You are welcome to contact me by phone or WhatsApp on 07811 085661 or by emailing Sarah.James1@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
In Milton Heights and Milton Hill
Helping to progress the path to the primary school
If you drop off at St Blaise Primary School, you are probably familiar with the muddy section from Russet Drive to school. I have been chasing progress on the licence that the Parish Council need from the District Council in order to be able to construct a proper path across this land. In the meantime, I also asked if the District Council could do anything temporary to improve the surface and they were able to use wood chips in the muddiest areas.
I was delighted to be able to report to the January Parish Council Meeting that a Land Registry update that was delaying everything is now finally complete so the licence can move ahead, and also that the District Council have agreed to cap the amount of legal and surveyor fee costs that they pass on to the Parish Council.
Chasing up tree safety
The line of poplars on the edge of Blaise Park close to the Football and Bowling clubs had been identified as needing safety work done in 2021, and last winter big boughs did fall. I’m pleased to say that Redrow have now commissioned an updated tree report and have had all the work identified as medium and high priority done. They are considering a longer-term plan for these trees, which may involve removal and replacement of the poplars, as Grove Farms opted to do on the other side of Blaise Park.
In our area
Please let us know what you think about a new Local Plan
All planning decisions must be made in line with the local development plan and Vale of White Horse District Council and South Oxfordshire District Council are currently consulting on a new, Joint Local Plan for both districts. What can and can’t be built locally has a huge impact on our communities, so please do get involved and have your say before 26th February. There are drop-in events and different options for giving quick or more detailed feedback. https://theconversation.southandvale.gov.uk/jlp/
Cost of Living Help
· For more information on help available please visit https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/cost-of-living-crisis-advice-and-support/ or phone the Community Hub on 01235 422600 or email communitysupport@southandvale.gov.uk
December 2023
You are welcome to contact me by phone or WhatsApp on 07811 085661 or by emailing Sarah.James1@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
In Milton Heights
It’s been a real pleasure to support Milton Parish Council, Milton United Football Club and other volunteer residents in their efforts to build a new community and sports building at the football ground. The group have put in an amazing amount of work already. This project will be applying to the district council for funds from housing developers to replace the existing clubhouse and provide a new community room that people and groups can hire. Milton Heights has grown enormously in recent years and so far, facilities haven’t kept up. A community room that can be booked for activities and events will be a welcome addition.
Your parish council continues to work hard to create a good quality path from Russet Drive to the primary school to replace the muddy short-cut across the grass. I continue to support them wherever I can. I recently spoke with officers at the district council which owns the land to explain why this link is so needed. I used satellite maps to show visually what a vital cut through this is.
In our area
Thames Water ran recent information events for locals about their proposed reservoir between Steventon, East Hanney and Drayton. The planned reservoir is now 1.5 times larger than the plan consulted on earlier in the year. They presented a project timeline showing further public consultations in Summer 2024 and Summer 2025 and then applying for consent for the reservoir in Autumn 2026. Currently they are submitting a planning application for clay compaction at a site near the Steventon – East Hanney road. I am still very concerned about the impact of this project on people in this area and will continue to monitor their proposals. There is still a worrying lack of detail on major matters such as safety, flooding, construction impacts and environmental impacts.
Cost of Living Help
· For more information on help available please visit https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/cost-of-living-crisis-advice-and-support/ or phone the Community Hub on 01235 422600 or email communitysupport@southandvale.gov.uk
You are welcome to contact me by phone or WhatsApp on 07811 085661 or by emailing Sarah.James1@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
In Oxfordshire there are three types of council: parish or town councils, district councils and the county council. District council services include planning, bin collections, housing, leisure centres (including Wantage Leisure Centre), food hygiene and some housing related benefits. Unsure which council to contact about something? You are welcome to get in touch with me and I will point you in the right direction.
It’s been my pleasure in the last couple of months to visit Milton United Football Club where I’ve been working with the parish council, club members and other local people to support them in their efforts to deliver a new community and sports building with funds from housing developers. The new building will replace MUFC's club house and create a new community room for Milton Heights which can be used by a wide range of local groups, and which can be booked for events.
Like many local residents and all levels of local government, I responded to the Thames Water Resource Management Plan consultation earlier this year to raise serious concerns about the planned reservoir between Steventon and East Hanney. Recently Thames Water have reported back on their updated plans following the consultation. The proposed reservoir is now 50% bigger than that in the consultation, and the Severn-Thames water transfer has been dropped. This mega project for a towering, bunded reservoir will have serious impacts, not least during its 10 year construction phase, on our area. If you would like to know more and support the campaign against it, please do look at joining GARD (Group Against Reservoir Development) – Group Against Reservoir Development at https://abingdonreservoir.org.uk/.
For more information about help from a range of sources please contact the Community Hub:
• Tel: 01235 422600
• Email: communitysupport@southandvale.gov.uk