South Oxhey
South Oxhey | ||
---|---|---|
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | WATFORD | |
Postcode district | WD19 | |
Dialling code | 020 | |
Police | Hertfordshire | |
Fire | Hertfordshire | |
Ambulance | East of England | |
UK Parliament | ||
South Oxhey is a village in the
History
South Oxhey is a large
Since the introduction of the nationwide
South Oxhey Choirs
South Oxhey featured in the BBC television series The Choir: Unsung Town which was first broadcast on BBC Two on 1 September 2009. The programme featured a project by Gareth Malone to assemble a community choir in the town by recruiting local residents and encouraging them to take part.[6] A legacy of the programme was the foundation of two groups, the South Oxhey Community Choir and the South Oxhey Youth Choir.[7][8]
As part of the TV series, the choirs performed at venues including the
Gareth Malone continued as choirmaster for two years following the conclusion of the TV recording and now maintains his support as patron.[11] The current musical director is Simon Wookey [12] and both the Community and Youth choirs continue to make regular performances about three to four times per year at events around Hertfordshire and the South East of England.[13]
Notable people of South Oxhey
- Nick Moran - Actor and Director[14]
- Paul Field - Two time Winter Olympian from South Oxhey but was raised up in Hemel Hempstead.
Transport
South Oxhey is served by
A number of bus routes pass through South Oxhey.
Schools
- Colnbrook (Special Needs School)[17]
- Greenfields[18]
- Oxhey Wood[19]
- St. Josephs Roman Catholic School[20]
- Warren Dell Primary[21]
- Woodhall Primary[22]
South Oxhey has no secondary schools. However, from the early 1950s, there were two
Future developments
In 2012, the Three Rivers District Council proposed a redevelopment of the local shopping and business area known as 'The Precinct'.[23] The initiative was devised after 130 flats between Fairfield Avenue and Oxhey Drive were identified by the council as being beyond repair and in need of replacing. However many residents were against the idea of knocking down the old Precinct favouring refurbishment of the existing buildings. Many of the local shop keepers formed a pressure group against a full redevelopment.[24]
In November 2013, political support for the South Oxhey Initiative fractured as the local Conservative Party withdrew their backing for the regeneration scheme. This followed the decision by two housing associations to pull their support as development partners. One of the main areas of political disagreement is the level of social housing to be included in the proposed development. In January 2014, Three Rivers Council announced that they intend to continue with submitting an outline planning application in June 2014, in the hope that a developer will show interest in the scheme after planning permission has been granted.[25]
In 2016 Three Rivers District Council and development partner Countryside Properties announced they had entered into an agreement to redevelop central South Oxhey. The proposals for the regeneration include 514 new homes, as well as retail and public spaces. Work is planned for three phases, with the overall development planned for completion in 2022.
Work began in late 2016, and is underway at the former Jet public house site on Hayling Road, Maylands/ Ferndown Road and Hallowes Crescent..
Healthcare
South Oxhey has a number of doctors surgeries based on Oxhey Drive, the largest being The Consulting Rooms. Since the onset of Clinical Commissioning Groups in 2013, services have been expanded to include the wider community, enabling patients to have more choice in their care.
Nature reserve
Oxhey Jets Football Club
Oxhey Jets football club were established in 1972 as a boys' team, eventually moving to the local Watford leagues when they became a men's team. The club are now in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and made their debut in the FA Cup during the 2005–06 season.
References
- ^ Map of Oxhey, early 20th century
- ^ Watford - Manors (British History online) accessed 4 May 2008
- ^ Churches Conservation Trust Archived 22 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine accessed 4 May 2008
- ^ satellite view from Google maps accessed 4 May 2008
- ^ David Reidy's research on South Oxhey
- ^ "The Choir: Unsung Town". Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ "South Oxhey Choirs". Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ "The Choir III: Unsung Town". Gareth Malone official website. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ South Oxhey Festival Archived 14 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ .The South Oxhey Community Choir record The Beatles at Abbey Road, Watford Observer Friday 24 April 2009
- ^ South Oxhey Choirs - Patron
- ^ South Oxhey Choirs - Musical Director
- ^ South Oxhey Choirs Forthcoming Events
- TheGuardian.com. 8 February 2013.
- ^ "Watford transport map" (PDF). Hertfordshire County Council/Intalink. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ "Bus services – Area 1: Watford". Hertfordshire County Council/Intalink. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ Colnbrook School – Home Page
- ^ Welcome to Greenfields Primary School
- ^ Oxhey Wood Primary School – Home page
- ^ St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
- ^ Warren Dell home page Archived 15 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Woodhall School - Home Page
- ^ http://www.threerivers.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/South-Oxhey-Initiative Three Rivers Council Website - South Oxhey Initiative
- ^ http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/9955891.Council_unveils_redevelopment_plans_for_South_Oxhey/ Watford Observer article dated 28 September 2012
- ^ http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/10926803.__600k_South_Oxhey_Initiative_has__achieved_nothing_/ Watford Observer article dated 10 January 2014
- ^ "Oxhey Woods". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
- ^ "Map of Oxhey Woods". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
Further reading
A book South Oxhey : "a giant on their doorstep" author Rose McNamara-Wright tells a brief history of South Oxhey for children growing up during the war as told through her own experiences.