Please note that this section is presented as an archive of past columns and is not updated. Some web links may no longer be active (usually indicated by a score-through), for instance when a consultation has closed. For reasons of space, the Events, Community Notices and News from Your Local Councils sections have been deleted from the archive posts.
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Other archives
Please click here to see the other archived columns for this (and all the other) weekly news sections.
Thursday 29 June 2023
This week we cover swaps, a climate summit, an MP’s newsletter, folk, food and arts – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This weeks news” for a farewell to the man who kept saying “no” to supermarkets, care homes and property developers and another look at the developer contributions sitting, unwillingly, in the Vale of White Horse’s piggy bank.
This week’s news
• This Saturday 1 July there will be a clothes swap at the Wantage Baptist Church. Bring clothes, shoes and accessories you no longer wear and swap them for something you’ll love. To take part bring at least 1 clean and presentable item to swap. You can take away as many items as you bring in, extras can be bought for £1 an item. Items left over will be donated or recycled. Drop off your items between 9am and 10am and select new items from 10.30am to 11.30am. For more details click here.
• David Johnson, MP for Wantage, is holding his 3rd annual Climate Summit on Tuesday 4 July. The key note speaker will be Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. The summit will take place from 1:45pm to 5pm and will be accessible via Zoom. If you would like to attend, register your details here to receive an invite.
• And still with David Johnson, click here to see his latest (29 June) newsletter.
• The Wantage Summer Arts Festival starts this Saturday 1 July, and will continue throughout the month. There will be a huge range of arts, crafts, musical and cultural events taking place around the town. Some activities may have limited spaces, so make such you book in advance to avoid missing out. Highlights include the Wantage Art Group’s display of members work at Charlton Church on Friday, on Saturday a ‘Folk and Jazz’ performance at the Wantage Market Place and on Sunday is a Festival Food event at also at the Market Place. Click here to read the full programme of activities.
• As part of Wantage Arts Festival, the Down to Earth community café will be holding a ‘Folk and Food Social‘ event. This will be an evening of traditional and contemporary folk music from the Melobo Ceilidh Band, and a delicious buffet meal. The event will be taking place on Wednesday 5 July from 6.30pm. Click here to get your ticket.
• Jo from Sustainable Wantage was interviewed on BBC Radio Oxfordshire to talk about their ‘Draughtbusters’ project. Click here to listen to the recording (starts at 13 minutes in) and find out more about how the Draughtbusters have been helping in the local area.
• The Vale Community Impact team are reminding the community that households with energy vouchers for prepayment meters need to redeem them by Friday 30 June. They have advice here on their website about energy bills support scheme vouchers and how to redeem them.
• If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities in the Wantage area please contact Vale Community Impact.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
Not for sale
As many residents will be all too aware, there’s no shortage of new developments going up in OX12 and with it all the demand for more amenities including shops and care homes. Anyone sitting on a developable plot in a convenient location is very much enjoying a seller’s market: should they wish to sell, of course. But no everyone does.
One such person was John Smith, owner of Broadway Motors in Wallingford Street, who died on 2 June aged 87. He ran the car dealership since he was 21 – which might on its own be some kind of record – and was also involved in other local businesses, one of which donated 1.25 acres of land to expand the Chain Hill cemetery in 2011. When it came to parting with the potentially lucrative town-centre Broadway Motors site, though, Mr Smith was a lot less accommodating.
in 2015, he told the Oxford Mail that he gets “three or four offers a year” from care home firms, housing developers and supermarkets. Aldi, it seems, has been particularly persistent. “My father built this garage,” he explained. “there’s too much of my old man floating around” so the answer has always been “no”. He added that he hoped his family would carry on Broadway Motors after him, but admitted that “things do change”. So far, however, we understand that they haven’t and the family has pledged to continue to run the business in the same vein.
