• This Saturday 29 June is the Vale and Downland Museum’s Summer Féte they are fundraising and would hugely appreciate your support. As well as showcasing the Museums’ perks there will be tombolas, raffles, antiques, bric-a-brac, plants, games and more. Admission is free between 10am and 3pm. For more information click here.

• The fete is the launch of the Wantage Summer Arts Festival which runs till Sunday 7 July. Don’t miss the Food & Folk Social at the lovely Down to Earth Cafe, an evening of folk music by Greengage and delicious buffet meal on Tuesday 2 July. Book your tickets here.

• Ever been curious about the quality of air around your home? The Library of Things at The Mix on Mill Street has recently acquired an Indoor Air Quality Monitor. You can check the quality of the air you breathe when you use aerosols, cleaning products etc. Lots of possible experiments to try for anyone curious! There are also lots of other useful products you can borrow from the library. To learn more click here.

• Wantage and Grove Neighbourhood Policing Team will be holding a Have Your Say meeting at Wantage Library, between noon and 1pm on Saturday 6 July 2024. Please come along to meet some of the team, express your concerns about the area.

• The next meeting of the Wantage Art Group will be on Wednesday 17 July at East Challow Village Hall. Local artist Lin Kerr will be guiding the session and asks people bring lots of flowers to arrange and be inspired by. New members and visitors are always welcome and first visit is free. There will also be an exhibit of the members work on display at the Vale & Downlands Museum from Monday 1 July, until Saturday 17 July. For more information and updates about the latest news, visit their website.

• There are a few life drawing events taking place in Wantage over the next few months.  They’ll all be taking place at the Kind Alfred Head pub in Wantage. The nest one will be taking place on Friday 28 June. Click here to see all dates and book a place.

• Applications for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund close on Monday 1 July. The REPF scheme is for rural businesses and organisations to help funding for a number of projects across the district, giving local organisations a much-needed boost. Organisations can apply for the scheme via the council’s website.

• Wantage Town Council’s June 2024 newsletter can be read here. This month’s publication covers a message for the Mayor, the Wantage community bus, Grove’s Roman villa, a look ahead to Wantage’s Literary Festival the autumn, the Summer Arts Festival programme, a new face at the Letcome Brook project and the Vale and Downland Museum.

• Sustainable Wantage’s June newsletter includes information about the FEAST food survey to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets, collecting old tablets and laptops, events for June and volunteering opportunities.

• The FEAST programme aims to find ways to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets. Alongside Good Food Oxfordshire Sustainable Wantage is asking people to tell them about the foods they eat and the barriers they experience. If you live in and around Wantage and Grove and haven’t filled in the survey already, please consider doing so here. You can learn a bit more about the initiative and it’s goals here.

• Latest news from South & Vale Business Support includes business grants and information for the General Election.

• Quick reminder that volunteers are requested to help maintain the lovely Betjeman Park in Wantage Town Centre. The monthly sessions are 5 to 7pm on Tuesdays (16 July and 13 Aug). For more details please visit their facebook page here.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support focuses on the Rural England Prosperity Fund which is now open for applications.

• Latest news from local MP David Johnston including – as usually is the case – the latest news on his plans to get the railway station at Wantage Road in Grove re-opened.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Wantage Town Council’s June 2024 newsletter can be read here. This month’s publication covers a message for the Mayor, the Wantage community bus, Grove’s Roman villa, a look ahead to Wantage’s Literary Festival the autumn, the Summer Arts Festival programme, a new face at the Letcome Brook project and the Vale and Downland Museum.

• As part of Independent Bookshop Week, Wantage Bookshop is welcoming The Repair Shop’s Suzie Fletcher this Saturday 22 June to sign copies of her memoir, The Sun Over the Mountains. Suzie will be in the bookshop on Mill Street at the new time of 1pm to 1.30pm. If you can’t make it, do contact the shop on 01235 763215 to request your signed copy.

• Vale and Downland Museum’s Summer Féte from 10am to 3pm next Saturday 29 June is an important fundraiser so your support is much appreciated. As well as showcasing the Museums’ perks there will be tombolas, raffles, antiques, bric-a-brac, plants, games and more. Admission is free.  If you can help on the day, would like to have a stall or have items to donate, please contact info@valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk or call 01235 771 447.

• Wantage and Grove Active Travel (WAGAT) are co-hosting a meeting on Monday 24 June with Oxfordshire Liveable Streets on the subject of the upcoming Oxford Traffic Filters, designed to reduce through traffic in the centre of Oxford. This will be very helpful for those who commute into Oxford or otherwise travel in and out regularly and answer any questions. The meeting will be from 7pm to 9pm, at the Beacon. Click here to learn more and sign-up.

• This weekend is King Alfred’s end-of-year exhibition. The showcase features work from Art, graphics, textiles and DT work on display from years 11,12 and 13. The exhibit is open to the public, so come along to centre site between 10am and 2pm on Saturday or Sunday to see the show. Click here for details.

• There are a few life drawing events taking place in Wantage over the next few months.  They’ll  all be taking place at the Kind Alfred Head pub in Wantage. Click here to see the dates and book a place.

• Sustainable Wantage’s June newsletter includes information about the FEAST food survey to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets, collecting old tablets and laptops, events for June and volunteering opportunities.

• The FEAST programme aims to find ways to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets. Alongside Good Food Oxfordshire Sustainable Wantage is asking people to tell them about the foods they eat and the barriers they experience. If you live in and around Wantage and Grove and haven’t filled in the survey already, please consider doing so here. You can learn a bit more about the initiative and it’s goals here.

• Latest news from South & Vale Business Support includes business grants and information for the General Election.

• Quick reminder that volunteers are requested to help maintain the lovely Betjeman Park in Wantage Town Centre. The monthly sessions are 5 to 7pm on Tuesdays (16 July and 13 Aug). For more details please visit their facebook page here.

• Vale of the White Horse has announced an update regarding the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund. The REPF scheme is for rural businesses and organisations to help funding for a number of projects across the district, giving local organisations a much-needed boost. The report outlines a few of the projects which have been made possible thanks to the fund. The next round for applications has now opened and organisations can apply for the scheme via the council’s website.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support focuses on the Rural England Prosperity Fund which is now open for applications.

• Quick reminder that the Vale of White Horse District Council has doubled the size of the maximum grant available for its Climate Action Fund to £10,000 per project. The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 28 June. Click here to learn about how to apply and click here to learn about past projects which have been funded by the scheme.

• Latest news from local MP David Johnston including – as usually is the case – the latest news on his plans to get the railway station at Wantage Road in Grove re-opened.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Quick reminder that this weekend Wantage Lawn Tennis Club invites you to its Open Weekend & AATennis Schools Festival. Play for free and find out more about the facilities, membership options and meet the committee and club members. There will be matches on both afternoons and Social Club Tennis on Sunday morning. Coach Andy be leading the youngsters of local Primary schools into tennis, culminating in the Festival of Tennis at the Club from 9am to noon on Saturday 8 and 2.30 to 4.30pm on Sunday 9. New joiners on the day will qualify for 25% off standard membership for 2024-25. Refreshments will be on offer.

• Sustainable Wantage’s June newsletter includes information about the FEAST food survey to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets, collecting old tablets and laptops, events for June and volunteering opportunities.

• The FEAST programme aims to find ways to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets. Alongside Good Food Oxfordshire Sustainable Wantage is asking people to tell them about the foods they eat and the barriers they experience. If you live in and around Wantage and Grove and haven’t filled in the survey already, please consider doing so here. You can learn a bit more about the initiative and it’s goals here.

• Wantage Chamber of Commerce invites local businesses to their June Members Forum 6pm Tuesday 11 June at The Blackbird Bar. This month’s speaker topic is how to use social media advertising to attract more clients. You can also find out about the benefits of Chamber membership.

• Latest news from South & Vale Business Support includes business grants and information for the General Election.

• Quick reminder that volunteers are requested to help maintain the lovely Betjeman Park in Wantage Town Centre. The monthly sessions are 5 to 7pm on Tuesdays (11 June, 16 July, 13 Aug). For more details please visit their facebook page here.

• Wantage and Grove Active Travel Group will be at Grove Extravaganza on Saturday 15 June with Dr Bike. Bring along your bike for a free comprehensive ‘M-Check’ to ensure that the cycle is safe to ride. If any parts need replacing they can provide and fit these at cost (no labour charges). To stay updated click here.

• The Wantage Cafe Scientifique will be back on Wednesday 12 June on the topic of  ‘Phosphates: too much of a good thing?‘. The session will feature a 30 minute film viewing followed by a Q&A with filmmakers John Potter and Phil Shepherd, and will be followed by a Q&A session, touching on topical issues such as the role of the Environment Agency, the future of farming and the housing crisis. To learn more click here.

