Cherwell (district)

For other uses, see Cherwell (disambiguation).

Non-metropolitan district in England

Cherwell

Cherwell District

Non-metropolitan district

The cross in Banbury, the district's administrative centre

Coat of arms

Cherwell shown within Oxfordshire

Coordinates: 51°57′N 1°15′W﻿ / ﻿51.95°N 1.25°W﻿ / 51.95; -1.25
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Constituent country| England
Region| South East England
Non-metropolitan county| Oxfordshire
Status| Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ| Bodicote
Incorporated| 1 April 1974
Government

• Type| Non-metropolitan district council
• Body| Cherwell District Council
• Leadership| Leader & Cabinet (No overall control)
• MPs|

* Sean Woodcock
* Calum Miller

Area

• Total

| 227.3 sq mi (588.8 km2)
• Rank| 62nd (of 296)
Population

(2022)

• Total

| 164,155
• Rank| 125th (of 296)
• Density| 720/sq mi (280/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)

[1]

• Ethnic groups|

List

* 88.1% White
* 6% Asian
* 2.9% Mixed
* 1.8% Black
* 1.3% other

Religion (2021)

[1]

• Religion|

List

* 50.3% Christianity
* 38.1% no religion
* 6.1% not stated
* 3.2% Islam
* 0.8% Hinduism
* 0.6% Buddhism
* 0.5% other
* 0.4% Sikhism
* 0.1% Judaism

Time zone| UTC0 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code| 38UB (ONS)
E07000177 (GSS)
OS grid reference| SP5153928258

Cherwell (/ˈtʃɑːrwɛl/ CHAR-wel or /ˈtʃɜːrwɛl/ CHUR-wel)[2][3] is a local government district in northern Oxfordshire, England. The district was created in 1974 and takes its name from the River Cherwell, which drains south through the region to flow into the River Thames at Oxford. Towns in Cherwell include Banbury and Bicester. Kidlington is a contender for largest village in England.

## History

[edit]

Cherwell district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of four former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[4]

* Banbury Municipal Borough
* Banbury Rural District
* Bicester Urban District
* Ploughley Rural District

The new district was named Cherwell after the main river in the area.[5]

## Geography

[edit]

The northern half of the Cherwell district consists mainly of gently rolling hills going down towards the River Cherwell, but the southern half of the district around Bicester is much flatter. The north-west of the district lies at the northern extremity of the Cotswolds.

## Governance

[edit]

Cherwell District Council

Type
Type|

Non-metropolitan district council

Leadership

Chair

Chukwudi Okeke,
Labour
since 23 May 2024[6]

Leader

David Hingley,
Liberal Democrats
since 22 May 2024

Chief Executive

Gordon Stewart
since 2024[7]

Structure
Seats| 48 councillors

Political groups

| Administration (22)

Liberal Democrats (17)
Green Party (4)
Independent (1)

Opposition (26)

Labour (13)
Conservative (11)
Independent (2)
Elections

Last election

| 2 May 2024

Next election

| 2026
Meeting place
Bodicote House, White Post Road, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA
Website
www.cherwell.gov.uk

Oxfordshire has a two-tier structure of local government, with the five district councils (including Cherwell District Council) providing district-level services, and Oxfordshire County Council providing county-level services.[8]

### Political control

[edit]

The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election. Prior to that election, the Conservatives had held a majority of the seats on the council since 2000. Following the 2024 election a minority Liberal Democrat, Green Party and independent administration formed to run the council.[9]

The first election to the district council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[10][11]

Party in control | Years

|

| No overall control | 1974–1976
| Conservative | 1976–1995
| No overall control | 1995–1996
| Labour | 1996–1998
| No overall control | 1998–2000
| Conservative | 2000–2023
| No overall control | 2023–present

### Leadership

[edit]

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

George Reynolds[12] |  | Conservative | 3 Sep 2001 | Jun 2004
Barry Wood[13][a] |  | Conservative | 23 Jun 2004 | 17 May 2023
| Conservative | 23 May 2023 | 22 May 2024
David Hingley[16][9] |  | Liberal Democrats | 22 May 2024 |

### Composition

[edit]

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:[17]

Party | Councillors

|

| Liberal Democrats | 17
| Labour | 13
| Conservative | 11
| Green | 4
| Independent | 3
Total | 48

One of the independent councillors sits with the Green Party as the 'Green and Independent Alliance Group', which forms the council's administration with the Liberal Democrats. The other two independents sit together as the 'Independent Group'.[18]

Following a series of negotiations, it was announced by the council that a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and one independent councillor would take charge of the council as a minority administration,[19] ending a 24-year period of the Conservatives being in charge of the council.[20]

The next election is due 7 May 2026.

### Premises

[edit]

The council is based at Bodicote House in Bodicote, a village immediately to the south of Banbury, the district's largest town. Bodicote House is a large eighteenth century house, which had served as the headquarters of the old Banbury Rural District Council since 1952. Large modern extensions have since been added to the original house.[21][22] In 2023 the council announced plans to move its headquarters into the Castle Quay shopping centre in Banbury and sell the Bodicote House site.[23]

## Elections

[edit]

Main article: Cherwell District Council elections

Since 2016 the council has comprised 48 councillors elected from 16 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections to the council are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the council being chosen at each election. Elections to Oxfordshire County Council are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no district council elections.[24]

## Arms

[edit]

Coat of arms of Cherwell

Notes
Granted 21 March 2016
Crest
On a Wreath Or and Vert in front of a Rainbow proper an Oak Tree eradicated Sable leaved Vert and fructed Or, Mantled Vert and Azure lined Or and Argent.
Escutcheon
Vert a Pale wavy Or thereon a Pale wavy Azure all between two Pallets Argent on each a Pallet Azure.
Motto
From Cherwell Flows Prosperity [25]

## Transport

[edit]

Bicester, the second-largest settlement in the district

Much of the district is within easy reach of the M40, with junctions 9, 10 and 11 in the district. It also has good rail links with London, Birmingham, Oxford and the South.

