The owners of a much-loved cake shop inside a historic indoor market say they are having to move out because the location is no longer viable.

The Cake Shop is to move from the Covered Market in Oxford to new premises in the town of Witney.

In a statement it said the site "does not offer traders of our type the same benefits as it did in years past".

Oxford City Council said it was sorry to see the shop go but was searching for a trader "offering a similar use".

Tom Bridgman, executive director of development, said: "They have been very popular and there was always a crowd pressed up against the window to see their artistry."

The Covered Market has been operating for more than 200 years in a building dating back to the 1770s.

Last year the council announced a £6.87m refurbishment project in order to encourage visitors to spend more time there.

But The Cake Shop, which launched in 1986, said it had "experienced problems with access, challenges around the zero emissions zone, excessive structural issues and high levels of rent relative to footfall".

"Unfortunately, this part of Oxford no longer represents good value for money," it claimed.

"Whilst the council may claim footfall is strong, this is falsely representative for businesses of our nature.

"It is evident to us that the footfall in the market is driven towards to the take-and-go food vendors or cafe type businesses.

"The council masterplan is driving away many of the original traditional vendors."

It said the authority had not been a "tremendously supportive partner" in finding a solution to keep the shop there, and had shown a "lack of compassion or genuine concern for traders in general".

It added that while it felt "let down", it would "always feel part of the rich history" of the market.

Super-detailed

Mr Bridgman said: "The owner has told us that they want to consolidate their businesses and move into larger premises in Witney.

"We really wanted the The Cake Shop to stay in the Covered Market, but, sadly, we don't have a unit large enough for their needs.

"We are pleased that they are staying in Oxfordshire and wish them all the best for the future.

"We are already searching for a new trader, including those offering a similar use, to fill the gap and join the Covered Market family."

Council statistics show the market had 600,774 visitors in the first two months of 2024, compared to 543,161 in 2019.

Sushi Bowl, the Hamblin Snack Bar, Il Corno, Crystal Spirit Emporium, and OxUnBoxed, have recently opened there.

The Cake Shop's new premises will include a dedicated consultation area, and a space to watch the team create its cakes.

It recently made headlines when a super-detailed cake replica of a customer's dog was deemed "too realistic" to eat.

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Oxford is taking the lead in the battle against climate change, having won many awards for its efforts in building a greener, more sustainable future, including the ENDs Report, which named Oxford England’s Greenest City. Moreover, it was recognised by the National MJ Awards, the biggest awards ceremony in the country for teams and individuals in local government, winning the ‘Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency’ award. Furthermore, the City Council won the ‘Climate Response’ category at the annual LGC awards for the Energy Superhub Oxford, a green initiative that has led to a massive increase in the uptake of Electric Vehicles in Oxford. In the Climate Emergency UK’s assessment of all UK councils on their actions towards net zero between 2019 and 2013, Oxford City Council scored 55% compared with an industry average of 29% for district councils. All the evidence suggests that Oxford has been going above and beyond in their climate change mitigation policies.

…All the evidence suggests that Oxford has been going above and beyond in their climate change mitigation policies…

In early 2019, Oxford Council declared a climate emergence, and in the same year, Oxford held a Citizens Assembly on Climate Change, which outlined how Oxford City Council would work towards reaching net zero sooner than 2050, the UK-wide goal. This was the first initiative of its kind in the UK. Since then, Oxford City Council has undertaken a variety of net zero carbon schemes and initiatives, including launching the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, a collaboration of larger employers and organisations across Oxford working together towards the joint ambition of achieving net zero carbon emissions as a city by 2040. To achieve this, Oxford has embarked on a series of initiatives designed to cut down on its carbon emissions.

Some of Oxford’s best initiatives have been in the realm of transportation. The Oxford City Council has stated that its plan is ‘to reduce the need to travel, discourage individual private vehicle journeys, and make walking, cycling, public, and shared transport the natural first choice’. Initiatives include the Zero Emissions Zone Pilot, Energy Superhub Oxford, and future plans for electric buses, with Oxford considered by many to be a pioneer in this area.

…Oxford is considered by many to be a pioneer in the area of green transportation…

Energy Superhub Oxford- Europe’s most powerful charging hub:

Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO) is recognised as Europe’s most powerful electric charging hub. It provides Oxford with electric vehicle charging facilities and ‘the UK’s first transmission-connected battery’. Its an initiative designed to meet the rising demand for power without overburdening the local electricity distribution network. According to Oxford Council, its already achieved significant results, facilitating the charging of 32,000 vehicles over the course of the year, and contributing to reducing Oxford’s CO2 emissions by around 730 tonnes. Furthermore, it has encouraged the uptake of Electric Vehicles in the region. According to the DVLA, 50.8% of newly registered vehicles in Oxfordshire were electric in June 2023, the highest uptake figure in the whole of the UK. This suggests that with ESO providing consumers with the option of clean energy infrastructure, residents can make greener choices. Therefore, ESO is playing an essential role in Oxford’s path to net zero.

The Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ) Pilot:

The UK’s first Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ) was trialled in Oxford in February 2022. The ZEZ is an area where zero-emission vehicles (such as fully electric motorcycles, cars, and vans) can be used without incurring a charge, but where other vehicles are charged if they are driven in the zone between 7am and 7pm, unless they have a 100% discount or exemption. The charge varies, depending on the quantity of emissions released by the vehicle in question, varying from £2 to £10. The ZEZ was agreed on by residents and the local council to encourage motorists to adopt low- and zero-emission vehicles, reduce traffic and transport pollution, and improve health in the city centre. The zone currently extends across several streets in the centre of the city, including New Road, Cornmarket Street, and Shoe Lane, although a wider zone is expected to be announced soon, based on the findings of the pilot scheme. Oxford has won awards for this initiative, for example, at the 20th UK National Transport Awards show on the 5th of October this year, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council won the ‘Exemplary Contribution to Net Zero’ award for their collaboration on the Oxford ZEZ, and last year, the two councils won the clean air award for their work.

…Oxford has won awards such as the ‘Exemplary Contribution to Net Zero’ award for their Zero Emissions Zone initiative…

New Traffic Filters:

In November 2022, Oxford Council’s Cabinet approved six trial traffic filters on main traffic routes in Oxford to reduce traffic levels in the city. During the times of operation, private cars without a permit are prohibited from driving through the traffic filters. All other vehicles are always allowed. According to the Council, ‘the traffic filters make walking and cycling safer and more attractive, make bus journeys quicker and more reliable, enable new and improved bus routes, support investment in modern buses, help tackle climate change, reduce local air pollution, and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities’.

Encouraging Cycling:

Oxford is well-known for being a cycling city, and this is something the Council has tried to further promote, providing 133 new cycle racks in June this year, delivering 266 additional parking spaces for cyclists across the city. The cycle racks have been installed in a wide variety of locations across the city, including Beaumont Street, Divinity Road, and Queen Street. Oxford has the second highest prevalence for cycling at least once a week in the country (39% of residents) and the second highest rate of residents cycling to work (25% of residents). Oxford City Council states that it wants to encourage more cycling and walking, or ‘active travel’ journeys across the city to help people get the recommended level of daily exercise, reduce congestion on the roads, and cut pollution in the centre of the city.

Oxford has the second-highest prevalence for cycling in the country

Tangible Results:

Levels of air pollution across Oxford reduced during 2022, with air pollution (NO2) levels across Oxford falling by 8.3%, according to official data from Oxford City Council, with a 24% drop when compared to pre-pandemic levels. Oxford City’s Council’s greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 15% compared to pre-pandemic levels, with a reduction from 7,425 tonnes between 2019 and 2020, to 6,314 tonnes between 2021 and 2022. This marks a decrease of 26.3% in emissions since 2017, and an overall reduction of 54% since 2014. Whilst they still have a lot further to go, this suggests the measures that they have undertaken are working. To achieve Oxford City Council’s target of becoming net zero by 2030, the Council needs to achieve more than an average 10% annual reduction in emissions every year until 2030.

Is Oxford University Holding Oxford Back?

According to a new study by Utility Bidder based on data from 2021 to 2022, Oxford is the third highest CO2 emitter of all the UK Universities. Their calculations reveal that Oxford University emits an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of carbon for every 1,000 students, the third highest of any institution. It is outranked only by Imperial College London and Cranfield University. However, the University has shown a desire to change its ways. Under the Environmental Sustainability Strategy, launched in 2021, Oxford University has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2035, reducing emissions by more than a quarter of a million tonnes every year. To achieve these goals, the University has established the Oxford Sustainability Fund, with an income of over £5m a year, and a revolving capital investment fund of £50m. The University’s carbon emissions have been on a downwards trend since 2010, partly driven by the installation of over 2,000 solar panels, combined heat and power (CHP), and ground source heat pumps.

Future Plans:

Extending the ZEZ:

Proposals are being developed to extend the ZEZ to a wider area in the city centre.

New Electric Vehicle Charging Points:

Work has started to install electric vehicle charging points at Seacourt Park & Ride. The work will see the installation of five new charging points, each with two bays. They will provide charging for up to 10 vehicles simultaneously. The chargers will join a network of 132 public chargers across Oxford, enabling drivers to charge their vehicles while visiting the city, or local residents to charge overnight.

Retrofitting Campaign:

Oxford City Council has launched a new resource as part of a campaign to encourage residents to find out more about retrofitting their homes. Retrofitting is the process of making changes to your property, such as installing heat pumps, solar panels, loft insulation, wall insulation, and more, all of which help reduce your energy consumption and carbon emissions. This is aimed to combat the fact that 60% of Oxford’s total carbon emissions come from buildings.

New Plans for Electric Buses:

Between 2022 and 2023, the Council received funding for 159 new electric buses via the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme to help authorities introduce new buses and infrastructure. The buses are currently beginning to appear on the streets of Oxford, so make sure to keep an eye out!

Photo by Ben Seymour on Unsplash

A city's traffic systems have been described as both "disastrous" and "an absolute dream" by residents.