• Vale of the White Horse has announced an update regarding the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund. The REPF scheme is for rural businesses and organisations to help funding for a number of projects across the district, giving local organisations a much-needed boost. The report outlines a few of the projects which have been made possible thanks to the fund. The next round for applications has now opened and organisations can apply for the scheme via the council’s website.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support focuses on the Rural England Prosperity Fund which is now open for applications.

• Quick reminder that the Vale of White Horse District Council has doubled the size of the maximum grant available for its Climate Action Fund to £10,000 per project. The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 28 June. Click here to learn about how to apply and click here to learn about past projects which have been funded by the scheme.

• Latest news from local MP David Johnston including – as usually is the case – the latest news on his plans to get the railway station at Wantage Road in Grove re-opened.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Wantage Lawn Tennis Club invites you to its Open Weekend & AATennis Schools Festival on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June where you can meet Committee and Club Members, play for free and find out more about the facilities, membership options and the Pay and Play Public Courts. There will be matches on both afternoons and Social Club Tennis on Sunday morning. Coach Andy will have a busy week leading the youngsters of local Primary schools into tennis, culminating in the Festival of Tennis at the Club from 9am to noon on Saturday 8 and 2.30 to 4.30pm on Sunday 9. New joiners on the day will qualify for 25% off standard membership for 2024-25. Refreshments will be on offer.

• This weekend the Wantage Band joins forces with Cold Ash Brass for a concert in St. Nicolas Church in Newbury. With music suitable for all the family featuring brass band classics, solo items, some popular arrangements and also some joint items, this will be a great evening of music making. Taking place on Sunday 2 June and you can get tickets here.

• Wantage Chamber of Commerce invites local businesses to work together for business growth in Wantage. Local businesses can sign up to the Chamber’s newsletters and don’t have to be Chamber members (although that is encouraged!).

• Quick reminder that volunteers are requested to help maintain the lovely Betjeman Park in Wantage Town Centre. The monthly sessions are 5 to 7pm on Tuesdays (11 June, 16 July, 13 Aug). For more details please visit their facebook page here.

• Wantage and Grove Active Travel Group will be at Grove Extravaganza on Saturday 15 June with Dr Bike. Bring along your bike for a free comprehensive ‘M-Check’ to ensure that the cycle is safe to ride. If any parts need replacing they can provide and fit these at cost (no labour charges). To stay updated click here.

• The Wantage Cafe Scientifique will be back on Wednesday 12 June on the topic of  ‘Phosphates: too much of a good thing?‘. The session will feature a 30 minute film viewing followed by a Q&A with filmmakers John Potter and Phil Shepherd, and will be followed by a Q&A session, touching on topical issues such as the role of the Environment Agency, the future of farming and the housing crisis. To learn more click here.

• Vale of the White Horse has announced an update regarding the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund. The REPF scheme is for rural businesses and organisations to help funding for a number of projects across the district, giving local organisations a much-needed boost. The report outlines a few of the projects which have been made possible thanks to the fund. The next round for applications has now opened and organisations can apply for the scheme via the council’s website.

• This May half term there are various activities happening all around the Vale. In Wantage the Beacon will be showing a live performance of Little Red Hen, with live music and puppetry, on Friday 31 May. There will also be various classes to join in with and the Wantage Memorial Gardens Splash Pad is also set to reopen. To learn more about these, and what else is happening in neighbouring towns, click here.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support focuses on the Rural England Prosperity Fund which is now open for applications.

• Quick reminder that the Vale of White Horse District Council has doubled the size of the maximum grant available for its Climate Action Fund to £10,000 per project. The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 28 June. Click here to learn about how to apply and click here to learn about past projects which have been funded by the scheme.

• Latest news from local MP David Johnston including – as usually is the case – the latest news on his plans to get the railway station at Wantage Road in Grove re-opened.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Vale of the White Horse has announced an update regarding the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund. The REPF scheme is for rural businesses and organisations to help funding for a number of projects across the district, giving local organisations a much-needed boost. The report outlines a few of the projects which have been made possible thanks to the fund. The next round for applications has now opened and organisations can apply for the scheme via the council’s website.

• The greenery in Betjeman Park is romping away and needs a lot of management during the summer. The trustees are extremely grateful for volunteer helpers of all ages and levels of experience.  Helping to maintain this beautiful green space is really satisfying, relaxing and sociable. The monthly sessions are 5 to 7pm on Tuesdays (11 June, 16 July, 13 Aug). For more details please visit their facebook page here.

• This May half term there are various activities happening all around the Vale. In Wantage the Beacon will be showing a live performance of Little Red Hen, with live music and puppetry, on Friday 31 May. There will also be various classes to join in with and the Wantage Memorial Gardens Splash Pad is also set to reopen. To learn more about these, and what else is happening in neighbouring towns, click here.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support focuses on the Rural England Prosperity Fund which is now open for applications.

• Quick reminder that the Vale of White Horse District Council has doubled the size of the maximum grant available for its Climate Action Fund to £10,000 per project. The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 28 June. Click here to learn about how to apply and click here to learn about past projects which have been funded by the scheme.

• Quick reminder that the lovely Down to Earth Café across the main road from Wantage Library is offering 200 free meals in May. See the cafe’s facebook page here for details.

• What is your favourite landmark in Wantage? Post it on The Dolphin Gallery’s Instagram page for the chance to win a fabulous Keith Drury print.

• Latest news from local MP David Johnston including – as usually is the case – the latest news on his plans to get the railway station at Wantage Road in Grove re-opened.

• Sustainable Wantage‘s May 2024 newsletter includes Market Garden Open Day, a survey about what we eat, and how to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets, biodiversty survey and lots more.

• Quick reminder that the Wantage Lawn Tennis Club welcomes new members of all abilities. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning – just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on 8 to 9 June where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• May half term is not too far away and there are various activities happening all around the Vale. In Wantage the Beacon will be showing a live performance of Little Red Hen, with live music and puppetry, on Friday 31 May. There will also be various classes to join in with and the Wantage Memorial Gardens Splash Pad is also set to reopen. To learn more about these, and what else is happening in neighbouring towns, click here.

• Latest news from South & Vale Business Support includes Green Skills contracts, currently open for bids, the Vale’s Climate Action Fund, the new Secure Innovation Personalised Action Plan tool, the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, free business support from the Oxfordshire Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC).

• Great news as the Vale of White Horse District Council has announced it’s doubled the size of the maximum grant available for its Climate Action Fund to £10,000 per project. For local community groups looking to tackle climate change and help nature recovery, grant applications opened last week and the deadline for applications is midday on Friday 28 June. Click here to learn about how to apply and click here to learn about past projects which have been funded by the scheme.

• Quick reminder that the lovely Down to Earth Cafe across the main road from Wantage Library is offering 200 free meals in May. See the cafe’s facebook page here for details.

• What is your favourite landmark in Wantage? Post it on The Dolphin Gallery’s Instagram page for the chance to win a fabulous Keith Drury print.

• Latest news from local MP David Johnston including – as usually is the case – the latest news on his plans to get the railway station at Wantage Road in Grove re-opened.

• Sustainable Wantage‘s May 2024 newsletter includes Market Garden Open Day, a survey about what we eat, and how to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets, biodiversty survey and lots more.

• As mentioned previously, the Vale Council is inviting all residents to “join the conversation” regarding their Heart of the Vale Plan draft for 2024-2028. Affordable housing, climate and nature recovery, and sustainable and inclusive communities are the top priorities at the heart of Vale of White Horse District, a recent statement claims. To find out more and take part, please click here. The conversation runs until Tuesday 14 May 2024.

• Quick reminder that the Wantage Lawn Tennis Club welcomes new members of all abilities. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning – just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on 8 to 9 June where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue are looking for volunteers to help their ambulance team with patient pick ups. They are currently seeing a huge surge in demand for the service. Although they have an ambulance for emergency call outs, pick ups usually involve volunteers to use their own vehicles, but costs for fuel are covered. Full training and OWR uniform is provided and this is a centre-based position. Please message them on facebook for more details

• Latest business news from South and Vale Business Support includes the new Disability Confident and CIPD manager’s guide and Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Tourism Awards. We’re also highlighting The Business Barometer podcast series, the Innovate UK Women in Innovation competition, and South and Vale’s community event about our future plans.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plans to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Wantage Town Council’s Annual Town Meeting is 7.30pm next Thursday 9 May at Sykes Hall, Tugwell Field OX12 8FR. This is a good opportunity for residents and businesses to share their views and questions with the town council. There will also be presentations by Vale Community Impact, Jigsaw Productions and Wantage Riding for the Disabled. See full agenda here. Wantage Chamber of Commerce will be there and encourages local business owners to attend.

