Gareth Epps
@garethepps.bsky.social
Liberal Democrat county councillor for Deddington, North Oxfordshire. He/him. Campaigner for pubs.
Pinned
Gareth Epps
@garethepps.bsky.social
· Sep 28
Recently I brought Calum Miller MP to the site of Ardley station. A developer-funded reprovided station here is essential to avoiding gridlock should Heyford Park New Town, Puy du Fou and OxSFRI go ahead.
Sign the petition at: www.oxonld.uk/ardley-station
Sign the petition at: www.oxonld.uk/ardley-station
The fantastic Healthwatch Oxfordshire are looking to find out more about people’s experience of NHS services in rural Oxfordshire, particularly from the Deddington area.
Please fill out their survey if you have time.
healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/complete-a-s...
Please fill out their survey if you have time.
healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/complete-a-s...
Complete a survey
Share your views on one of our current research projects by taking a short survey
healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 3:01 PM
The fantastic Healthwatch Oxfordshire are looking to find out more about people’s experience of NHS services in rural Oxfordshire, particularly from the Deddington area.
Please fill out their survey if you have time.
healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/complete-a-s...
Please fill out their survey if you have time.
healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/complete-a-s...
At County Hall for a meeting of the Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee [HOSC] in the context of the 50% Labour cuts to the Integrated Care Board starting to take effect.
Agenda includes public health and maternity services.
Thread below.
Agenda includes public health and maternity services.
Thread below.
January 29, 2026 at 11:30 AM
At County Hall for a meeting of the Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee [HOSC] in the context of the 50% Labour cuts to the Integrated Care Board starting to take effect.
Agenda includes public health and maternity services.
Thread below.
Agenda includes public health and maternity services.
Thread below.
Reposted by Gareth Epps
Neil Young gives complete musical catalogue to Greenland for free - while removing all his music from Amazon
www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/neil-y...
www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/neil-y...
Neil Young gives complete musical catalogue to Greenland for free
Neil Young also told fans that his music will “never be available on Amazon, as long as it is owned by [Jeff] Bezos”.
www.rollingstone.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Neil Young gives complete musical catalogue to Greenland for free - while removing all his music from Amazon
www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/neil-y...
www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/neil-y...
On my pub tour after a visit to check on pothole repairs and a chat with Heyford Park Parish Council.
Our conversation turned to the activity of the pubcos and their extortionate beer prices. In this case, a barrel available for £110 is charged £270 by the pubco in question.
Our conversation turned to the activity of the pubcos and their extortionate beer prices. In this case, a barrel available for £110 is charged £270 by the pubco in question.
January 28, 2026 at 12:55 PM
On my pub tour after a visit to check on pothole repairs and a chat with Heyford Park Parish Council.
Our conversation turned to the activity of the pubcos and their extortionate beer prices. In this case, a barrel available for £110 is charged £270 by the pubco in question.
Our conversation turned to the activity of the pubcos and their extortionate beer prices. In this case, a barrel available for £110 is charged £270 by the pubco in question.
Reposted by Gareth Epps
I assume it should read '...paying more than £250 ... a year will be paying less'. Rather than a month, which is obviously factually true, but not really the point.
To be patronising and wrong is a winning combination.
To be patronising and wrong is a winning combination.
Brilliant news that Ground Rents are to be capped at £250 a year. This means that leaseholders currently paying more than £250 on Ground Rent a month will be paying less.
January 27, 2026 at 3:22 PM
I assume it should read '...paying more than £250 ... a year will be paying less'. Rather than a month, which is obviously factually true, but not really the point.
To be patronising and wrong is a winning combination.
To be patronising and wrong is a winning combination.
Like a badly-poured pint in a tourist trap, the amount of substance in this is less than expected.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Pubs to get £100m a year support after business rates outcry
Rachel Reeves to announce temporary cap in England and Wales, but not help for wider hospitality sector
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Like a badly-poured pint in a tourist trap, the amount of substance in this is less than expected.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?
There are other purposes to which these funds could be used.
There are other purposes to which these funds could be used.
“The success we are seeing is a combination of the ‘carrot’ of free Park & Ride, and the ‘stick’ of the congestion charge.” Oxford Bus Company’s MD Luke Marion writes for the Clarion on why the city’s Park & Ride buses should remain free: oxfordclarion.uk/why-the-park...
Why the Park & Ride should remain free
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, on why providing the free Park & Ride is integral to the future success of Oxford’s congestion charge.
Oxford is a city steeped in history and tr...
oxfordclarion.uk
January 27, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?
There are other purposes to which these funds could be used.
There are other purposes to which these funds could be used.
Reposted by Gareth Epps
Today, on Holocaust Memorial Day, we remember the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered in the Holocaust, and the millions of others killed under Nazi persecution.
We honour survivors and renew our commitment to a country where all can live, worship and gather in safety.
We honour survivors and renew our commitment to a country where all can live, worship and gather in safety.