## Media

[edit]

In terms of television, the area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian broadcasting from the Oxford transmitter. [26] However, Banbury can also receive BBC West Midlands and ITV Central from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. [27]

Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Oxford, Heart Thames Valley, Capital Mid-Counties and Jack FM.

Local newspapers are Banbury Guardian and Bicester Advertiser. [28]

## Settlements in Cherwell district

[edit]

Cherwell population pyramid Kidlington, the third-largest settlement in the district and one of the largest villages in England

* Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Arncott
* Banbury, Barford St. John, Barford St. Michael, Begbroke, Bicester
* Blackthorn
* Bletchingdon, Bloxham, Bodicote
* Broughton
* Bucknell, Burdrop
* Charlton-on-Otmoor, Claydon, Cottisford, Cropredy
* Deddington, Drayton, Duns Tew
* Epwell
* Fencott, Finmere, Fringford, Fritwell
* Godington, Gosford, Great Bourton
* Hampton Poyle, Hanwell, Hardwick, Hethe
* Hook Norton, Horley
* Islip
* Juniper Hill
* Kidlington, Kirtlington
* Launton, Little Bourton, Lower Heyford
* Merton, Middle Aston, Middleton Stoney
* Milcombe, Milton, Mixbury, Mollington, Murcott
* Noke, North Aston, North Newington
* Oddington
* Prescote
* Shenington, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Shutford
* Sibford Ferris, Sibford Gower, Somerton
* Souldern, South Newington, Steeple Aston, Stoke Lyne, Swalcliffe
* Tadmarton, Thrupp
* Upper Heyford
* Wardington, Water Eaton, Weston-on-the-Green, Wroxton
* Yarnton

## See also

[edit]

* History of Banbury, Oxfordshire

## Notes and References

[edit]

1. ^ Following the Conservatives losing control of the council in the 2023 elections Barry Wood was removed from office at the council's annual meeting on 17 May 2023. Since the council could not agree on a replacement leader the meeting was then adjourned until 23 May 2023,[14] but no alternative leader who could command a majority had emerged by then either so Barry Wood was reinstated as leader.[15]

1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Cherwell Local Authority (E07000177)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
2. ^ "How do you pronounce Cherwell?". www.bbc.co.uk.
3. ^ Ann Spokes Symonds; Nigel Morgan (2010). The Origins of Oxford Street Names. p. 36\. ISBN 978-1-899536-99-3.
4. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 3 March 2023
5. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 3 March 2023
6. ^ Ingham, Jack (23 May 2024). "'New era for Cherwell' - Liberal Democrats form minority administration with Greens in Banbury". Cherwell District Council. Banbury Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
7. ^ "New Chief Executive confirmed". 13 December 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
8. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 3 March 2023
9. ^ a b Nimmo, Bethan (23 May 2024). "First new council leader for two decade announced". BBC News. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
10. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Cherwell" in search box to see specific results.)
11. ^ "Cherwell". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
12. ^ "Council minutes, 3 September 2001" (PDF). Cherwell District Council. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
13. ^ "Council minutes, 23 June 2004" (PDF). Cherwell District Council. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
14. ^ Starr, Claire; Gilyeat, Dave (18 May 2023). "Cherwell stalemate as district council fails to secure new leader". BBC News. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
15. ^ "Conservatives to lead Cherwell District Council after impasse broken". BBC News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
16. ^ "Council minutes, 22 May 2024". Cherwell District Council. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
17. ^ "Cherwell result Local Elections 2024". BBC News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
18. ^ "Your councillor by political grouping". Cherwell District Council. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
19. ^ Rice, Liam (23 May 2024). "Cherwell District Council now run by Liberal Democrat and Green set-up". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
20. ^ "Liberal Democrats take charge at Cherwell District Council". Banbury FM Newsteam. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
21. ^ Historic England. "Bodicote House, High Street, Bodicote (Grade II) (1248703)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
22. ^ "Banbury Rural District Council: Removal of Council Offices". Banbury Guardian. 27 November 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 24 April 2023. "...all departments of the Banbury Rural District Council (at present accommodated at 8 Horse Fair, Banbury, and at Castle Wharf, Banbury) will be transferred as from Monday the 1st December 1952 to Bodicote House..."
23. ^ "Bodicote House set to be demolished and replaced with housing". Banbury FM. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
24. ^ "The Cherwell (Electoral Changes) Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2015/1872, retrieved 18 May 2023
25. ^ "Civic Heraldry of England". Robert Young. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
26. ^ "Full Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter". May 2004.
27. ^ "Freeview Light on the Bretch Hill (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter". May 2004.
28. ^ "Bicester Advertiser | British Newspapers Online". 14 December 2013.

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Boroughs or districts|

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(cities in italics)|

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