Rail plans, parking changes and local wins

Pupils from The Cooper School have been invited to talks with the government after their campaign calling for tighter rules around the depiction of school uniforms in pornographic content gained national attention.

Sky News reported on Sunday, 4 October that Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones is keen to meet the group from the school’s Little Feminist Bookclub. A government source said talks are likely within the next couple of weeks, with ministers interested in hearing the pupils’ views as part of an upcoming consultation on misogyny-based imagery.

The petition itself was launched on 9 September. The pupils argue that the use of school uniforms in adult material contributes to the sexualisation of children and young people, and want the government to address what they see as a gap in current rules. The campaign was approaching 5,000 supporters when LBC reported on it on Friday; by Sunday, Sky News said it had reached almost 24,000 signatures.

That rapid rise is what makes this more than an older petition resurfacing. A student-led campaign from Bicester has moved into a direct conversation with national policymakers within days. No change in the law has been agreed, and the meeting has not yet taken place, but ministers are now formally listening to the argument.

For Bicester, it is also a notable example of young people taking an issue they care about well beyond the school gates. The next milestone to watch is the government meeting and whether the pupils’ proposal feeds into the forthcoming consultation.

RMT industrial action will affect Chiltern Railways on Saturday, 10 October, but this is not expected to mean a shutdown of Bicester’s rail links.

Chiltern says more than 93% of its services will run as usual, with the normal number of trains operating into and out of London Marylebone. That should mean a close-to-normal service for most passengers using Bicester North or Bicester Village for London journeys.

There are exceptions. No Chiltern services will run between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa, while four longer-distance trains will start or finish at Banbury or Birmingham Moor Street rather than completing their normal routes. A second day of industrial action is planned for Saturday, 17 October, with similar arrangements.

If you are travelling this Saturday, the sensible move is still to check your exact train before leaving, particularly if your journey continues beyond Banbury towards the West Midlands.

Oxfordshire County Council has opened a consultation on parking restrictions around the Graham Road and Bucknell Road junction, where new double yellow lines are proposed to improve visibility and keep the junction clear.

On Bardwell Terrace, the existing Monday-to-Saturday daytime restriction beside numbers 2–22 would become no waiting at any time. Comments are open until 5pm on Friday, 30 October.

Basque cheesecake specialist La Maritxu opened its first site outside London at Bicester Village on Thursday, 1 October.

The business started in London in 2021 and the Bicester location serves its classic cheesecake alongside seasonal versions. It is another food addition to the Village rather than a town-centre opening, but the choice of Bicester for the brand’s first move beyond London is a useful local business milestone.

The public inquiry into three planning appeals around Baynards Green near M40 Junction 10 continues this week, with hearings scheduled from Tuesday, 6 October to Thursday, 8 October at Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa in Chesterton.

The appeals relate to proposed developments around the junction, including logistics uses. Cherwell District Council is publishing livestream links for sitting days, so residents do not have to attend in person to follow proceedings.

Canopy Bicester says its new nursery at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre is opening this October, with its official launch taking place on Saturday, 10 October.

The nursery will cater for children aged from birth to five. Saturday’s free launch runs from 10am to noon and gives families a chance to look around the new setting before deciding whether it suits them.

For families choosing a secondary school for September 2027, this is one of the more useful weeks in the autumn calendar.

Whitelands Academy holds its open evening on Wednesday, 7 October, with the school asking families to reserve places. The Bicester School follows on Thursday, 8 October from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, including bookable headteacher talks at 5.30pm, 6pm and 6.45pm.

These dates are worth checking directly rather than relying on older school-year lists circulating online. Families who cannot attend Whitelands can also contact the school about tours during October.

One local school achievement from earlier this autumn deserves a closer look.

St Edburg’s Church of England Primary School has been named an Inclusion Quality Mark Flagship School and has also received Gold status from UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools programme. Gold is the highest level in that programme, while the Flagship designation recognises schools demonstrating strong inclusive practice.

Awards can sound abstract, but these two are centred on everyday school culture: whether children feel included, respected and able to participate. It is a positive bit of Bicester news that could easily get lost among bigger announcements.

Ambrosden to Bicester active travel scheme: Oxfordshire County Council has a key decision scheduled for Thursday, 8 October on entering agreements for the construction contract. We will check the formal decision and whether it changes the current provisional timetable for work beginning in spring 2027.

M40 Junction 10 inquiry: After this week’s hearings, the inquiry is due back at Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa from Tuesday, 13 October to Thursday, 15 October. We will continue watching for any material change or indication of what happens after the hearings.

That is Bicester for this week: a local student campaign reaching government, some practical travel and parking changes, and plenty happening around town as October gets going.

What has changed in your part of Bicester that more people should know about?

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See you next week.

Cheers!!