• The Wantage Café Scientifique is back this week on the topic of ‘The Conundrum of Palm Oil‘ with Andrew Ainslie, who teaches International Development at the University of Reading’s School of Agriculture, Policy and Development. He is particularly drawn to the study of the multiple, overlapping controversies in what is referred to as ‘the global food system’. Taking place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8 May at the Wildwood Cinema. Click here for more details.

• Post your favourite Wantage landmark to win a Keith Drury print from Dolphin Gallery, Wantage

• Thanks to renewed warm space funding from Clarion Housing and Vale of White Horse District Council, Down to Earth Cafe is offering 200 free meals in May. See the cafe’s facebook page here for details.

• What is your favourite landmark in Wantage? Post it on The Dolphin Gallery’s Instagram page for the chance to win a fabulous Keith Drury print.

• Latest news from local MP David johnston including – as usually is the case – the latest news on his plans to get the railway station at Wantage Road in Grove re-opened.

• Sustainable Wantage‘s May 2024 newsletter includes Market Garden Open Day, a survey about what we eat, and how to help people have healthier and more sustainable diets, biodiversty survey and lots more.

• As mentioned previously, the Vale Council is inviting all residents to “join the conversation” regarding their Heart of the Vale Plan draft for 2024-2028. Affordable housing, climate and nature recovery, and sustainable and inclusive communities are the top priorities at the heart of Vale of White Horse District, a recent statement claims. To find out more and take part, please click here. The conversation runs until Tuesday 14 May 2024.

• This weekend, celebrate Star Wars Day with the Wantage Silver Band’s Supper Concert on Saturday 4 May. Also later this month you can also catch the  Wantage Concert Brass teaming up with Wantage Youth for a Brass Concert, on Fri 17 May at Sykes Hall, Wantage.

• For any sewers and crafters, there will be a Fabric & Sewing pop-up sale on Saturday 4 May at the Hub in Shrivenham. There will be an amazing selection of craft materials, fabric (including fat quarters), wadding and stiffening, as well as a variety of sewing accessories, perfect for crafting any bank holiday projects.

• Quick reminder that the Wantage Lawn Tennis Club welcomes new members of all abilities. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning – just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on 8 to 9 June where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• Join Sustainable Wantage on Sunday 5 May for a dawn chorus walk on International Dawn Chorus Day! They will be meeting at Betjeman Park before heading along the Letcombe Brook corridor to Willow Walk, looking and listening for birds as they go. After the walk, there is also the option to have breakfast at 6.30am at the Down To Earth Community Café. To book a place on just the walk, click here. To book the walk with breakfast, click here.

• Our rivers are in trouble and ARK – Action for the River Kennet is asking for your help by joining the The Rivers Trust #BigRiverWatch this Bank Holiday weekend between Friday 3 and Monday 6 May. By reporting what you see in your local river, you’ll be contributing to the citizen science survey and help paint a big picture of the health of our rivers in the UK and Ireland. The more that we know about them, the better we can restore our vital waterways and demand action for rivers. Search for ‘Big River Watch’ in your app store or click here, to download and get started.

• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue are looking for volunteers to help their ambulance team with patient pick ups. They are currently seeing a huge surge in demand for the service. Although they have an ambulance for emergency call outs, pick ups usually involve volunteers to use their own vehicles, but costs for fuel are covered. Full training and OWR uniform is provided and this is a centre-based position. Please message them on facebook for more details

• Latest business news from South and Vale Business Support includes the new Disability Confident and CIPD manager’s guide and Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Tourism Awards. We’re also highlighting The Business Barometer podcast series, the Innovate UK Women in Innovation competition, and South and Vale’s community event about our future plans.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plans to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• You’re invited to come and celebrate St George’s Day with the local community at Wantage Market Place this Sunday 28 April. There will be artisan stalls, live music, great food, crafts, live farm animals and free children’s entertainment to enjoy. Why not come dressed as a knight, dragon or princess? Further information can be found here.

• Next Monday 29 April there will be some family-friendly nature activities, at Wantage Market Garden. This month’s activity will be pond dipping and a bug hut. Click here to learn more.

• Join Sustainable Wantage on Sunday 5 May for a dawn chorus walk on International Dawn Chorus Day! They will be meeting at Betjeman Park before heading along the Letcombe Brook corridor to Willow Walk, looking and listening for birds as they go. After the walk, there is also the option to have breakfast at 6.30am at the Down To Earth Community Café. To book a place on just the walk, click here. To book the walk with breakfast, click here.

• The Wantage Silver Band have lots of events coming up over the next few weeks. This weekend, you can join them for a Jazz afternoon in the Band Hall, a Brass and Pipes Concert featuring Scottish classics on Saturday 27 April and their Supper Concert celebrating Star Wars on Saturday 4 May.

• New fees for council car parks and permits in the district came into force at the start of this month. Click here to learn more and read the Councils’ statement.

• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue are looking for volunteers to help their ambulance team with patient pick ups. They are currently seeing a huge surge in demand for the service. Although they have an ambulance for emergency call outs, pick ups usually involve volunteers to use their own vehicles, but costs for fuel are covered. Full training and OWR uniform is provided and this is a centre-based position. Please message them on facebook for more details

• Latest business news from South and Vale Business Support includes the new Disability Confident and CIPD manager’s guide and Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Tourism Awards. We’re also highlighting The Business Barometer podcast series, the Innovate UK Women in Innovation competition, and South and Vale’s community event about our future plans.

• The Wantage Lawn Tennis Club, situated near Wantage Bowls Club, children’s play facilities, the refurbished Bandstand and car parking, welcomes new members of all abilities. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning – just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on 8 to 9 June where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• Appeal to save Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue which needs to find new premises having received notice to leave from its current landlords. If it doesn’t find a new home they will have to close which will be devastating for local wildlife.

• Local resident Hannah Fairfull is trying to find out information about her grandmother, Ruth Fairfull (née Lay). See her FB page for more.

• Artnet.com has more information on the Red River Archaeology Group’s discovery of  a remarkable Roman villa while working on a housing development at Brookside Meadows in Grove last month.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plans to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• This month’s Wantage Town Magazine is now out. Click here to have a flick through to find out about exciting upcoming events, local businesses and some interesting articles.

• Don’t miss the St George’s Day Celebrations in Wantage Marketplace on Sunday 28 April with fun activities for all the family, including ‘Tame the Dragon’, farm animal display and lots of great artisan stalls.  See details here.

• South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils report a great response to their consultation regarding the Joint Local Plan proposal, with well over a thousand respondents. They credit this with the ‘innovative online engagement’ via their new website Join the Conversation, which presents the information in a user-friendly, accessible way. The councils are currently in the process of putting together a report summarising the comments they received. To learn more on this story, click here.

• The Wantage Silver Band have lots of events coming up over the next few weeks. This weekend, you can join them for a Jazz afternoon in the Band Hall, a Brass and Pipes Concert featuring Scottish classics on Saturday 27 April and their Supper Concert celebrating Star Wars on Saturday 4 May.

• The April Newsletter from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, including a chance to be involved in their Biodiversity Survey, local events, an update from Draughtbusters and an Earth Day Clothes Swap (happening this Saturday 20 April). They are also interested to hear from people in Wantage and Grove with a pond in their garden, as they wish to map them. Check out the newsletter to learn more and take part in their online survey.

• New fees for council car parks and permits in the district came into force at the start of this month. Click here to learn more and read the Councils’ statement.

• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue are looking for volunteers to help their ambulance team with patient pick ups. They are currently seeing a huge surge in demand for the service. Although they have an ambulance for emergency call outs, pick ups usually involve volunteers to use their own vehicles, but costs for fuel are covered. Full training and OWR uniform is provided and this is a centre-based position. Please message them on facebook for more details

• Latest business news from South and Vale Business Support includes the new Disability Confident and CIPD manager’s guide and Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Tourism Awards. We’re also highlighting The Business Barometer podcast series, the Innovate UK Women in Innovation competition, and South and Vale’s community event about our future plans.

• The Wantage Lawn Tennis Club, situated near Wantage Bowls Club, children’s play facilities, the refurbished Bandstand and car parking, welcomes new members of all abilities. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning – just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on 8 to 9 June where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• Click here for the latest (2 April 2024) newsletter from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Appeal to save Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue which needs to find new premises having received notice to leave from its current landlords. If it doesn’t find a new home they will have to close which will be devastating for local wildlife.

• Local resident Hannah Fairfull is trying to find out information about her grandmother, Ruth Fairfull (née Lay). See her FB page for more.