John Smith’s funeral is at Wantage Church at 2pm on Tuesday 11 July. One would hope that any would-be purchasers will be observing a period of respectful silence until then but the calls may well re-start soon afterwards. One chink of light they might see is his remark in 2015 that “If someone offered me £100m it might tempt me. That would be worth listening to.” As signals go, that’s like a bridge bid of seven no-trumps. £100m is a lot of money: but the way inflation, land prices and supermarket profits are going, you can’t rule anything out…
Still sitting on the money
Last week (see below), I took a look at large sums of money that every council, including the Vale of White Horse, finds itself sitting on as a result of developer contributions. I pointed out that in most cases the council would like to pay the money out but cannot as a number of other conditions need to be satisfied. It’s all a bit like waiting for a propitious alighnemtn of the planets and, in extreme cases, can involve almost as long a wait.
In her recent article in the Herald (which you can read here), Julie Mabberley of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group takes a look at this issue, the discussion of which formed the main business at the organisation’s recent AGM. As one of the examples shows, having money hanging around in this way for ten years is not uncommon. Increasingly, these funds are being eaten away by inflation. Hopefully, all this dosh will be put to the uses for which it was intended before it vanishes altogether.
Thursday 22 June 2023
This week we cover fêtes, folk, arts, cafés, volunteering and good neighbours – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This weeks news” for a look at the large amounts of money from developers on which councils are sitting and why this might be and an invite from the local MP to a forthcoming online climate summit.
This week’s news
• The Vale & Downland Museum will be holding its first fundraising Summer Fete this Saturday 25 June. There will be a children’s tombola, bric-a-brac, games, adult tombola, gift stalls and much more. Admission is free but donations to the museum welcome and all profits raised will go towards the upkeep and future improvements of the museum. Click here for details.
• Next week, local charity Vale Community Impact will be holding a Good Neighbour Pop-Up Cafe at Shrivenham Sports Pavilion. Everyone is welcome and it is ideal for anyone feeling a little lonely or isolated, or simply wanting to meet new people from your area. The event is free and your will get a compliment hot or cold drink plus a sweet treat. Come along on Wednesday 28 June from 2pm to 4pm for a chance to get to know your neighbough’s and local community better. Click here for details.
• Ever wanted to learn more about the history of Morris Dancing? Come along to the Vale & Downland Museum to lean the story of how Morris Dancing was brought to this country and how it has survived for over 500 years. That’s taking place Wednesday 28 June at 2pm, tickets cost £7.50 per person and you can book online here.
• As part of Wantage Arts Festival, the Down to Earth community café will be holding a ‘Folk and Food Social‘ event. This will be an evening of traditional and contemporary folk music from the Melobo Ceilidh Band, and a delicious buffet meal. The event will be taking place on Wednesday 5 July from 6.30pm. Click here to get your ticket.
• The Vale Community Impact team are reminding the community that households with energy vouchers for prepayment meters need to redeem them by Friday 30 June. They have advice here on their website about energy bills support scheme vouchers and how to redeem them.
• If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities in the Wantage area please contact Vale Community Impact.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
Sitting on the money
The theme of Julie Mabberley’s article in the Herald this week – and also of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group’s AGM which took place on 22 June – is “Why are they sitting on the money?” The “they” are the local councils in the OX12 area (Oxfordshire CC and the Vale of White Horse); and “the money’ refers to section 106 agreements. These are legal agreements between the planning authority and the developer which define the contribution (in cash or in kind) which the developer must make to mitigate the effect of the development on the community.
Julie Mabberley’s article looks at the money that the Vale has secured (ie has been provided by an S106), the money it has received from the developers and the money it has spent on the identified projects. There can be a considerable time lag between these stages which can be measured in years or even decades. The basic questions Julie Mabberly are asking is (a) whether it is right that so much money (about £20m currently) is in the Vale’s coffers and not spent; and (b) how much money the various groups that stand to benefit from these agreements will receive (and when).
