I expect by now everyone in Chippy has received the letter
from Oxfordshire County Council regarding the forthcoming road works along with
a map showing the alternative routes.
The conclusion most people have is why on earth send us a
map that showed the diversions? Following the red dots do they seriously think
anyone living on Worcester Road will travel to Oxford via Stow, Northleach and
Burford? and likewise to Banbury via Moreton and Ettington? Or perhaps will
someone from OCC be standing by the side of the road near the Golf course
handing out these maps telling drivers they have to go back to Oxford to get to
Stow ?? I think not. Still what this have shown us is how much traffic in this
part of the world relies on coming through the centre of Chipping Norton, and
goes to show just how much Chippy needs a by-pass or I prefer a relief road as It
wouldn't cost as much as a dual carriage way nor would it take as much space,
the route would be from the mini roundabouts in Horse Fair across the front of
the old hospital, down across the north side of the Castle Banks up through a
cutting across to join the A44 at Salford, so could it happen? Well looking at
OCC's map they clearly have no idea or little interest in Chipping Norton so
the answer is no.
Still in Chipping Norton local resident and Daily Mail journalist
Dominic Sandbrook has written a futuristic
story about the new Prince and what kind of country he will inherit when he
becomes king. In it he refers to Chipping Norton Town Hall being renamed David
Cameron House on the death of the prime minister and that it will become the
most popular venue in the country for Gay marriage. Personally I think Dominic
has got this wrong! Not David Cameron House but David Cameron Mosque in view of
the lobbying by Lord Hasan for his support in a Mosque in the town, something
totally at odds with his original beliefs but something he can ignore when it
suits him.