• Artnet.com has more information on the Red River Archaeology Group’s discovery of  a remarkable Roman villa while working on a housing development at Brookside Meadows in Grove last month.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plans to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Other news

• The Vale Council has announced that new fees for council car parks and permits in the district came into force at the start of this month. The statement adds that “some of the fees in council car parks on the outskirts of Abingdon and Wantage are being reduced by up to 30 percent while other council car parks in the town centres will see modest increases, along with increases to permit prices.”

• Local sports clubs, leisure users and sports enthusiasts can, until  Wednesday 17 April, have their say on district facilities through the current Playing Pitch and Leisure Facilities consultations. More information can be found here.

• Click here for the latest (2 April 2024) newsletter from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Appeal to save Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue which needs to find new premises having received notice to leave from its current landlords. If it doesn’t find a new home they will have to close which will be devastating for local wildlife.

• Local resident Hannah Fairfull is trying to find out information about her grandmother, Ruth Fairfull (née Lay). She her FB page for more.

• Earlybird tickets (offering some great savings) are now on sale for the Newbury Show on 21 and 22 September and there are also sponsorship opportunities still available. See more here.

• Wantage Lawn Tennis Club in Manor Road Park is a five-minute walk from the town centre, where you can also find Wantage Bowls Club, children’s play facilities, the refurbished Bandstand and car parking. The Tennis Club’s 2024-25 season starts on 1 April. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning to see what is on offer and “try before you buy”. Just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on 8 to 9 June  where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• The March Newsletter from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, including a chance to be involved in their Biodiversity Survey, local events, an update from Cycling UK Wantage and more.

• Artnet.com has more information on the Red River Archaeology Group’s discovery of  a remarkable Roman villa while working on a housing development at Brookside Meadows in Grove last month.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plans to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Other news

• This recent YouGov prediction, reported by the Oxford Clarion, suggests that Wantage’s MP may be of a difference political complexion after the election, whenever that proves to be.

• None the less, David Johnston is still in post for now. Click here for the latest (2 April 2024) newsletter.

• Appeal to save Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue which needs to find new premises having received notice to leave from its current landlords. If it doesn’t find a new home they will have to close which will be devastating for local wildlife.

• The Herald reports that the candidates for the 2 May election for the position of Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner have been announced.

• Local resident Hannah Fairfull is trying to find out information about her grandmother, Ruth Fairfull (née Lay). She her FB page for more.

• Earlybird tickets (offering some great savings) are now on sale for the Newbury Show on 21 and 22 September and there are also sponsorship opportunities still available. See more here.

• Wantage Lawn Tennis Club in Manor Road Park is a five-minute walk from the town centre, where you can also find Wantage Bowls Club, children’s play facilities, the refurbished Bandstand and car parking. The Tennis Club’s 2024-25 season starts on 1 April. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning to see what is on offer and “try before you buy”. Just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on 8 to 9 June  where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• Local sports clubs, leisure users and sports enthusiasts can, until  Wednesday 17 April, have their say on district facilities through the current Playing Pitch and Leisure Facilities consultations. More information can be found here.

• Lots of Easter fun this holdiay across South and Vale, including circus-themed fun at The Beacon in Wantage. For more details and how to book click here.

• The March Newsletter from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, including a chance to be involved in their Biodiversity Survey, local events, an update from Cycling UK Wantage and more.

• The BBC reports that archaeologists from the Red River Archaeology Group came across the the remains of a remarkable Roman villa while working on a Barratt and David Wilson Homes housing development at Brookside Meadows in Grove.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plans to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• South and Vale pledge community responsibility

A statement from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Councils asserts that a new initiative will put community at the centre of decision-making when South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils buy goods and services.

“The councils have pledged their commitment to Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership’s (OIEP) charter,” the statement reads. “It means when the councils agree contracts, they will assess what support the supplier can offer the local community, as well as the value for money of the contract. The council will look wherever possible to buy goods and services from local organisations, including SMEs, social enterprises, and cooperatives.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “These pledges show we are committed to creating a more equal and sustainable community that benefits everyone. We hope being part of the charter will create more opportunities and benefit everyone.”

• Fixing the fees

• Other news

• The BBC reports that archaeologists from the Red River Archaeology Group came across the the remains of a “remarkable Roman villa” while working on a Barratt and David Wilson Homes housing development at Brookside Meadows in Grove near Wantage, Oxfordshire.

• Appeal to save Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue which needs to find new premises having received notice to leave from its current landlords. If they don’t find a new home they will have to close which will be devastating for local wildlife.

• On Easter Sunday 31 March, there’s the Charity Duck Race at the Bay Tree pub in Grove. All money raised will be donated to the Grovelands Preschool. Ducks are £1 each and can be purchased from the pub bar. Details can be found here.

• The Herald reports that the candidates for the 2 May election for the position of Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner have been announced.

• Earlybird tickets (offering some great savings) are now on sale for the Newbury Show on 21 and 22 September and there are also sponsorship opportunities still available. See more here.

• Wantage Lawn Tennis Club in Manor Road Park is a five-minute walk from the town centre, where you can also find Wantage Bowls Club, children’s play facilities, the refurbished Bandstand and car parking. The Tennis Club’s 2024-25 season starts on 1 April. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning to see what is on offer and “try before you buy”. Just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on 8 to 9 June  where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• Local sports clubs, leisure users and sports enthusiasts can, until  Wednesday 17 April, have their say on district facilities through the current Playing Pitch and Leisure Facilities consultations. More information can be found here.

• Lots of Easter fun this holdiay across South and Vale, including circus-themed fun at The Beacon in Wantage. For more details and how to book click here.

• The March Newsletter from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, including a chance to be involved in their Biodiversity Survey, local events, an update from Cycling UK Wantage and more.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plans to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (6 March 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Grove’s plane

Between 2007 and Storm Eunice in 2022, a de Havilland Venom plane was mounted on a stand at the entrance to the Grove Business Park. As well as being a useful way-finder for people going to the Business Park it also became a much-loved local landmark. There’s been much debate and discussion about when or if it would be replaced.

We quite often have work-experience students at PP HQ and this week we welcomed Grove resident Imogen Thomas from Didcot Sixth Form. We encourage all such students to write, as well as a day-by-day blog of their experiences, an article about something that interests them and which they’d like to find out more about. She chose this subject.

Several phone calls and emails and a certain amount of web research answered a number of questions which did previously seem to have been widely available and also, more importantly, the good news that discussions are taking place which may result in the return of the Venom to its recent home. We’ll continue to follow this and provide any updates as available. You can read the article by clicking here.

• Farewell to the King and Queen

On 7 March, we reported that, barring some eleventh-hour rescue, the King and Queen in Longcott would be closing on Saturday 23 March. This was due to a perfect storm of cost rises that could not be covered by raising the prices. This is not a unique story in the sector – far from it – but it’s one example that we’ve been focussing on.

Sadly no such saviour has materialised so this will indeed be its last day. If you can pop in, do. After that, it’ll be closed: and probably, if this follows the pattern of other closures, for good.

• Other news

• This weekend the Lockinge Estate ‘Past and Present: Memories & Recollections‘ exhibition is taking place at the Loyd Lindsay Rooms in Ardington. Click here for more information.

• On Easter Sunday 31 March there’s the Charity Duck Race at the Bay Tree pub, in Grove. All money raised will be donated to the Grovelands Preschool. Ducks are £1 each and can be purchased from the pub bar. Details can be found here.

• Wantage Lawn Tennis Club in Manor Road Park, a five-minute walk from the town centre where you can also find Wantage Bowls Club, children’s play facilities, the refurbished Bandstand and car parking. The Tennis Club’s 2024-25 Season starts on April 1. To join now go to wantagetennisclub.co.uk and click on the Membership tab. Everyone is welcome to visit the Club for free play on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning to see what is on offer and “try before you buy”. Just let them know you are coming. There will also be an Open Weekend on June 8-9 where you can meet Committee and Club Members and play for free.

• Local sports clubs, leisure users and sports enthusiasts can have their say on district facilities through the current Playing Pitch and Leisure Facilities consultations. More information can be found here.

• Lots of Easter fun this holdiay across South and Vale, including circus-themed fun at The Beacon in Wantage. For more details and how to book click here.

• The March Newsletter from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, including a chance to be involved in their Biodiversity Survey, local events, an update from Cycling UK Wantage and more.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plan to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (2 February 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Campaign news

The most recent (14 March – you don’t get any more recent than that) Wantage and Grove Campaign Group newsletter has just landed in my in box and you can read it here. What’s it got?