On 21 June I had a chat with Andrew Crawford, the Vale’s portfolio holder for Finance. He stressed that some S106 contributions involved very complex projects, the execution of which were often beyond the council’s powers to control. He cited a £700,000 contribution to the Great Western Park Health Centre as an example of one that had been on the books for years. Other seemingly simple grants, such as to a football club, may be no easier to deal with. If the funding provided by the S106 is only part of the total then payment generally can’t be made until all the other funds are in place and a clear plan exists as to what it will be spent on.
The last point is very important. S106s are legal agreements and may specify that the funds only be used for a specific purpose. For separate agreements relating to the same project, this can be defined differently each time. They normally stipulate that the money must be spent in 10 years but some have other deadlines, or are open-ended. It’s therefore possible that, if there are a number of S106 agreements signed at different times by different parties (as is common), not all may permit exactly the same things to happen.
There are, for example, over a hundred S106s for indoor sports provision in Wantage and Grove. If, for example, one specifies that the money is for a toddler pool and this aspect is dropped, or if it’s for the Wessex Leisure Centre and the name is changed, then the conditions of the agreement have not technically been satisfied. I understand that while most of these S106s are broadly similar, there are some variations which may prove problematic..
In some cases, this can result in the council needing to return the funds. In practice there’s a certain amount of haggling and re-negotiation. All this takes officers’ time, of course, and so costs money. For this reason, the planning authority will try make every S106 as non-specific and as open-ended as possible, while the developers will aim for the opposite. The end result of all of this is that councils are generally sitting on pots of cash, often for years, which – much as they might like to – they can’t spend until a number of things are in place, some of which they can’t influence.
There’s another aspect to the business. In these times of high inflation, money lodged for years in a council’s account will diminish in value, even in an interest-bearing account. When paid out, it may prove inadequate for the stated aims (particularly if building or other costs have also risen). Money that has been secured from developers but not paid is generally index-linked but that held by the council is not. In such cases, the project may be unrealisable without more funds from elsewhere, or without the project being scaled back. However, if this happens, this may offend the terms of one or more of the S106s.
All in all, this is clearly not a simple business. It exists in an area where the planning, the legal and the financial functions of a council overlap: which would, on its own, make it complicated.
A final point is that one might fairly ask who actually owns all this money sloshing around in the municipal piggy banks (estimated to be over £1bn). Does it belong to the developers? They don’t have it and have agreed to hand it over but in some cases it could be refunded. Does it belong to the councils? They have physical possession and responsibility for it but can’t spend it on anything else. Does it below to the eventual beneficiaries? It’s for them that it’s been ear-marked but they can’t use it until everything is in place. So, it belongs to everyone: and no one. Perhaps the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group’s AGM will explore this quasi-philosophical point, as well as the less abstract issues mentioned above.
A climate summit
Wantage MP David Johnston’s third annual Wantage and Didcot Climate Summit will be taking place on Tuesday 4 July from 1.45pm to 5pm on Zoom. You can register to attend on his website here.
This year, Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, will be giving the keynote speech and taking your questions. There will also be the usual mix of local and national experts discussing key issues.
Thursday 15 June 2023
This week we cover an AGM, local winners, community gardening, volunteering and draughtbusters – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This weeks news” for a look at two consultations from the Vale Council and why the change of ownership at Grove Business Park may help the campaign to re-open Wantage Road station.
This week’s news
• The Wantage and Grove Campaign Group will be holding its AGM at Wantage Methodist Church on Monday 22 June at 7.30pm. The theme this year is “What are developer contributions and how are they spent?”
• The next Wantage Art Group talk, From Saddle to Brush, is on Wednesday 21 June at Charlton Holy Trinity Church Hall with equine artist Allan Lancaster. This friendly, mixed ability group meets monthly and is perfect for either working artists or just those who are interested in seeing great demonstrations and interesting talks. New members or guests are always welcome. See here for details.
