Cherwell (district)

For other uses, see Cherwell (disambiguation).

Cherwell District
—  Non-metropolitan district  —
Cherwell shown within Oxfordshire
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	South East England
Non-metropolitan county	Oxfordshire
Status	Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ	Banbury
Incorporated	1 April 1974
Government
– Type	Non-metropolitan district council
– Body	Cherwell District Council
– Leadership	Leader & Cabinet (Conservative)
– MPs	Tony Baldry David Cameron Nicola Blackwood
Area
– Total	227.3 sq mi (588.8 km2)
Area rank	74th (of 326)
Population (2010 est.)
– Total	140,400
– Rank	139th (of 326)
– Density	617.6/sq mi (238.5/km2)
– Ethnicity	94.5% White 2.3% S.Asian 1.0% Black 1.4% Mixed Race
Time zone	GMT (UTC0)
– Summer (DST)	BST (UTC+1)
ONS code	38UB
OS grid reference	SP5153928258
Website	cherwell.gov.uk

Cherwell (usually  /ˈtʃɜrwɛl/ chur-well)^[1][2] is a local government district in northern Oxfordshire, England. The district 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.

The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the municipal borough of Banbury, Bicester urban district, Banbury Rural District and Ploughley Rural District.

The Castle Quay Shopping Centre in Banbury and Bicester Village Outlet Centre make the Cherwell District an attractive place to shop for those in South northamptonshire, West Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire where facilities are more limited.

Recycling in Cherwell

Cherwell district has one of the country's highest recycling rates at over 40% (2005). The district used to have a recycling rate of just 9%. This changed with the introduction of the blue box scheme for recycling paper, which has since grown to include plastic, cardboard and cans. Kidlington has its own freecycling group.

Geography

The Northern half of the Cherwell district consists mainly of soft rolling hills vallying down towards to River Cherwell, however the southern half of the district around Bicester is much flatter. Much of the district is soft rolling hills with the northwest of the district lying at the northern extremity of the Cotswolds.

Transport

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.

Settlements in Cherwell district

• Adderbury, Ambrosden, Ardley, Arncott
• Banbury, Barford St. John and St. Michael, Begbroke, Bicester
• Blackthorn
• Bletchingdon, Bloxham, Bodicote, Bourton
• Broughton
• Bucknell
• Charlton-on-Otmoor, Claydon, Cropredy
• Deddington, Drayton, Duns Tew
• Epwell
• Fencott and Murcott, Finmere, Fringford, Fritwell
• Godington, Gosford
• Hampton Poyle, Hanwell, Hardwick, Hethe
• Hook Norton, Horley
• Islip
• Kidlington, Kirtlington
• Launton, Lower Heyford
• Merton, Middle Aston, Middleton Stoney
• Milcombe, Milton, Mixbury, Mollington
• 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

References

1. ^ BBC Oxford How do you pronounce Cherwell?
2. ^ Ann Spokes Symonds; Nigel Morgan (2010). The Origins of Oxford Street Names. p. 36. ISBN 978 1 899536 99 3. 

See also

• Cherwell local elections
• History of Banbury, Oxfordshire

Coordinates: 51°57′N 1°15′W / 51.95°N 1.25°W / 51.95; -1.25