Local news
Roads closed – There’ll be significant traffic disruption in Beaconsfield this week when the main road through to Penn between the London End roundabout and Grove Road is resurfaced and closed between 7.30am and 6pm. Diversions will be in place and the work is due to finish on 16 December. Gore Hill, on the main Beaconsfield to Amersham road near Coleshill, will remain closed until the end of the week as work continues to repair an adjoining underground reservoir.
Armed robbery – Police are appealing for relevant dash-cam footage after an armed robbery at McColls general store in Penn Road, Beaconsfield at around ten to six on Friday evening. The hooded man threatened staff with a handgun and escaped with a large amount of cash.
Regional news
Theme park expansion – Legoland will celebrate 25 years at its Windsor theme park next year with a big new section called the World of Mythical Creatures. It will feature new rides and futuristic video immersion experiences.
Nothing left to declare…except genius – Property developers have abandoned their plan to buy the former Reading Jail. The local council has plans to convert the jail into an arts centre, themed around its most famous inmate, Oscar Wilde.
Hotel’s revamp – Oxford’s five star Randolph Hotel has been closed for a six month renovation by its new American owners and its furniture distributed to charities in Lithuania.
Eton heroes – Eton College has been given a “Thames Valley hero” award for accommodating and catering for 220 key workers who were unable to be with their own families during the first lockdown. The school remains open during this second lockdown but has yet to announce whether the traditional Eton Wall Game, which has been held on or around every St Andrew’s Day for the past 300 plus years, will go ahead at the end of the month.
Homes plan – Outline planning permission has been given to build a large housing estate on the site of the former RAF barracks at White Waltham airfield, near Maidenhead.
As good as new – Fifty years ago this month the last Morris Minor rolled off the production line at Cowley, Oxford. Four years ago it was discovered quietly rusting away having spent years, unused, in the open. It was acquired by the Morris Minor Owners Club whose members have spent hundreds of hours restoring it so it looks as good as new…and last week it was returned to the factory museum where it was produced.