• It’s Oxfordshire Great Big Green Week, and across the county many different groups and organisations are holding events to promote nature, conservation and many other ‘green’ activities. Some local events this weekend include Mindfulness walk at Letcombe Regis, a Seed-swap at East Hendred and Wantage Market Garden open day. Click here for all events around Oxfordshire.
• This week the Muddy Stiletto Awards, which celebrates local businesses across the country, announced its 2023 winners. In its Bucks & Oxon division some local winners include the House of Flowers in Wantage for best florist, the Greyhound Inn at Letcombe Regis for best destination pub. Many congratulations to all the winners, click here to see a full list.
• Are you involved with a community gardening group? BBC 1’s The One Show in partnership with the RHS are recognising new growers who have transformed a green space in their area in their Growing Together Award 2023 for Community Gardening. They are particularly keen to hear about projects that involve a diverse range of people who are traditionally under-represented in gardening and have really benefited from starting to garden or having a new outdoor space to use. The winners will receive National Garden Gift Vouchers, a plaque and certificate. Apply here by Tuesday 11 July.
• The Ray Collins Charitable Trust posted a lovely thank you on its Facebook page the other day, to all the trustees and volunteers, as well as the performers, traders and the community as a whole for making the Wantage Carnival such a successful event. They have also posted some fantastic photos of the day which really capture the atmosphere of the event.
• The Vale Community Impact team are reminding the community that households with energy vouchers for prepayment meters need to redeem them by Friday 30 June. They have advice here on their website about energy bills support scheme vouchers and how to redeem them.
• If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities in the Wantage area please contact Vale Community Impact.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The Wantage Community Larder is at the Beacon from 2.30pm to 4.30pm every Friday. Prevent food from being wasted. Costs just £3.50 per week for 14 items. For more information, please follow the larder on Facebook.
• Sustainable Wantage runs a Library of Things to help reduce consumption and waste, enable people to save money and do things they might not otherwise do and to help to build a mind-set in our community that sharing things is an excellent option.
• Vale Community Impact seeks new volunteers for various roles including advisors, ‘good neighbours’ and drivers. Please contact them on 01235 765348 or recruitment@vci.org.uk for more details.
• Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects used and new clothing for kids up to 14 years old. Collection points include Wantage Parish Church and St John’s Church Grove. Please click here to see the full list, plus opening hours. Or message them at w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com or via their Facebook page to arrange individual drop off/collection.
• Wantage Tennis Club is open for new membership. See here for more details.
• Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• The Mix on Mill Street runs lots of workshops, repair cafes, refillables, recycling projects. Please follow them on facebook or contact Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com
• If you want to find out about concerts, theatre and films in and around Wantage and Grove or local arts, theatrical or music groups to join, subscribe to the Arts Hub newsletter by emailing artshubwantage@gmail.com
• If you own a bike, Neighbourhood Watch strongly recommends registering it on the bikeregister.com database as every police force in the country uses it to search for stolen and recovered bikes.
• Volunteer drivers are needed in the Wantage and Grove areas – click here for details.
• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue saves thousands of birds and animals. To support them you can make monthly donations here or make a one-off donation to Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue sort code 08-71-99 account number 01764669.
A possible green light in the distance for Wantage Road Station
In her latest Herald column (which you can also read here), Julie Mabberley of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group looks at the history of, and recent developments at, Grove Business Park. This now has a new owner, The Oxford Endowment Fund, part of OU Endowment Management (OUem), an Investment Fund of approximately £6 billion investing the assets on behalf of the University.
She mentions that there are “plans to improve and expand the existing layout, landscaping, amenities and infrastructure of the Park to create a sustainable campus environment for the future. The marketing material states that “this will build upon the Park’s undoubted potential and reinforce its key status as an allocated strategic employment site in the Vale.” She adds that the masterplan has not yet been published “but the layout looks remarkably similar to that submitted in 2016.”