January 27, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Today, on Holocaust Memorial Day, we remember the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered in the Holocaust, and the millions of others killed under Nazi persecution.
We honour survivors and renew our commitment to a country where all can live, worship and gather in safety.
We honour survivors and renew our commitment to a country where all can live, worship and gather in safety.
Very pleased that my pressure on this has paid off.
twitter was always a cesspit, and has somehow managed to get worse. The County Council needs to be constantly improving in terms of communicating on all channels….
…this is the right choice to make.
twitter was always a cesspit, and has somehow managed to get worse. The County Council needs to be constantly improving in terms of communicating on all channels….
…this is the right choice to make.
Oxfordshire County Council is leaving X, the Elon Musk-owned platform formerly known as Twitter. It says it is “deeply concerned about the rise in online hate speech and abuse targeting women and girls… we must make clear and principled choices about how we communicate”.
January 26, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Very pleased that my pressure on this has paid off.
twitter was always a cesspit, and has somehow managed to get worse. The County Council needs to be constantly improving in terms of communicating on all channels….
…this is the right choice to make.
twitter was always a cesspit, and has somehow managed to get worse. The County Council needs to be constantly improving in terms of communicating on all channels….
…this is the right choice to make.
Really good explainer from my colleague @nathanley.com as to why local government finance is so grim.
£24m of new Labour cuts won’t help.
open.substack.com/pub/cllrdrna...
£24m of new Labour cuts won’t help.
open.substack.com/pub/cllrdrna...
The Adult Social Care Theory Of Everything
This is why you hate your councils - even if you have no idea about it
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Really good explainer from my colleague @nathanley.com as to why local government finance is so grim.
£24m of new Labour cuts won’t help.
open.substack.com/pub/cllrdrna...
£24m of new Labour cuts won’t help.
open.substack.com/pub/cllrdrna...
Five gigs I’ve seen with women lead singers (most recent first)
Mandrake Handshake
Jane Weaver
Josefin Öhrn & The Liberation
Goldfrapp
St Etienne
Mandrake Handshake
Jane Weaver
Josefin Öhrn & The Liberation
Goldfrapp
St Etienne
Five gigs I've seen with women lead singers:
Halestorm
Hole
In This Moment
Catatonia
New Year's Day
Halestorm
Hole
In This Moment
Catatonia
New Year's Day
Five gigs I've seen with women lead singers:
Peggy Seeger
Eliza Carthy
Lust For Life (Iggy Pop songs performed by a band with Glen Matlock and Clem Burke, with Katie Puckrick singing lead)
Blondie
P.P. Arnold
Peggy Seeger
Eliza Carthy
Lust For Life (Iggy Pop songs performed by a band with Glen Matlock and Clem Burke, with Katie Puckrick singing lead)
Blondie
P.P. Arnold
January 24, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Five gigs I’ve seen with women lead singers (most recent first)
Mandrake Handshake
Jane Weaver
Josefin Öhrn & The Liberation
Goldfrapp
St Etienne
Mandrake Handshake
Jane Weaver
Josefin Öhrn & The Liberation
Goldfrapp
St Etienne
An excellent lunch (with terrible photo) at the Red Lion, Deddington. Talked to staff about the challenges facing the pub sector. Meeting with manager set up. Also avoided the biggest pothole I’ve seen to date in the division (Wigginton, by the wildfowl sanctuary).
January 21, 2026 at 6:38 PM
An excellent lunch (with terrible photo) at the Red Lion, Deddington. Talked to staff about the challenges facing the pub sector. Meeting with manager set up. Also avoided the biggest pothole I’ve seen to date in the division (Wigginton, by the wildfowl sanctuary).
Alongside @lauragordon.bsky.social and Cllr Lesley Maclean we were invited to Kidlington Fire Station yesterday to discuss the current Fire & Rescue service consultation.
I’m on the joint consultative committee with the FBU and will be taking the time to fully read the consultation responses.
I’m on the joint consultative committee with the FBU and will be taking the time to fully read the consultation responses.
January 21, 2026 at 7:52 AM
Alongside @lauragordon.bsky.social and Cllr Lesley Maclean we were invited to Kidlington Fire Station yesterday to discuss the current Fire & Rescue service consultation.
I’m on the joint consultative committee with the FBU and will be taking the time to fully read the consultation responses.
I’m on the joint consultative committee with the FBU and will be taking the time to fully read the consultation responses.
Another day, a ramble around the wonderfully-named streets of South Newington, dodging the attempts of through traffic to cause a by-election, and another 5 FixMyStreet reports. (Shoes: councillor’s own)
January 18, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Another day, a ramble around the wonderfully-named streets of South Newington, dodging the attempts of through traffic to cause a by-election, and another 5 FixMyStreet reports. (Shoes: councillor’s own)
Reposted by Gareth Epps
Dear BBC, the word "not" seems to have been accidentally inserted into your headline...