The first item concerns the Council’s leisure strategy. “After waiting for more than three years for a new leisure strategy, we now have a consultation on two new strategies,” the newsletter explains. “These are important because they will drive the funding for new sports and leisure facilities in our area so please take part. This consultation runs until 17 April. So if you have a quiet time before (or during) the Easter break, have a read.”

There are also some reminders about a Local Government Boundary Commission consultation and ab0ut how you can share stories and photos of WW2 with a University of Oxford history project.

By far the largest part of the newsletter, however, concerns our old friend Thames Water. An interesting theory on the real reason the ailing aquatic giant appears so keen to build the reservoir is proposed. It also refers to some recent press coverage TW has received. I’ll whet your appetite by quoting the preamble to these: “The Guardian has published three articles about Thames Water this week, none of which show the water company in a good light.” Why are we not surprised?

• Other news

• To mark Food Waste Action Week 2024, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are giving away free compost and running a competition from 14 to 24 March to win a ‘hot’ composter. To enter, comment here on the council’s facebook page about what actions you are taking to reduce your food waste. Click here to learn more.

• Lots of circus-themed fun at The Beacon in Wantage, this Easter with a laughter-packed stage show, Cartoon Circus Live,  and a range of low-cost activities with a circus theme throughout the holiday for children of all ages including arts and craft and Monkey Mayhem. To see the scedule and book a place, click here.

• South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have launched their Playing Pitch and Leisure Facilities consultations which look at current and future provision of facilities across the districts. Local sports clubs, leisure users and sports enthusiasts can have their say on sports and leisure facilities by taking the survey, More information can be found here.

• The March Newsletter from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, including a chance to be involved in their Biodiversity Survey, local events, an update from Cycling UK Wantage and more.

• The next meeting of the Wantage Art Group will focus on ‘Using Coloured Pencils’ with a demonstration and guided practical session with Rachel Anders. That’s taking place on Wednesday 20 March at 7:30pm at East Challow Village Hall. New members and visitors are always welcome and the first visit is free. Click here for details.

• Last chance to apply for financial support if you were affected by Storm Henik Floods back in January. The deadline for all applications is 1pm on Monday 18 March and any flooding events also need to have been reported via the Oxfordshire Flooding Report form. To learn more click here.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plan to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Can you help? The Shaw Trust charity shop in Wantage market place is desperate for more volunteers. Whether you prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or in a customer-facing role, there’s plenty for you to get involved with. Please see more details here.

• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people? Please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (2 February 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• The King and Queen

I wrote last week (see below) about a Tourism South East initiative, in association with the Vale Council, which aimed to gather information about the hospitality sector in the area. I pointed out that while this was doubtless useful, what was needed for many was some practical support now. Pubs, restaurants and hotels have recently been hit with a series of extra costs impacting every area of their operation and these cannot all be passed on to customers. There was, I suggested, a real chance that many venues “would not survive long enough to reap any of the fruits of the work.”

Alas, this has proved to be the case for the King and Queen in Longboat which – unless some saviour appears – will close its doors for the last time on Saturday 23 March. We have friends in the village and have eaten there several times. When Markus and Danielle, who took the place over during lockdown, emerged from the pandemic still trading they must have through the worst of their problems were behind them. How wrong they were.

If no last-minute help is found and the pub does close, it will be adding to a statistic of one pub in the country ceasing trading about every twelve hours. This is a very depressing statistic. Pubs are no longer places where, as was common half a century ago, men used to go to get drunk but now places where people of all ages can meet, eat and enjoy entertainment.

Herein perhaps lies part of the problem, for venues now need to offer far more than they used to. Back in the ‘7os, all a publican needed was three kinds of beer, three kinds of spirits, three kinds of wine, three kinds of crisps, peanuts, pork scratchings and, if they really wanted to push the boat out, ploughman’s and chicken in the basket at weekends. Now the range of drinks that a pub needs is many times larger, with about ten varieties of beer and twenty flavours of vodka being almost obligatory. On top of that, it has to provide an ever-changing menu and an event or themed night at least once a week. All of this requires a large number of staff, materials and ingredients, the costs of which have all risen steeply.

If the worst happens, the King and Queen will doubtless follow another familiar trend and be converted to housing: much needed, no doubt, but the village will almost certainly have lost its pub forever. A sobering thought…

• Other news

• A great week for the Wantage Band, who won first place at the SCABA Spring Contest in Brighton this weekend. Several members also took home awards for best in their category, which can be seen here. Furthermore the band now sit at #21 on the Brass Stats rankings – their highest ever placing since the band was founded. “Podium finishes at both Wychavon Festival of Brass and Welsh Open Brass Band Entertainment Championship have moved them up the table by 17 places.”. A massive well done to the Wantage Band, and if you would like to see some pictures form their recent free Academy Brass Concert, click here.

• The March Newsletter from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, including a chance to be involved in their Biodiversity Survey, local events, an update from Cycling UK Wantage and more.

• This month’s Wantage Café Scientifique will be on the topic of ‘The Hidden World of Microscopy‘, with scientist from Diamond Light Source, Gea van de Kerkhof. The talk will look at molecules as well as ‘tiny animals’ (the microbes too small to see with the naked eye) and the development of microscopy, its greatest breakthroughs and how its being used to push the boundaries of science today. That’s on Wednesday 13 March at the Wildwood Cinema, details here.

• The next meeting of the Wantage Art Group will focus on ‘Using Coloured Pencils’ with a demonstration and guided practical session with Rachel Anders. That’s taking place on Wednesday 20 March at 7:30pm at East Challow Village Hall. New members and visitors are always welcome and the first visit is free. Click here for details.

• If you were affected by Storm Henik Floods back in January there is still time to apply for financial support in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. If you had to leave your home or close your business due to flooding for at least 48, then you might be eligible. The deadline for all applications is 1pm on Monday 18 March and any flooding events also need to have been reported via the Oxfordshire Flooding Report form. To learn more click here.

• As mentioned previously, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have set out plans to change the way their garden waste service is paid for in 2025. They have agreed to introduce a permit scheme from April 2025, in which subscribers will receive a sticker for their bins to identify them as fully paid-up garden waste customers.

• New planning rules introduced nationwide require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. To see how the Vale of the White Horse Council plan to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Can you help? The Shaw Trust charity shop in Wantage market place is desperate for more volunteers. Whether you prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or in a customer-facing role, there’s plenty for you to get involved with. Please see more details here.

• Would you like to help inspire the future workforce? Education Business Partnership helps prepare our local young people for the world of work, and to do this EBP relies on the support of local businesses and professionals. If you would like to volunteer your expertise please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (2 February 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Hospitality support

• Flooding in the Vale

A statement received from the Vale Council on 28 February echoes a message which we’ve also recently communicated on behalf of West Berkshire Council.

“Residents whose homes were internally flooded and businesses who were affected by flooding as a result of Storm Henk in January can now formally apply for financial support in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. They might also be eligible for support if the flooding meant they had to leave their home or close their business for a period of 48 hours or more. The money comes from government funding schemes, which the local district councils are administering.

“There are a range of possible options, ranging from grants to discounts on council tax or business rates.  Affected residents and businesses in the Vale of White horse can find a link to the relevant application forms here. Eligibility criteria apply to all of these support options, so anybody who believes they are entitled to funding should read the details carefully before applying.

“The deadline for all applications is 1pm on Monday 18 March and any flooding events also need to have been reported via the Oxfordshire Flooding Report form. Anybody who wants to receive support must apply using the links above. If they do not do so before the deadline, the councils will not be able to provide them with financial support.

“Anybody having difficulty applying or who requires support to do so, should contact communityconnectors@southandvale.gov.uk or 01235 422600 (option 3) during office hours. Any queries about the business support should go to business.support@southandvale.gov.uk.”

• Other news

• This Saturday the Wantage Academy Brass have their first concert of the year. The concert is free to attend and will feature a preview of their piece for the upcoming Regional Championships plus a number of other pieces from solos from across the band. The concert starts at 10:30am, click here for details.

• On a related note, many congratulations to the Wantage Band for its success at the Welsh Open Brass Band Entertainment Championship. You can read a detailed write-up of the event here, and they also added some lovely photos to their Facebook page.

• South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have set out plans to change the way their garden waste service is paid for in 2025. The councils’ have agreed the introduction of a permit scheme from April 2025 which will include subscribers receiving a sticker for their bins to identify them as fully paid-up garden waste customers. This kind of scheme is offered successfully by many other local authorities, including in neighbouring West Oxfordshire.

• The new planning rules introduced nationwide, which require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans, mean that developers must replace any biodiversity lost. To learn more about how the the Vale of the White Horse Council plan to consider them in future developments, click here.

• February News from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, an update on what The Mix collects for recycling and upcoming events. Click here to learn more.

