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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Tram or monorail into Oxford from Witney? Yes please! 🚋🚎🚈🚝🚝🚝

Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I cycled to the opening of the Shores Green slip roads. Vegetation needs cutting at the corner with Jubilee Way, the cycle path needs sweeping all along in general and after the resurfacing of Oxford Hill and there was a tarmac missing from the cycle crossing (bizarre, as the rest was done).

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Article on T-graph front page where a Bank of England official blames youth unemployment on the national living wage. Prejudicial language from the paper includes "inflation busting" and "excessive" wages, yet the NLW is not even the Real Living Wage. It is still poverty pay. So let's reframe.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

The Christmas tree is going in at the Buttercross, on a cold and frosty morning. Lights switch-on is Fri 28 Nov.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

I am at the #TransDayofRemembrance vigil at the Corn Exchange, about to start at 6:30. Remembering lives tragically and avoidably lost. Holding everyone close and trying to keep people whole, seen and upheld. ,🏳️‍⚧️

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

I am in Derby today, under my own steam, for the @publicissues.bsky.social Joint public Issues Team conference, For Goodness Sake #ForGood25 about social justice and action. I am keen to learn more about the Constituency Action Network jpit.uk/can

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

The Gallopers Service to bless the Feast is earlier this year - today it's at around 12:45pm at the carousel. There will be a procession from the church you can join in or meet on the field. And the fair opens today!

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Date for your Sept diary - Wed 3rd, 6-8pm, Corn Ex, Witney Bus Users Meeting. This was a huge success last year. Come and feed into the continued improvement of bus services.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

The new splash park in Witney is brilliant. I just went to see. My kids loved it when it was new 10 years ago. And now this new one is in glorious technicolour. 🌈🖍️💦

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

More sunshine on Cogges with @duncanenright.bsky.social and the team today. Lots of recognition and support.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Lots of interesting conversations in Market Square this morning as the sunshine brought 10 councillors and, thankfully, more residents out to talk at Councillors at the Café.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

8 and 9 April, Corn Ex, a brilliant chance to see Every Brilliant Thing. Kate will perform a show close to her heart, by a Witney playwright. And raise money for the Mayor's Charities. Not to be missed.

Poster for the show, Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan. Witney Corn Ex, 8, 9 April.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Pictured is Citizen of the Year, Keith Crawford, who has given years managing the High St Methodist Church's buildings for community use, in the Rotary Club and on the board of Witney Museum, bringing all sorts of good to the town.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

On Monday there will be official pictures, but last night was the Witney Citizen of the Year awards and it was rather moving to hear about and honour the groups who shaped and served Witney so well in 2024.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Tomorrow/Weds evening, please come along to Witney's Annual Town Meeting, for Witney residents. 7:30pm, Corn Ex. Raise issues. Ask questions. And please read the excellent Annual Report democracy.witney-tc.gov.uk/documents/s1...

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Tell your young people about the half term youth café at the Corn Ex, 5-8pm weekdays. Run by the awesome team from The Station. www.thestation.life

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Now we are hearing from Local Government minister, Jim McMahon, about local government reorganization and how it can make the whole of the public sector work better.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

I am at a Labour Local Government Association conference. Angela Rayner outlined how funds and long term planning and local decisions are being brought back to communities. One of these decisions is Local Power generation. Exciting stuff.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

I am at the Labour local government conference this weekend. So far, I have learned more about how other councils work towards community cohesion, and how they engage with residents most effectively. Lots of chat about local government reorganization.

A selfie with a white wall behind. I have my red Labour LGA lanyard and a wind turbine on my hoodie.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

From 10 Feb, to allow Shores Green slip roads to be built, the speed limit after the 20 mph zone to the A40 will be 30 mph and the A40 will have a 50 mph section. We almost have a sensible 2-way junction at Shores Green! It's really happening! www.facebook.com/share/p/1BLi...

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

£50 for 50 grant scheme - if you are a Witney group or organisation who could spend £50 on a project, now is the time to apply for a small grant to finish celebrating Witney Town Council's 50th year. www.witney-tc.gov.uk/services/gra...

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Blue Christmas at High St Methodist, Witney. Tues 17 Dec, 7pm. "Do you or someone you know find Christmas tough? Many people do for so many different reasons. We'd love to give you space to be authentic at this time of year, and give you time to bring them to God, or to let us."

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

It didn't take long. We are normally outside in a gazebo and we have an A-board and a collapsible banner. The Corn Ex café is too busy really for us to occupy space. People do seek us out. And pass by.

Flyer for Councillors at the Café, Sat 7 Dec 10-12. Join the people that represent you on the Witney Town Council and have a chat at the Corn Exchange. No purchase or booking required. Have a burning question? Would you like your ideas heard? A selection of councillors will be in attendance on the day. (Cartoon of 2 people at a café table talking with a notepad between them).

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

It was a problem in Pompeii too. Their solution is not ideal but had the principle of pedestrians staying at one level at heart.

A side road junction in Pompeii, all paved in irregularly shaped stone, with the road lower than the pavement and two stepping stones in the road at the same height as the pavement so that pedestrians can walk across without stepping down into the road. Carts could span the stepping stones.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Anyway, the grit bin near the bridge nearest Cogges is full of grit, if the path looks set to freeze at any point. The trouble is finding time in daylight hours to shovel it about. We are all very grateful when people do that.

Yellow grit bin beside Langel path near the wall to the church community garden between the vicarage and the bridge.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I wasn't sure why the stretch of path between the two bridges on Langel was so clear. Was it gritted? Or sheltered by trees? Or warmer underneath?

Shared path from the bridge nearest town, looking back towards Cogges. The path has no snow at all.

Looking towards town on the bridge nearest town - the floor is full of snow and sludge with bike tracks and footprints.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I walked in to school this morning, in case it was too slippy to cycle. But the paths were actually sheltered by trees and well-trodden so were just mushy. Here is Langel Common under a thin layer of snow first thing.

Flower heads covered in snow in the foreground and wintery trees by Madley Brook on Langel Common in the background. Looks black and white but it's a colour photo.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

It's Witney Central by-election day for the town council. Time to buck the trend on the world stage and Elect More Women, as my T-shirt says. (It's a bit cold for a tee today though). Please vote for Yvonne Robineau to restore our team and continue our work.

Photo cropped to the graphic on a maroon T-shirt - fancy fonts say "Elect more Women" in pink, yellow and blue.

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