Bicester Air Quality Improves + Feb Events

Cleaner air around Kings End and Queens Avenue This week Cherwell District Council agreed to remove the Air Quality Management Area at Kings End and Queens Avenue after nitrogen dioxide levels stayed below the national limit for five years.

The change was approved at the council’s executive meeting on Tuesday 3 February and announced in an environment news update on 4 February.

The council says new walking and cycling routes, clearer signs for local walks, and more planting through the central corridor have all helped reduce traffic pollution, with support from Oxfordshire County Council’s work to move traffic to the ring road. ​ They will keep checking air quality every month with diffusion tubes, but being able to remove the Bicester zone is described as “great news for us all.”

Local street artists Rawz and MES Crew are teaming up with Cherwell District Council to brighten the alley between Sheep Street and Pioneer Square with a run of small murals leading to a large feature piece near Sainsbury’s.

The work is paid for by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is designed to show Bicester’s history, everyday life, and the voices of people who live, work, and shop in town. ​ Residents are invited to fill in a short online form with ideas for the designs, and there will be a creative community session during the design and painting stages so people can get involved.

These murals build on recent improvements such as new planters and seating in Bure Place and Wesley Square, which aim to make the town centre feel greener and more welcoming.

On Wednesday 4 February, Banbury and Bicester College held its February Open Event from 4:30pm to 7:00pm for students thinking about starting courses in September 2026.

Visitors could tour the campus, talk to teachers, and find out about subjects like construction, media, and engineering.

HelloBicester highlighted the event as a key chance for Year 11 students to explore options close to home rather than travelling further afield.

Bicester Town Council’s Facebook page shared a lively 1 February post setting out its 2026 events calendar, including a Mayor’s Charity Pub Quiz on 20 March, a Mayor’s Charity Easter Egg Hunt on 2 April, and Sundays in the Park on 31 May.​

Local parents’ and kids’ groups have also been sharing links for the February pantomime at Cooper School, where all profits will support dementia charities, showing how social media is helping our community fill seats for good causes.

This weekend Bicester Motion’s Experience and Demonstration Track hosted the 6th Gear Experience on 6 and 7 February, bringing supercar driving days for adults and juniors to the edge of town.

The site is promoted as a place where visitors can enjoy motoring experiences by appointment between 9:00am and 5:30pm, adding something special to Bicester’s mix of days out. At Bicester Village, OX Magazine reports that shoppers can now visit a Fusalp pop‑up for ski clothing, a newly opened Axel Arigato store, and the Cecconi’s restaurant, which serves Italian dishes under head chef Lee Ward.

The official “What’s On” page also highlights new boutiques and brands joining the village, keeping it a popular trip for fashion and food fans from across the region.

Cherwell District Council’s latest news feed this week includes three stories with a strong link to Bicester: the revocation of the Bicester air quality management area, the new mural project for the Sheep Street to Pioneer Square walkway, and general budget consultation updates.

Another article published on 5 February urges residents across Cherwell, including Bicester, to respond to a government consultation on changing how local councils in Oxfordshire are organised, describing it as a “once‑in‑a‑generation” chance to shape local services.

Cherwell’s update notes that air quality zones in Banbury and Kidlington have already been removed, with only Hennef Way still classed as an Air Quality Management Area in the district.

Elsewhere in England, places like Lutterworth have also seen their AQMA status revoked after several years of better data, showing how cleaner air is becoming more common in busy town centres.

If something here caught your eye, pick one event, club, or meeting and put it in your diary today so you do not miss it.

And if you hear about a great Bicester story or event coming up, share it in your local group or send it to a neighbor so our community keeps feeling more connected every week.