Low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and the Botley Road closure were discussed during a panel debate at St Barnabas Church in Jericho, Oxford, last week.

One resident described the ring road as "the most dangerous place to cycle".

Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's transport lead, said the authority was "acutely aware" and working to eliminate all road dangers.

LTNs prevent traffic taking shortcuts through residential areas and are intended to make streets safer for walking and cycling.

But they have prompted protests, with bollards run over, burned and stolen.

On the panel were Prof Danny Dorling, from the University of Oxford, independent candidate for St Mary's ward John Skinner, restaurateur Clinton Pugh and host John Mair.

Prof Dorling said he was "quite enjoying" the Botley Road closure because he often cycled to the train station.

"The joy that the last little bit, when you're not dicing with death through all that traffic going under the bridge, it's magical sometimes," he said.

He questioned "at what point we're going to realise we should just never open up that access route again".

A resident from Abbey Road said the closure had been "an absolute dream in terms of the ability to go in and out" but another warned that people should have "sympathy" for the Botley Road businesses that "are down in trade".

Mr Skinner described LTNs as "disastrous", saying the impact on people had been "huge", with "routine delays" of carers and emergency services.

One local man said the ring road was "the most dangerous place to cycle", adding: "There are some bike lanes but whenever you really want one at a junction, they miraculously disappear."

The council has said it is planning a traffic filters trial on six streets in the autumn "to cut traffic, make buses faster and more reliable, and to enable new and improved bus routes".

Mr Gant said: "We are acutely aware of the dangers on our roads, particularly the most vulnerable users such as pedestrians and cyclists, especially after the tragic loss of eight lives in January."

He added that, as a "small medieval city", Oxford "was not designed for the amount of traffic it has to cope with today".

"The only way to tackle this congestion is to reduce the number of cars on our roads and we will do that when our traffic filter trial begins later this year," he said. "LTNs have delivered huge benefits to many of our residents."

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The keys to a county's first Hindu temple have been passed over during celebrations for Holi.

Members of Oxford Hindu Temple and Community Centre Project (OHTCCP) received the keys to the site at Court Place Farm, in Marston, from Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown.

Dr Gian Gopal, founding chairman of OHTCCP, said it was the "beginning of the end of chapter one".

Plans for the development of the site were given the go-ahead in July.

Dr Gopal said chapter one would "end when we do the first spiritual prayers" in the building, and that chapter two "begins with how we share it with the community over the next 20 years".

The group had been campaigning to find a suitable site for a temple for 16 years.

Kanta Gopal, campaigner and wife of Dr Gopal, said: "It still feels like a dream, actually, because we've been campaigning for so long - so it's a tremendously huge step forward for the Hindu community."

Fellow campaigner Mark Bhagwandin said he felt "completely ecstatic".

"This entire community, over 7,000 Hindus in Oxfordshire, has been waiting for this day, when we could have a building of our own, and we are excited to see what we can actually do, and how this is going to look as a first Hindu temple in the entire county."

The plans to turn the changing rooms at the derelict sports pavilion into a Hindu temple will see two halls created in the building, one as a place of worship, and the second as a place for community gatherings.

The keys were handed over during celebrations for the Hindu festival of Holi - which is the festival of colours, love, and spring.

Mr Bhagwandin said: "It celebrates the coming of spring and new beginnings - this is a new beginning for us."

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A council has backed calls for local authorities to be given powers to control rents in the private sector.

Oxford City Council unanimously passed the motion proposed by Green councillors Lucy Pegg and Chris Jarvis.

The authority is joining a national Green Party campaign to introduce rent controls on private tenancies.

Labour councillor Ed Turner raised concerns, such as exploitation of loopholes and discrimination against tenants, but also voted for the motion.

Studies have shown Oxford is one of the most expensive cities in the UK to live, with housing costs being the single biggest contributor.

'Time to act'

By approving the motion, the council will "publicly campaign for local authorities", including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Bristol City Council, to be given powers to introduce rent controls.

Ms Pegg, deputy leader of the Green group, said "the spiralling costs of housing" could not be tackled "without giving renters the protection they deserve".

"For far too long, the private rented sector operates as a free-market wild west where landlords cash in and tenants lose out," she said.

Mr Jarvis, who seconded the motion, said the government "must recognise that it cannot keep letting tenants be shafted through rip-off rents for substandard accommodation".

"Oxford City Council is now a part of those calls. It's time for them to act. It's time for them to introduce rent controls," he said.

Mr Turner said he supported the motion but added he was "a tiny bit anxious" about a few potential challenges.

"Recent experience elsewhere has been a bit more mixed and in particular any loopholes will be ruthlessly exploited. So that's certainly a challenge," he said.

"One of the other ones … is around potential unintended consequences in terms of discrimination... against tenants for example of Black and Asian minority and ethnic heritage.

"I think alongside any rent control measures, you need to have some quite robust standing forcible tenants rights."

Labour put forward an amendment calling for more investment in social housing which was accepted.

The government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been contacted for a comment.