This article in the Oxford Mail suggests this has given the Wantage and Grove Station Supporters Group renewed hope that Wantage Road station (which was closed in 1964. “A lot of people will be commuting into the area,” a spokesperson for the pressure group commented, “and that could put one thousand extra vehicles on our already congested roads.” he added that he believed the owners of the business park were in support of plans for the station.
Other reasons for re-opening the station can be seen by looking at the Vale Council’s carbon-neutral aspirations and by considering the evert-increasing number of homes which are being built in and around Wantage and Grove. The Oxford Mail article suggests that the station would be used by 2.1 million people a year. Given the increase in the local population, that estimate only seems set to grow.
Air action
Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils have put together a new plan of action for the next four years to improve air quality in the districts and now they are asking residents to have their say on the proposals.
“The good news is that in the last five years most places have seen a consistent reduction in one of the main measured pollutants, nitrogen dioxide. This improvement can be attributed to a number of factors, including the work of previous air quality action plans, a change in behaviour with more people working from home and the use of cleaner vehicles such as electric vehicles.
Other proposals include promoting walking and cycling, the use of low emission vehicles and the increased use of public transport
The councils would like residents’ views on the action plan and have devised a survey to collate opinions. The survey is available here and opened on national Clean Air Day (15 June) and runs until 27 July.
Talking rubbish
The same two councils – they do so much together, including co-habiting at a shared HQ, that I’m surprised they don’t do the honest thing and get married – are asking people what they think of local household waste and street cleaning services. They are inviting residents to “share their views and experiences of waste services across the districts, including household waste, recycling and food waste collections, bulky waste collections, street cleaning services, customer services and the councils’ waste and recycling information. The feedback from the survey will help to identify what aspects of these services people are happy with as well as the areas which could be improved.”
To take part in this, please click here. You have until 11.59pm on Monday 10 July 2023 to have your say.
Thursday 8 June 2023
This week we cover the carnival, energy vouchers, a sustainable newsletter, volunteering and a silver band– plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This weeks news” for a look at the latest on the OxCam Arc, a forthcoming AGM and the spectre of Grontage and East Hallow.
This week’s news
• Sustainable Wantage has just released its latest monthly newsletter for June. This month’s issue includes: the new community orchard, introducing Wantage and Grove Active Travel Group, Café Scientifique about solar farms, bus fare cap extended, as well as volunteering opportunities and the latest activities at The Mix include the Community Fridge.
• The Ray Collins Charitable Trust posted a lovely thank you on its Facebook page the other day, to all the trustees and volunteers, as well as the performers, traders and the community as a whole for making the Wantage Carnival such a successful event. They have also posted some fantastic photos of the day which really capture the atmosphere of the event.
• The Westmill Windmill and Solar Park are holding a family open day on Saturday 10 June. Expect family friendly activities, entertainment, guided tours, talks and presentations, as well as refreshments. The park is located just outside of Watchfield and entry to the open day is free, but they ask that you reserve a space on Eventbrite. To learn more about the Westmill Windmill Farm Co-op and its history, visit their website.
• The Wantage Café Scientifique’s next talk will be on the subject of ‘Solar PV Farms – Good, Bad or Indifferent?’ with Andy Crawford, the Director of Westmill Solar Co-operative at Watchfield. With the expected planning application of a 840MW Solar Farm in Oxfordshire on the horizon, Andy will cover the technical, environmental, financial and political challenges the large scale PV industry faces. The talk will be at the Wildwood Café on Wednesday 14 June, click here for details.
• The Vale Community Impact team are reminding the community that households with energy vouchers for prepayment meters need to redeem them by Friday 30 June. They have advice here on their website about energy bills support scheme vouchers and how to redeem them.
• The Wantage and Grove Campaign Group will be holding its AGM at Wantage Methodist Church on Monday 22 June at 7.30pm. The theme this year is “What are developer contributions and how are they spent?”
