pastime of Victorian-era gentleman-explorers to the opulent J Classes of the 1930s to the highest level of technical innovation today: the America’s Cup. Ocean racing, one of the toughest and most expensive sports which an athlete can partake in, tends to attract a certain kind of daring – and often eccentric – individual.

Over seven hundred miles across the Celtic Sea and back, the Fastnet Race holds a near mythical status in the world of sailing. First organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in 1925 and having since established itself as one of the most famous offshore races in the world, it attracted over four hundred entries in this centenary year. The course begins in Cowes on the Isle of Wight and sends competitors westward past Land’s End, across to the southernmost point in Ireland, then all the way back to finish in Cherbourg.

With the Oxford crew competing aboard 38’ yacht Talisman, the starting cannon fired around noon on Saturday 26th July, and the race was on. In fair conditions, the Talisman made good progress down the western Solent and past the iconic Needles into the English Channel. While still near enough to land for mobile reception, the crew kept the club members ashore updated on the progress being made, and by nightfall the watch rota had begun, necessitating extra attention by the skeleton crew who stayed on watch. The stoic skipper Simon, though, always remained on hand to offer guidance to the crew and impart knowledge from his many years of successful racing.

Guided by the compass (and GPS – a far cry from 50 years ago!), they sailed onwards, the Bishop Rock Lighthouse slowly vanishing from view until dawn broke in the Celtic Sea over nothing but open water as far as the eye could see. Isolation from the rest of the world is one of the defining factors of offshore sailing: there’s just nine people in the yacht, alone at sea. Perhaps another boat would be sighted from time to time, but this remoteness was a far cry from the typical experience of busy traffic near major ports and shipping lanes. The majority of the racing OUYC undertakes (such as the BUCS regatta and Varsity match) are short inshore day races, where brash split-second decisions mean the difference between victory and defeat; the Fastnet was therefore a unique opportunity for much of the crew. Hundreds of miles away from civilisation, sufficient preparation and self-reliance for the voyage are essential.

Following daybreak on the third day, Ireland gradually faded into sight, and by 09:30, ever-reliable helmsman Ross guided the crew around the fabled Fastnet Rock. A tall, angry hunk of stone, weathered by many Atlantic storms and surmounted by the towering stone lighthouse reaching up to the heavens, the Fastnet Rock inspired joy instead of dread: the crew had reached the halfway point in the race. Some may wonder if sailing non-stop for three days to see a rock is worth it, but the achievement is certainly satisfying, if not otherwise impressive. 

After rounding it, the crew changed sails and the boat’s speed began to pick up. As the crew progressed back towards France, mist set in, letting the rock (and Irish mainland) disappear from view. With the wind from behind and the boat surfing down the large smooth swell waves, high speeds of 12-15 knots were reached. 

The return leg was calmer, with generally pleasant weather; the crew were delighted by the exciting appearance of pods of dolphins. After two more mostly uneventful (and almost relaxing) days and nights, the Alderney lighthouse came into view on the morning of the 31st. At 11:38 BST, Talisman and her Oxford crew crossed the finish line into Cherbourg Harbour, marking the end of a heroic voyage. With a finish time of just less than five days, a ranking of 267/380 was achieved in the IRC class – impressive for a crew of students in a race many sailors (not to mention other universities) fear entering.

OUYC extends its thanks to our skipper, Simon, for providing this opportunity on his boat, and offers gratitude to all of our members, friends, and alumni that helped make this ambitious event possible.

Crew list (left to right): Simon Harwood (Skipper), Ross Gales, Viktor Zouboulis, Leah Tavasi, Betsy Elliott-Fricker, Carl Hentges, Jacopo Molaro, Anna Kotanska, John Frame

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