• Can you help? The Shaw Trust charity shop in Wantage market place is desperate for more volunteers. Whether you prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or in a customer-facing role, there’s plenty for you to get involved with. Please see more details here.

• Would you like to help inspire the future workforce? Education Business Partnership helps prepare our local young people for the world of work, and to do this EBP relies on the support of local businesses and professionals. If you would like to volunteer your expertise please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (2 February 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Consultation deadlines

Looking at the 12 February newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group, there are a few local consultations which you might want to respond to, if you haven’t already.

• The joint local plan. Deadline midnight on Monday 26 February.
• Local Government Boundary Commission proposed changes to wards in the Vale of White Horse. Deadline Monday 18 March.
• NHS survey about the draft primary care strategy. Deadline appears to be Thursday 29 February but the website is less than explicit about this.

As mentioned previously, the newsletter also covers a number of other issues including the proposed mega reservoir, Grove Station, The Beacon and the Vale of White Horse’s leisure strategy.

• The Vale’s budget

We received a statement from the Vale of White Horse Council on 22 February concerning its budget. I haven’t had time to look into any of the statements made so will reproduce it here verbatim.

“Residents in the Vale of White Horse will continue to receive quality, cost-effective local services after district councillors approved the 2024-2025 budget.

“Despite major challenges, including below inflation funding increases, the cost-of-living crisis and ongoing economic and political uncertainty, thanks to careful financial management, the council has guaranteed vital public services, such as the district’s Community Hub which provides support residents who are struggling financially, and will continue to invest in key areas which benefit people across the district.

“For 2024-25, council tax for services provided by Vale of White Horse District Council has been set at £156.69 for a Band D property for the entire year.  Vale residents will therefore continue to pay one of the lowest rates in the country for services provided by a shire district and significantly less than the equivalent fee paid by those living in Oxford.

“The district council’s services are funded, in part, by only a small portion (7 per cent) of the total council tax paid by Vale households.  This represents excellent value for money for residents, helping to pay for services, such as: household waste and recycling collections, community support, leisure services, parks and play areas, housing services, planning services, environmental health and licensing.

“Councillor Andy Crawford, Cabinet Member for Finance at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “I’m very pleased that Council has approved the new budget.  This ensures we can now build on our positive work in investing in local facilities, supporting local climate projects, improving the energy efficiency of our own buildings and continue to provide support for our communities and the rural economy. Thanks to careful management over recent years, we are now in a position where we can confidently maintain our finances while protect public services and we’re in a much more positive position than many other authorities. We will continue to work towards long term financial stability and remain vigilant against the potential impact of the ongoing economic and political uncertainty.”

“To view the approved 2024-2025 Vale of White Horse District Council budget, visit the 21 February 2024 Council meeting agenda page.”

• Other news

• Last week new planning rules were introduced nationwide, which require those looking to build a new development must include wildlife enhancements as part of their plans. The changes mean that developers must replace any biodiversity lost in a development, plus an additional 10 per cent by creating new habitats. To learn more about the new rules and how the the Vale of the White Horse Council plan to consider them in future developments, click here.

• Would you and your family like to get involved in some outdoor activities, and learn more about our local plants and wildlife? Join Sustainable Wantage for monthly outdoor activities such as pond dipping, gardening, bug hunting, nature crafts and more. Their February Session will feature bird feeders and crafts, taking place on Monday 26 February. Sessions are free but places are limited so pre-booking is essential. Click here to learn more.

• The Wantage Silver Band will be holding its Solo Series concert this Sunday. Enjoy a drink from the bar while you enjoy free music from: the Wantage Band’s tuba duet, soloists from the Youth and Beginner Bands, the Percussion Academy in action, a super sax solo and more. Click here for more information.

• February News from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, an update on what The Mix collects for recycling and upcoming events. Click here to learn more.

• During February, The Mix will be collecting curtain rings, salad spinners, cardboard tubes and aprons for Fitzwaryn school which they will use to provide students with sensory experiences. Please drop these off any time The Mix is open (Mons 2pm to 6pm, Weds 10am to 3pm, Sats 10am to 1pm). For more news see their facebook page here.

• Can you help? The Shaw Trust charity shop in Wantage market place is desperate for more volunteers. Whether you prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or in a customer-facing role, there’s plenty for you to get involved with. Please see more details here.

• Would you like to help inspire the future workforce? Education Business Partnership helps prepare our local young people for the world of work, and to do this EBP relies on the support of local businesses and professionals. If you would like to volunteer your expertise please see here for more details.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (2 February 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• The Beacon’s future

The latest (12 February 2024) newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group refers to discussions that the Vale of White Horse Cabinet will be having about The Beacon in Wantage. “This building currently loses about £460,000pa,” the W&GCG newsletter comments, “and the Council will examine future potential options for the operation of what is Wantage Town Hall over the next 18 months.”

The situation at The Beacon is covered in some details (pp27 to 62) of the agenda pack for the above-mentioned meeting. The financial summary on p59 shows that all costs have increased since 2015-16 by more than has the income. The conclusions on p52 are as follows:

• Other news

• The Wantage Silver Band will be holding their third Solo Series concert on Sunday 25 February. Entry is free and will feature music from: the Wantage Band’s tuba duet, soloists from the Youth and Beginner Bands, the Percussion Academy in action, a super sax solo and more. You can also enjoy a drink from the bar while you enjoy the music. Click here for more information.

• This Friday the Beacon in Wantage will be hosting ‘Dinosaur Adventure Live – Trouble on Volcano Island‘ an immersive, interactive show followed up by a free photo opportunity and chance to meet the dinosaurs. There is still time to book a slot by clicking here.

• February News from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, an update on what The Mix collects for recycling and events such as a free mindfulness walks on Saturday 17 February and drop-in gardening advice sessions once a month. Click here to learn more.

• This month’s Wantage Café Scientifique meeting will be focused on ‘How scientific computing – including the use of AI – helps address the burning science questions of the day‘, with Marion Samler. Marion is the Business Development Manager for Scientific Computing at Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. That’s taking place on Wednesday 21 February at the Wildwood Cinema, click here for details.

• During February, The Mix will be collecting curtain rings, salad spinners, cardboard tubes and aprons for Fitzwaryn school which they will use to provide students with sensory experiences. Please drop these off any time The Mix is open (Mons 2-6pm, Weds 10am-3pm, Sats 10am-1pm). For more news see their facebook page here.

• Can you help? The Shaw Trust charity shop in Wantage market place is desperate for more volunteers. Whether you prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or in a customer-facing role, there’s plenty for you to get involved with. Please see more details here.

• Would you like to help inspire the future workforce? Education Business Partnership helps prepare our local young people for the world of work, and to do this EBP relies on the support of local businesses and professionals. If you would like to volunteer your expertise please see here for more details.

• Wantage Art Group will be holding a Meeting and Social Evening on Wednesday 21 February, in which Patsy will be stepping down from the Chair. After that there will be refreshments and an opportunity to view members work and then Charlotte Browning will talk about natural dyes for costumes in historical re-enactments. New members and visitors are welcome. See here for details.

• As mentioned last week, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are looking for volunteers to join an Independent Remuneration Panel to help review councillors’ expenses and allowances. To learn more and apply click here. The deadline for application is Thursday 22 February.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (2 February 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop. See also here for five top recommendations for book gifts for Valentine’s Day.

• Consulting on the plan

A reminder that the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire are producing a joint local plan which is currently out for consultation until 11.59pm on Monday 26 February 2024. Click here to see how you can have your say.

A joint statement from the councils refers to “requiring sustainable development, protecting and enhancing our countryside, setting higher energy efficiency standards for new buildings and prioritising more sustainable transport options “as being among the benefits that a joint local plan will provide.

It adds that “among many topics the Joint Local Plan covers are some new and innovative approaches including: more of the housing built in the districts to be affordable housing to help those struggling to get on the property ladder; setting ambitious targets, beyond the national standards, to ensure developments positively contribute to the local environment and wildlife and deliver on climate action; and new policies to identify and enhance our most tranquil places, and protect our dark skies by minimising light pollution for both residents and wildlife.”

As with every local plan, the the policies need to be consistent with national regulations (which can change) and also satisfy the Inspector at the end of the process that the planning authority (plural in this case) has considered every policy and site allocation and that the massive document is sound. This is all hard work: but the really hard part is ensuring that all the often worthy ambitions it enshrines are adhered to by developers. Unless planning authorities can be given budgets which will provide for enough enforcement and legal officers to ensure these find their way into the final results, the developers will continue to have the upper hand.

• Other news

• This month’s Wantage Café Scientifique meeting will be focused on ‘How scientific computing – including the use of AI – helps address the burning science questions of the day‘, with Marion Samler. Marion is the Business Development Manager for Scientific Computing at Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. That’s taking place on Wednesday 21 February at the Wildwood Cinema, click here for details.