• If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities in the Wantage area please contact Vale Community Impact.
• Wantage Silver Band is starting a new era with the appointment of Chris King as its new full-time Musical Director. The band have admired Chris’ work over the years and are looking forward to him starting with the band on Sunday 18 June. The current part time Musical Director Paul Holland’s final official engagement with the band is on Saturday 10th June – a joint concert with the successful Hampshire Harmony in Basingstoke. See more details here.
• Wantage Art Group is a friendly, mixed ability group, perfect for either working artists or just those who are interested in seeing great demonstrations and interesting talks. The next talk, From Saddle to Brush on Wednesday 21 June at Charlton Holy Trinity Church Hall is with equine artist Allan Lancaster. New members or guests are always welcome. See here for details.
• Local children’s author Larry Hayes is on a mission to get local primary school kids loving writing and loving books. To celebrate the publication of his new book How to be a Kid Boss, he’s taking his hugely popular Creative Writing Workshop for kids on tour to primary schools in West Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Reading and Wiltshire. Any primary school can book Larry for one of 50 free workshops suitable for Years 3 to 6. The workshop is for 30 to 60 children at a time. For more details contact laurencechayes@gmail.com
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The Wantage Community Larder is at the Beacon from 2.30pm to 4.30pm every Friday. Prevent food from being wasted. Costs just £3.50 per week for 14 items. For more information, please follow the larder on Facebook.
• Sustainable Wantage runs a Library of Things to help reduce consumption and waste, enable people to save money and do things they might not otherwise do and to help to build a mind-set in our community that sharing things is an excellent option.
• Vale Community Impact seeks new volunteers for various roles including advisors, ‘good neighbours’ and drivers. Please contact them on 01235 765348 or recruitment@vci.org.uk for more details.
• Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects used and new clothing for kids up to 14 years old. Collection points include Wantage Parish Church and St John’s Church Grove. Please click here to see the full list, plus opening hours. Or message them at w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com or via their Facebook page to arrange individual drop off/collection.
• Wantage Tennis Club is open for new membership. See here for more details.
• Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• The Mix on Mill Street runs lots of workshops, repair cafes, refillables, recycling projects. Please follow them on facebook or contact Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com
• If you want to find out about concerts, theatre and films in and around Wantage and Grove or local arts, theatrical or music groups to join, subscribe to the Arts Hub newsletter by emailing artshubwantage@gmail.com
• If you own a bike, Neighbourhood Watch strongly recommends registering it on the bikeregister.com database as every police force in the country uses it to search for stolen and recovered bikes.
• Volunteer drivers are needed in the Wantage and Grove areas – click here for details.
• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue saves thousands of birds and animals. To support them you can make monthly donations here or make a one-off donation to Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue sort code 08-71-99 account number 01764669.
The OxCam Arc, Grontage and an AGM
In her 31 May article in the Herald (which you can also read here), Julie Mabberley of the Wantage & Grove Campaign Group looks at this swathe of land between Cambridge and Oxford which has been designated an economic priority area. One result of this was initially stated to be the construction of a million new homes in this area, although recent government statements seem less certain about this. A body called the Oxford to Cambridge Pan Regional Partnership is to be set up. The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) is updating the Strategic Economic Plan for Oxfordshire. Something is clearly going to happen in the area: it’s just not immediately clear what.
One thing does seem certain, in Julie Mabberley’s opinion: “many more homes will be required in the Local Plan and, as much of South Oxfordshire is in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and most of the rest is part of the Oxford Green Belt, we in OX12 will be the dumping ground again.” She also suggests that the current duty of co-operation that each council has with its neighbours is working very much to the Vale’s disadvantage as the district is being forced to build homes for Oxford City. She ends by asking if this will involve “merging East Challow and Hanney to Wantage and Grove, or building further along the A417 to East Hendred in the next Local Plan?” East Channey (or Hallow) and Grontage (or Wove) may be with us seiner than we think.
