Victoria Walton

A disused fridge and freezer recycling plant in Newport, Wales, could be reopened to help address a national processing backlog after its operator, Unimetals, went into liquidation. Oxfordshire County Council has urged the UK government to intervene before the plant’s recycling equipment is removed. Fires at two other sites, the company’s collapse and reduced processing capacity during hot weather have left councils struggling to handle appliances containing environmentally harmful cooling gases. Oxfordshire now requires residents to book disposal slots and has asked several district and city councils to suspend bulky-waste collections, while West Oxfordshire continues collecting and is exploring storage options to limit fly-tipping. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expects capacity to improve as temperatures fall.

A national shortage of fridge and freezer recycling capacity has forced Oxfordshire to introduce advance bookings and limits at household recycling centres, while several local councils suspend bulky-waste collections. Oxfordshire County Council is urging the government to reopen a disused Unimetals facility in Newport, Wales, where specialist recycling equipment remains available. The shortage has been worsened by fires at two sites, the liquidation of a third operator and heat-related operating restrictions. The government says temporary storage is being permitted under certain conditions and expects capacity to improve toward the end of summer.

A national shortage of specialist capacity for safely recycling fridges and freezers has prompted several Oxfordshire councils to suspend or restrict bulky-waste collections. Oxfordshire County Council has asked councils to limit collections for six weeks and is introducing a booking system with daily disposal limits at county waste sites. Fires at recycling plants and the liquidation of Unimetals Recycling have contributed to a significant backlog, while councils warn that reduced services could increase fly-tipping. West Oxfordshire will continue collections because it has temporary storage space.

Businesses in Oxford are urging Oxfordshire County Council to delay replacing the temporary congestion charge with traffic filters until after the pre-Christmas trading period. The request follows Network Rail's announcement that the Botley Road reopening will be delayed by four to six weeks after three gas leaks were discovered. Business owners say three and a half years of disruption have damaged earnings and created uncertainty over seasonal stock and customer footfall. The council says the traffic-filter start date and end of the temporary congestion charge cannot be confirmed until Network Rail provides a revised reopening date.

Oxfordshire County Council approved £14.5m in additional funding to advance the £155m Cowley Branch Line reopening, covering a local shortfall through business rates from two enterprise zones. Some district councillors criticised the move as lacking transparency and diverting funds from their intended local uses, while council leadership argued it would help deliver the project on schedule. The rail line, currently used only for freight serving the BMW Mini plant, is planned to reopen to passengers by 2029, with two new stations at Cowley and Littlemore.

A specialist NHS infant-parent mental health service in Oxfordshire is being closed after the county council withdrew funding of about £700,000. Former service users and local representatives warn the loss of the Infant Parent Perinatal Service will leave thousands of new parents without needed support, potentially compromising safety and early intervention. The Thames Valley Integrated Care Board says alternative services remain available, while an MP has asked the health secretary to intervene. A local charity offering similar therapy says it lacks the capacity to meet the wider need, raising concerns about long‑term impacts on families.

Plans for a devolved authority in the Thames Valley may be revived after Oxfordshire County Council leader Tim Bearder asked Andy Burnham to support creating a more powerful mayoral structure. Bearder withdrew backing for a proposed Foundation Strategic Authority due to concerns over its limited powers and geography, prompting criticism from regional leaders who argued the move hindered potential economic and governance benefits. Bearder’s appeal frames a mayoral authority as essential for unlocking strategic powers comparable to other regions.

Oxford will end its temporary congestion charge on 13 September and replace it with a traffic filter trial that bans cars at six city points and issues fines instead of offering paid access. The scheme aims to cut through‑traffic and improve bus journey times, using the same ANPR camera system and operating on similar schedules. Residents can apply for permits, with day‑pass allocations varying by location, and first‑time violations will trigger warning notices during the initial six months. A public consultation will open once the trial begins, following earlier delays linked to Botley Road works and improvements at Oxford Rail Station.

Greater Leys in Oxford is set to receive £20m over ten years through the UK government's Pride in Place programme, aimed at addressing deprivation and improving local opportunities. Community board chair Dan Wadsworth highlights severe local inequalities and argues funding should prioritise services over capital projects. Local representatives will decide spending, with concerns about long-term continuity if government leadership changes. The neighbourhood’s regeneration plan will be reviewed in November, with funding expected to begin next spring.