• February News from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, an update on what The Mix on Mill Street collects for recycling and events including a ‘Green Gym’ on Friday 9 February at Manor Road Park and a free Saturday Lunch Club for retirees at the Down to Earth Sustainable Cafe on Saturday 17 February. Click here to learn more.

• Lots to look forward to this half-term, including a whole host of dinosaur-themed events at the Beacon in Wantage. To find out more, click here.

• During February, The Mix will be collecting curtain rings, salad spinners, cardboard tubes and aprons for Fitzwaryn school which they will use to provide students with sensory experiences. Please drop these off any time The Mix is open (Mons 2-6pm, Weds 10am-3pm, Sats 10am-1pm). For more news see their facebook page here.

• Can you help? The Shaw Trust charity shop in Wantage market place is desperate for more volunteers. Whether you prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or in a customer-facing role, there’s plenty for you to get involved with. Please see more details here.

• Fancy an evening of live music? You can catch the Wantage Band in Concert, on Sunday 11 February at 7:30pm to 9pm. Click here to book a ticket.

• Wantage Art Group will be holding a Meeting and Social Evening on Wednesday 21 February, in which Patsy will be stepping down from the Chair. After that there will be refreshments and an opportunity to view members work and then Charlotte Browning will talk about natural dyes for costumes in historical re-enactments. New members and visitors are welcome. See here for details.

• As mentioned last week, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are looking for volunteers to join an Independent Remuneration Panel to help review councillors’ expenses and allowances. To learn more and apply click here. The deadline for application is Thursday 22 February.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (2 February 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop. See also here for five top recommendations for book gifts for Valentine’s Day.

• The Vale’s recycling

The Vale of White Horse Council is understandably upbeat about having been declared to be the third best authority for domestic waste recycling in the country, with its close friend South Oxfordshire topping the table. The statement adds that both councils had been in the top five for the last five years.

The Gov.uk document referred to the the council’s joint release is quite complex and I wasn’t able to find a list of all councils. However, the best and worse in each region are listed, and there South Oxfordshire is in gold-medal position with a score of 61.6% so I’ll assume that the Vale’s claim of 60.9% is true as well. It’s unlikely that residents of Liverpool or Tower Hamlets will be reading a similar press release as their councils are firmly the relegation zone, each recycling less than 18% of their rubbish.

“The excellent news today,” Mark Coleman, Vale of White Horse Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Waste said, “is the combination of every member of the community doing their bit and a great deal of good work from the council and its partners. We now need to turn our focus to how we can all reduce and reuse more.” This was echoed by his opposite number at South Oxfordshire, Sue Cooper: “keep up the good work – but wherever possible, reduce and reuse. We know this is a continued challenge and that this commitment needs to be reflected nationally at the highest levels.”

As mentioned last week (see below), this news needs be set against the recent story in the Financial Times that the Vale, though great at recycling, seems to be a bit rubbish at buying gas: indeed, no council in the country pays more. Residents will hope that the soon get a press release saying that this problem is being fixed.

• Other news

• February News from Sustainable Wantage includes volunteering opportunities, an update on what The Mix on Mill Street collects for recycling and events including a ‘Green Gym’ on Friday 9 February at Manor Road Park and a free Saturday Lunch Club for retirees at the Down to Earth Sustainable Cafe on Saturday 17 February. Click here to learn more.

• Quick reminder to have your say on South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils Joint Local Plan 2041. The deadline has been extended to Monday 26 February at 11.59pm due to a correction to one of the supporting documents.

• Lots to look forward to this half-term, including a whole host of dinosaur-themed events at the Beacon in Wantage. To find out more, click here.

• During Februry, The Mix will be collecting curtain rings, salad spinners, cardboard tubes and aprons for Fitzwaryn school which they will use to provide students with sensory experiences. Please drop these off any time The Mix is open (Mons 2-6pm, Weds 10am-3pm, Sats 10am-1pm). For more news see their facebook page here.

• Can you help? The Shaw Trust charity shop in Wantage market place is desperate for more volunteers. Whether you prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or in a customer-facing role, there’s plenty for you to get involved with. Please see more details here.

• Fancy an evening of live music? You can catch the Wantage Band in Concert, on Sunday 11 February at 7:30pm to 9pm. Click here to book a ticket.

• Wantage Art Group will be holding a Meeting and Social Evening on Wednesday 21 February, in which Patsy will be stepping down from the Chair. After that there will be refreshments and an opportunity to view members work and then Charlotte Browning will talk about natural dyes for costumes in historical re-enactments. New members and visitors are welcome. See here for details.

• As mentioned last week, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are looking for volunteers to join an Independent Remuneration Panel to help review councillors’ expenses and allowances. To learn more and apply click here. The deadline for application is Thursday 22 February.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Click here for the latest newsletter (2 February 2024) from Wantage MP David Johnston.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

This week’s news

• If you are interesting in shaping the future of the community by having your say on the Joint Local Plan 2041, then there is an in-person event in which you can learn more or ask questions on Wednesday 31 January at the Beacon in Wantage. If you want to find out more about what the Plan entails, click here.

• Lots to look forward to this half-term, as South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are organising fun family activities at venues across the area, including a whole host of dinosaur-themed events at the Beacon in Wantage. To find out more, click here.

• Looking for a great way to give back to a local cause? If so, why not join Vale Community Impact‘s 500 Club charity lottery? Each month you could be in with a chance of winning £50 cash. The weekly £5 cost helps VCI provide dedicated support and advice and community transport to local people and families. For information please email help@vci.org.uk

• Wantage Silver Band is looking for a new cornet player. If you know anyone who might fit the bill and be interested, they rehearse on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. To learn more, get in touch at gavin.clemons@gmail.com.

• Wild Oxfordshire‘s January bulletin includes wagtails, curlews and lapwings.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Thanks to a recent grant, there is a new disability-friendly, sustainable, local transport provision initiative in Shrivenham, Watchfield and Bourton. However the initiative requires a pool of volunteer drivers, as well as managing committee volunteers who can help with the organisation and admin. For more details, read Stuart Coffey’s facebook post here (Shrivenham Parish Council), and get in touch at Stuart.Coffey@shrivenham.org.

• Sustainable Wantage has a whole load of events and activities planned for 2024. They have mindfulness walks and craft workshops. They are also introducing a ‘Green Gym’, where you can keep fit while helping with practical outdoor tasks to improve habitats for local biodiversity. The next ‘Gym’ will be on Friday 9 February at Manor Road Park. Click here to learn more.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Water, plans and healthcare in OX12

The most recent (24 January 2024) newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (WAGCG)  looks at a number of local issues, three old favourites in particular.

The first is Wantage Hospital. WAGCG reports that “the temporary closure of the inpatient beds will be made permanent,” but added that “the good news is that they say they are committed to keeping the Wantage Community Hospital open but aim to continue to use it for midwife-led maternity and outpatient services.” It also expresses the hop that some ear-marked CIL funds could be used to upgrade the services there.

The second the the reservoir. The newsletter offers a brief summary of some of the many concerns and objections to this massive project and quoits the CRPE as saying that “the plan for the reservoir has many unresolved issues and should be subject to a public inquiry.” It also suggests that local MP David Johnston has recently added his voice to support this as a next step.

The third is the joint local plan, which remains open for consultation until midnight on Wednesday 21 February. There’s also a drop-in event at The Beacon from 11am to 4pm on Wednesday 31 January. “The brief synopsis,” the newsletter states, “is that by changing the way that they calculate housing need since the last local plans, they have reduced the number of new homes required so that, with the exception of Dalton Barracks and the area between the Grove Airfield development and the Denchworth Road, no other “major” sites will be required in the Vale.” This does not mean, however, that smaller sites won’t come forward.

It also points out that the plan is to increase the percentage of affordable homes on new schemes to 50% (expect a lot of developer push-back on that) but adds that it’s unlikely (I would say “impossible”) that this would apply to schemes that have already been approved. There’s also a trade-off here, as “more affordable homes means less money for infrastructure to go with the new homes – so which do you prefer?” The area currently has a shortage of both these things.

Other matters covered include support for people with learning difficulties, three specific planning issues, local primary care plans and possible boundary changes. It ends with reporting that the FT has recently;y claimed that the Vale paid more than any other council in the country for its gas last year, nearly twelve times as much as did the keenest municipal buyer (Denbighshire) – “something to think about when you get your council tax demand.” There is some good news for Vale residents, though, as it’s in the top five for the best recycling rates in the country. No reason, though, why it can’t have cheaper gas as well…

• Fixing the allowances

South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council are looking for volunteers to join an Independent Remuneration Panel to help review councillors’ allowances.

