Common questions
Bins, buses, the campus build, GP registration, the windmill — the answers residents ask for most, checked against official sources.
Quick answers to the questions Wheatley residents ask most often. Every answer was checked against the official source on the date shown at the bottom of this page.
When are my bins collected?
South Oxfordshire District Council collects on a fortnightly rota: recycling from your green wheelie bin one week, general rubbish from your black bin the next. Food waste is collected every week in the small green food bin. Collections can start at 6am, so put bins out the night before.
The day varies street by street. Look yours up by postcode in the council's BinDays web app at southoxon.gov.uk (search "BinDays") — it shows your next two collections and works in any browser. The old Binzone phone app has been retired and no longer works.
Around Christmas and bank holidays the days shift — check the council's waste calendar page for that week's changes.
Parish, district or county council — who does what?
Three councils share Wheatley, which confuses everyone.
Wheatley Parish Council handles village matters: allotments, open spaces and play areas, the Wheatley Newsletter, and comments on planning applications.
South Oxfordshire District Council (01235 422422) handles bins, planning decisions, council tax and housing.
Oxfordshire County Council (01865 519800) handles roads and potholes, school admissions, libraries and social care.
The "Who to call" page on this site lists the numbers in one place.
How do I contact the Parish Council?
The parish office is in the Merry Bells, 89a High Street, OX33 1XP. Drop-in surgeries run Wednesday and Saturday mornings, 9.30–11.30am, with appointments available at other times.
Phone 01865 875615 or email clerk@wheatleyparishcouncil.gov.uk.
The full council meets at 7.30pm on the first Monday of the month at the parish office; the planning committee meets the second Wednesday. Agendas and minutes are on wheatleyparishcouncil.gov.uk.
What is happening on the old Brookes campus?
Crest Nicholson has planning permission (granted 6 August 2025) to build 447 homes on the former Oxford Brookes Wheatley campus, with 35% allocated as affordable housing. Work is expected to start in 2026, with the first homes due for completion towards the end of 2027.
The plans include open spaces with cricket and football pitches, a bowls green and children's play areas, and the developer has committed £5 million towards local roads, schools and public transport.
Planning documents are on the South Oxfordshire District Council planning portal; the parish council's planning committee tracks village applications month by month.
How do I register with a GP?
Morland House Surgery, Morland Close, OX33 1DP, is the village practice and is currently accepting new patients. Phone 01865 872448 or register through the surgery's website or the NHS App.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am–6.30pm, Saturday 8–11am.
Wheatley Pharmacy is beside the surgery on Morland Close (01865 874047) for prescriptions, and can advise on minor illnesses without an appointment.
When is the windmill open?
Wheatley Windmill, on Windmill Lane (OX33 1TA), opens one Sunday a month from May to October. Remaining 2026 open days: 14 June, 12 July, 9 August and 13 September, 2–6pm, and 11 October, 2–5pm — the last of the year.
There is no admission charge; donations towards the charity's maintenance costs are welcome. Tea, coffee and cakes are available. Wear sensible shoes for the stairs, and note there are no toilets on site. Group visits can be arranged with the Windmill Preservation Society at secretary@wheatleymill.co.uk.
Which buses serve Wheatley?
The main route is the 400 (Oxford Bus Company): Oxford rail station – Headington – Wheatley – Thame, about every 30 minutes during the day, seven days a week. It replaced the old 280 in February 2025. The N400 night bus runs on Friday and Saturday nights.
Also serving the village: the 46 to Oxford via Littleworth and Cowley (roughly hourly on weekdays), the 49 to Oxford via Cuddesdon (Tuesdays and Thursdays only), the 275 towards Chinnor and High Wycombe (Monday to Friday), and the summer-weekend WP1 to Waterperry Gardens.
The "Where's the bus?" page on this site shows live bus positions.
When is the library open?
Wheatley Library is inside the Merry Bells on the High Street (01865 815204).
Hours: Tuesday 2–7pm; Wednesday 9.30am–1pm and 2–5pm; Thursday 2–5pm; Friday 9.30am–1pm and 2–6pm; Saturday 9.30am–1pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. Out-of-hours returns are available all year round.
I need a lift to an appointment, help with shopping, or a bit of company — who can help?
The Wheatley Good Neighbour Scheme is a volunteer group serving Wheatley, Holton and Littleworth. Volunteers help with lifts, occasional shopping, befriending visits, and small practical jobs like forms and technology.
Email wheatleygns@gmail.com, or find the scheme's current contact details on the Live Well Oxfordshire directory (livewell.oxfordshire.gov.uk — search "Wheatley Good Neighbour Scheme").
How do I get the Wheatley Newsletter — or put something in it?
The Wheatley Newsletter is published every two months and delivered free by volunteers to every address in Wheatley and Holton parishes — over 2,000 homes. Back issues and the current edition are online at wheatleyparishcouncil.gov.uk.
To contribute, email the editor at newsletter@wheatleyparishcouncil.gov.uk — items up to 250 words as an attached Word document, images welcome. If you live outside the delivery area you can subscribe by post or email.