Site of Oxford Canal Basin, July 2006.
Mike on NB Globetrotter was first to post (yesterday) about the Oxford Mail story on possible restoration of the Oxford canal basin. Well spotted, Mike!
The Oxford Canal is one of England's glories, but its existing terminus at Oxford is such an anti-climax. I last wrote about the restoration plans here, in December 2005, where there's a link to a short BBC talk about the canal basins.
Today the basin is simply a dull pay-and-display car park. The parking ticket machine is so complicated that ne'er-do-wells often loiter there, cider cans in hand, explaining to parkers how to operate it. They then beg for alms in the hope that you'll feel grateful and guilty. Sod them, the losers. Except, I'm probably the loser for letting them annoy me.
Turning the old-basin car park into a new basin - even with a floating restaurant - could hardly fail to improve it.
But the Oxford Mail story today has a sting in the tail from Nuffield College Bursar (not happy with the idea), who says ominously:
The lobbying of FOXcan [Friends of the Oxford Canal & Basin] ... ignores the fact that the history of this site also includes its purchase by William Morris to enable the foundation of Nuffield College."
The panorama above is a blend of about six photos I took last year. You can see it in hi-res on Flickr here.
Dear Andrew
thank you for picking up FOXCAN's continuing campaign to get Oxford Canal Basin reinstated. FOXCAN has growing support from individuals and organisations, and cross-party support from Oxford City Councillors. FOXCAN has 170 registered supporters and more are adding their names every week.
Readers of your website are welcome to visit www.foxcan.co.uk, register as FOXCAN supporters (as yet FOXCAN has no formal membership) and preferably send FOXCAN a donation.
Nuffield College Bursar's recent criticism of FOXCAN in the "Oxford Times" is baffling and surprising. The Bursar's comments are not an accurate representation of FOXCAN's position. In April 2006 Nuffield College wrote to FOXCAN indicating that it would consider a canal basin proposal so long as it fitted in with the college's interests both commercially and environmentally. FOXCAN has proceeded on this basis ever since.
The "newsletter" webpage at www.foxcan.co.uk gives access to FOXCAN news releases, and also hyperlinks to archived "Oxford Times" articles tracing the canal basin saga. Visit and enjoy!
Posted by: Hugh Jaeger | Tuesday, 23 January 2007 at 03:18 PM