The councils are together looking to fill voluntary vacancies on a Joint Independent Remuneration Panel which will commence its work in October 2024. The panel will consist of at least three members of the public supported by council officers. It will meet to help produce a report, with the assistance of officers, and make recommendations to the councils about the allowances to pay elected councillors. The closing date for applications is 22 February 2024. Click here for more information.

This week’s news

• Wantage Silver Band is looking for a new cornet player. If you know anyone who might fit the bill and be interested, they rehearse on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. To learn more, get in touch at gavin.clemons@gmail.com.

• Wild Oxfordshire‘s January bulletin includes wagtails, curlews and lapwings.

• Latest business news from South & Vale Business Support.

• Thanks to a recent grant, there is a new disability-friendly, sustainable, local transport provision initiative in Shrivenham, Watchfield and Bourton. However the initiative requires a pool of volunteer drivers, as well as managing committee volunteers who can help with the organisation and admin. For more details, read Stuart Coffey’s facebook post here (Shrivenham Parish Council), and get in touch at Stuart.Coffey@shrivenham.org. There will be a meeting on Thursday 25 January, at the Shrivenham Memorial Hall for all interested parties.

• Sustainable Wantage has a whole load of events and activities planned for 2024. They have mindfulness walks and craft workshops. They are also introducing a ‘Green Gym’, where you can keep fit while helping with practical outdoor tasks to improve habitats for local biodiversity. The next ‘Gym’ will be on Friday 9 February at Manor Road Park. Click here to learn more.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Possible ward changes

A new pattern of wards is being developed for Vale of White Horse.

The Local Government Boundary Commission has decided that the number of councillors in Vale of White Horse should be 38, the same as now,” a statement from the Vale and South Oxon Councils says. “The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to hear what residents and organisations think about their local area. A ten-week consultation inviting proposals will run until 18 March 2024.”

The Commission is the independent body (ie not influenced by political considerations, only demographic ones) that draws these boundaries. “It is,” the statement continues, “reviewing Vale of White Horse to make sure councillors represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements help the council work effectively. It wants to be sure that its proposals reflect community ties and identities.

For more information and to take part, click here.

• Funding for change

South and Vale Business Support is looking to fund a project in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse “that will engage organisations in our districts to respond to the climate emergency.

The project will support delivery of the intervention E29: Decarbonisation and improving the natural environment, set out in the UKSPF investment plans for South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council. Each council has up to £9,500 to award. Projects could include (but are not limited to):

• Supporting businesses to take specific action on the circular economy
• Encouraging organisations to adopt sustainable practices
• Events to promote sustainability / eco-friendly initiatives to businesses

The applicant must submit a comprehensive project outline, which will include the timeframe of the project, the total cost required to complete the project and any match funding that is available. Organisations will need to outline the number of businesses they will work with over the course of the project and how they will achieve this.”

For more information, click here.

This week’s news

• Draughtbusters volunteers will be outside the Bear Hotel in Wantage Market Place this Saturday 13 January, giving energy saving advice and draughtbusting tips. Pop along to pick up a Warmer Winter Checklist or ask any questions you have.

• The Local Government Boundary Commission is reviewing Vale of White Horse and its boundaries, to make sure councillors represent about the same number of electors. It wants to be sure that its proposals reflect community ties and wants to hear what residents and local organisations think about their area, with a current consultation running until Monday 18 March. Click here to learn more.

• Sustainable Wantage has a whole load of events and activities planned for 2024. They have mindfulness walks and craft workshops. They are also introducing a ‘Green Gym‘, where you can keep fit while helping with practical outdoor tasks to improve habitats for local biodiversity. The next ‘Gym’ will be on Friday 9 February at Manor Road Park. Click here to learn more.

• Wantage Art Group‘s first meeting of 2024 is on Wednesday 17 January Using Sketchbooks at their new venue of East Challow Village Hall. New members and visitors (£5) always welcome.

• Click here for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• The South and Vale’s local plan

Work never really stops on updating a district’s local plan. They take years and years to do: then, you have a brief pause before the work starts on the next one. The cliché of painting the Forth Bridge springs to mind.

South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse councils do a lot of things together, including communications. They even share the same offices. So buddied-up are they that they’ve also decided to embark on a joint local plan as a couple. The day may come when they take this to its logical conclusion and formally get married. Perhaps the only obstacle is what the new entity will call itself. That is, however, a matter for another day.

What the two councils want from residents is that they “join the conversation to help shape the future of the districts.” The discussion points include “sustainable development; protecting and enhancing our countryside; setting higher energy efficiency standards for new buildings; and prioritising more sustainable transport options.” A statement (a joint one, naturally) goes on to say that “Innovative draft policies to address local challenges and unlock future opportunities across the two districts have been published for community feedback, as part of the councils’ work to deliver their Joint Local Plan 2041.

The six-week consultation is now live and will remain so until 11.59pm on 21 February 2024. Visit southandvale.gov.uk/JLP to find out more and have your say.

There will also be drop-in sessions at various locations throughout the district (see the foot of this post). One of these will be in Wantage from 11am to 4pm on Wednesday 31 January at the Beacon, OX12 9BX.

This week’s news

• Sustainable Wantage has a whole load of events and activities planned for 2024. They have mindfulness walks and craft workshops. They are also introducing a ‘Green Gym‘, where you can keep fit while helping with practical outdoor tasks to improve habitats for local biodiversity. The next ‘Gym’ will be on Friday 9 February at Manor Road Park. Click here to learn more.

• Not sure what to do with all your used Christmas and birthday cards? The Sustainable Shrivenham Hub is accepting them as part of a new project. The Hub is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Click here to find out what else you they accept as part of their various community projects here.

• There is a public meeting about Wantage Community Hospital on Thursday 11 January from 7.30pm at the Silver Band Hall on Tugwell Field OX12 8FR (just out of town from the Lord Nelson). This will be the last meeting before recommendations are put to the NHS and County Council so this will be your only opportunity to question those responsible. The inpatient beds closed temporarily in 2016 and they are finally coming up with recommendations for a resolution.

• The Wantage Cafe Scientifique will be starting up the new year with a talk on ‘Drone Delivery: The future of Urban Air Taxis’ on Wednesday 10 January 2024. The talk is by Michael Merritt, who has a background in Aerospace Engineering and is currently responsible for strategy and operations at Skyports. To learn more click here.

• Our local hospitals are under extra pressure during the Junior Doctor strike until Tuesday 9 January. For latest updates and advice please follow Great Western Hospital’s facebook page and Reading’s Royal Berkshire Hospital’s facebook page here.

• Wantage Art Group‘s first meeting of 2024 is on Wednesday 17 January Using Sketchbooks at their new venue of East Challow Village Hall. New members and visitors (£5) always welcome.

• You can read David Johnston MP’s latest (22 December 2023) newsletter by clicking here.

• Click here (and also here for Christmas and new-year 2023-24 opening hours) for the latest news from the Wantage Bookshop.

• Two campaigns in OX12

The latest (2 January) newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group highlights two long-running issues in the area.

The first concerns the Wantage Community Hospital which was “temporarily” closed several years ago against which many groups, including the W&GCG, have vigorously lobbied ever since. The newsletter tells us that there will be a public meeting on 11 January from 7.30pm at the Silver Band Hall on Tugwell Field OX12 8FR. “This will be the last meeting before recommendations are put to the NHS and County Council so if you care about the services available in the Community Hospital please go along. It will be your only opportunity to question those responsible.”

The second concerns the fight against the reservoir continues. The newsletter points out that “the Group against the Reservoir (GARD) has called on the Secretary of State for the Environment to order a Public Inquiry into Thames Water’s plan to go ahead with their “unacceptable, unnecessary and expensive” proposal for a huge reservoir near Abingdon, completely ignoring strong opposition in their consultation process.”

It adds that Thames Water “only has a ‘conceptual design’ of the project, with few detailed investigations of the area’s geology, even after 25 years of promoting the project.” One thing does seem clear, however – it would be vast. It was turned down at a public inquiry in 2010 and, the W&GCG argues, ” should not be allowed to go forward without a full design being open for review.”

GARD, CPRE and most of the Oxfordshire Councils believe that the inclusion of the reservoir in Thames Water’s plan should not be allowed to proceed for further development “until a proper, transparent, public assessment of the proposal’s costs, environmental impact, drought resilience compared to alternatives and safety and flood risk potential has been carried out and published. We agree with them,” the newsletter concludes. “Approving the plans now is like giving Thames Water a blank cheque.”

The newsletter also has information about the consultation into Oxfordshire CC’s budget, which closes on 10 January.