And what of the infrastructure to mitigate all of this? What, indeed. If you want to know more about this then this will be the main theme of the Wantage & Grove Campaign Group’s AGM on 22 June. This will take place at 7.30, in-person at Wantage Methodist Church and also on Zoom. See the 6 June EAGCG newsletter here for more details.
Thursday 1 June 2023
This week we cover a carnival, a solar open day, roadworks, good neighbours and and AGM– plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This weeks news” for a look at the latest newsletter from your local MP (as prompt as ever) and Mansfield Park on tour.
This week’s news
• This Sunday 4 June will be the long-awaited Wantage Carnival. Come along to enjoy a parade, live music, a funfair, raffle, gin and prosecco bar, artisan arts and crafts, food stalls and much more. The fun will start around 11am and go until 6pm, at the Wantage Market Place. Click here for more details.
• The Vale Community Impact team are reminding the community that households with energy vouchers for prepayment meters need to redeem them by Friday 30 June. They have advice here on their website about energy bills support scheme vouchers and how to redeem them.
• The Wantage and Grove Campaign Group will be holding its AGM at Wantage Methodist Church on Monday 22 June at 7.30pm. The theme this year is “What are developer contributions and how are they spent?” Where are all the promised schools, roads, hospitals, leisure facilities etc, collectively referred to by the snappy title of “infrastructure”? Before any bricks are laid, local planning authorities and developers agree to millions of pounds worth of infrastructure needed to serve the growing population but that seems to be the point at which things get tricky…
• The Wantage Café Scientifique’s next talk will be on the subject of ‘Solar PV Farms – Good, Bad or Indifferent?’ with Andy Crawford, the Director of Westmill Solar Co-operative at Watchfield. With the expected planning application of a 840MW Solar Farm in Oxfordshire on the horizon, Andy will cover the technical, environmental, financial and political challenges the large scale PV industry faces. The talk will be at the Wildwood Café on Wednesday 14 June, click here for details.
• The Westmill Windmill and Solar Park are holding a family open day on Saturday 10 June. Expect family friendly activities, entertainment, guided tours, talks and presentations, as well as refreshments. The park is located just outside of Watchfield and entry to the open day is free, but they ask that you reserve a space on Eventbrite. To learn more about the Westmill Windmill Farm Co-op and its history, visit their website.
• If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities in the Wantage area please contact Vale Community Impact.
• Wantage Silver Band is starting a new era with the appointment of Chris King as their new, full time, Musical Director. The band have admired Chris’ work over the years and are looking forward to him starting with the band on Sunday 18 June. The current part time Musical Director Paul Holland’s final official engagement with the band is on Saturday 10th June – a joint concert with the successful Hampshire Harmony in Basingstoke. See more details here.
• Wantage Art Group is a friendly, mixed ability group, perfect for either working artists or just those who are interested in seeing great demonstrations and interesting talks. The next talk, From Saddle to Brush on Wednesday 21 June at Charlton Holy Trinity Church Hall is with equine artist Allan Lancaster. New members or guests are always welcome. See here for details.
• Local children’s author Larry Hayes is on a mission to get local primary school kids loving writing and loving books. To celebrate the publication of his new book How to be a Kid Boss, he’s taking his hugely popular Creative Writing Workshop for kids on tour to primary schools in West Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Reading and Wiltshire. Any primary school can book Larry for one of 50 free workshops suitable for Years 3 to 6. The workshop is for 30 to 60 children at a time. For more details contact laurencechayes@gmail.com
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The Wantage Community Larder is at the Beacon from 2.30pm to 4.30pm every Friday. Prevent food from being wasted. Costs just £3.50 per week for 14 items. For more information, please follow the larder on Facebook.
• Sustainable Wantage runs a Library of Things to help reduce consumption and waste, enable people to save money and do things they might not otherwise do and to help to build a mind-set in our community that sharing things is an excellent option.