January 18, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Dear BBC, the word "not" seems to have been accidentally inserted into your headline...
Just when I was hoping to get a quiet night to clear my inbox, Thames Water put up signs for unannounced three-month disruption on High Street in Deddington, starting tomorrow morning.
Deep joy.
Deep joy.
January 18, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Just when I was hoping to get a quiet night to clear my inbox, Thames Water put up signs for unannounced three-month disruption on High Street in Deddington, starting tomorrow morning.
Deep joy.
Deep joy.
Free Speech organisation seeks injunction….. to gag publication of its funders
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/who-funds-...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/who-funds-...
Who funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit went to court to hide its donors. Today we reveal that funders include US anti-abortion groups, Brexit politicians and Tufton Street insiders.
democracyforsale.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Free Speech organisation seeks injunction….. to gag publication of its funders
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/who-funds-...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/who-funds-...
Performance Scrutiny Committee is examining the Budget at the moment.
There are no Tories present.
There are no Tories present.
January 16, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Performance Scrutiny Committee is examining the Budget at the moment.
There are no Tories present.
There are no Tories present.
Cherwell DC Planning Committee has just REFUSED the Albion Land application [for warehouses at Baynards Green] by 5-4 with 6 abstentions.
They are (at this point) five and a half hours into to the committee meeting. There are three very similar applications to go, some larger.
They are (at this point) five and a half hours into to the committee meeting. There are three very similar applications to go, some larger.
January 15, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Cherwell DC Planning Committee has just REFUSED the Albion Land application [for warehouses at Baynards Green] by 5-4 with 6 abstentions.
They are (at this point) five and a half hours into to the committee meeting. There are three very similar applications to go, some larger.
They are (at this point) five and a half hours into to the committee meeting. There are three very similar applications to go, some larger.
Reposted by Gareth Epps
🚨 BREAKING:
A legal bid to halt Oxford’s congestion charge has been turned down. The High Court today refused an application for judicial review by Open Roads For Oxford Ltd, which had raised £60,000 “from private donations, transfers from aligned funds, and our GoFundMe campaign” to bring the case.
A legal bid to halt Oxford’s congestion charge has been turned down. The High Court today refused an application for judicial review by Open Roads For Oxford Ltd, which had raised £60,000 “from private donations, transfers from aligned funds, and our GoFundMe campaign” to bring the case.
January 15, 2026 at 3:50 PM
🚨 BREAKING:
A legal bid to halt Oxford’s congestion charge has been turned down. The High Court today refused an application for judicial review by Open Roads For Oxford Ltd, which had raised £60,000 “from private donations, transfers from aligned funds, and our GoFundMe campaign” to bring the case.
A legal bid to halt Oxford’s congestion charge has been turned down. The High Court today refused an application for judicial review by Open Roads For Oxford Ltd, which had raised £60,000 “from private donations, transfers from aligned funds, and our GoFundMe campaign” to bring the case.
Very proud that @gideonamos.bsky.social has referred to the excellent work of Somerton Parish Council in Parliament in highlighting the need for cumulative impact to be assessed in the New Towns programme. And the need for Ardley station.
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Very proud that @gideonamos.bsky.social has referred to the excellent work of Somerton Parish Council in Parliament in highlighting the need for cumulative impact to be assessed in the New Towns programme. And the need for Ardley station.
Reposted by Gareth Epps
When I stop laughing I'll provide some insightful analysis.
BREAKING Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership.
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
January 15, 2026 at 11:16 AM
When I stop laughing I'll provide some insightful analysis.
Tonight, Labour-run Oxford City called an extraordinary council meeting - the first in at least 30 years - to discuss whether to cancel May’s elections.
The outcome of this democratic debate was….. councillors weren’t given a vote.
I wonder what Labour are frightened of?
The outcome of this democratic debate was….. councillors weren’t given a vote.
I wonder what Labour are frightened of?
Good evening! It’s Oxford City Council’s special meeting to discuss (but not actually decide…) whether to stage elections this year. Usually this wouldn’t be up for debate, of course, but the Government has raised the option given the impending local government reorganisation.
January 14, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Tonight, Labour-run Oxford City called an extraordinary council meeting - the first in at least 30 years - to discuss whether to cancel May’s elections.
The outcome of this democratic debate was….. councillors weren’t given a vote.
I wonder what Labour are frightened of?
The outcome of this democratic debate was….. councillors weren’t given a vote.
I wonder what Labour are frightened of?
Post of the day.
We see that Reform UK continues to be a retirement home for failed Conservatives, as erstwhile RBC Tory leader Clarence Mitchell defects to them.
A shameful, if predictable, move for the former press spokesperson for Cambridge Analytica. We wonder how long his Ukraine lapel pin will last?
A shameful, if predictable, move for the former press spokesperson for Cambridge Analytica. We wonder how long his Ukraine lapel pin will last?
January 14, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Post of the day.