• Vale Community Impact seeks new volunteers for various roles including advisors, ‘good neighbours’ and drivers. Please contact them on 01235 765348 or recruitment@vci.org.uk for more details.
• Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects used and new clothing for kids up to 14 years old. Collection points include Wantage Parish Church and St John’s Church Grove. Please click here to see the full list, plus opening hours. Or message them at w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com or via their Facebook page to arrange individual drop off/collection.
• Wantage Tennis Club is open for new membership. See here for more details.
• Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• The Mix on Mill Street runs lots of workshops, repair cafes, refillables, recycling projects. Please follow them on facebook or contact Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com
• If you want to find out about concerts, theatre and films in and around Wantage and Grove or local arts, theatrical or music groups to join, subscribe to the Arts Hub newsletter by emailing artshubwantage@gmail.com
• If you own a bike, Neighbourhood Watch strongly recommends registering it on the bikeregister.com database as every police force in the country uses it to search for stolen and recovered bikes.
• Volunteer drivers are needed in the Wantage and Grove areas – click here for details.
• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue saves thousands of birds and animals. To support them you can make monthly donations here or make a one-off donation to Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue sort code 08-71-99 account number 01764669.
An MP writes
One thing you cannot accuse Wantage MP David Johnston of is being remiss in the regularity of his newsletters. These pop into my in-box on the first few days of every month without fail. Either he’s a dab hand at Photoshop or he has an Adobe-friendly assistant as they are always lavishly illustrated. The cynic in me may say that the more people are pictured, and mentioned, in his newsletters the more likely they are to send them on to others and, perhaps, to vote for him when the time comes. None the less, producing a regular newsletter (with or without help) is a lot easier said than done. By doing this, and so communicating with his constituents, he’s helping to satisfy one the most important requirements of his job.
You can read his June newsletter by clicking here: who knows, you might be in it. To set the scene, here are his introductory remarks:
“It has been another busy month with plenty of meetings, visits and Parliamentary activity. This included securing a debate on our health services following my Health Services Survey (more on this and the findings of the survey below), welcoming constituents to Parliament to hear about their experiences of acquired brain injuries, and attending events across the constituency to mark the Coronation.
“After holding a crime summit in Wantage in November, I was asked by local residents in Wallingford to hold one there too, which I am pleased to say will take place on 15th June with Thames Valley Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner in attendance. To attend, please register here.”
Mansfield Park on the road
As part of its remit, the excellent Watermill Theatre in Newbury produces a summer show which goes on tour round the area before coming back to HQ for a short run. This year, the touring performance is a dramatisation of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. The Watermill’s website describes this as “an inventive and intelligent outdoor production (which) reveals a fresh perspective on Jane Austen’s classic romance.”
There are 15 touring venues in all. Seven of these are in the area covered by Penny Post and these are listed below. For more information on the production and details of other venues, please click here. All except East Garston’s are for one performance only.
- 7 and 8 June: East Garston Village Hall – Book online
- 9 June: Shrivenham Memorial Hall – Book online
- 14 June: Cold Ash Acland Memorial Hall – Tickets available from Cold Ash Post Office (cash only)
- 19 June: Bradfield Village Hall – Book online
- 23 June: Aldbourne The Old Manor – On sale soon: visit the Watermill website for further details.
- 24 June: Brimpton Village Hall – Book online
Thursday 25 May 2023
This week we cover a silver band, solar farms, an AGM, a hidden treasure and volunteers – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• The Wantage Café Scientifique’s next talk will be on the subject of ‘Solar PV Farms – Good, Bad or Indifferent?’ with Andy Crawford, the Director of Westmill Solar Co-operative at Watchfield. With the expected planning application of a 840MW Solar Farm in Oxfordshire on the horizon, Andy will cover the technical, environmental, financial and political challenges the large scale PV industry faces. The talk will be at the Wildwood Café on Wednesday 14 June, click here for details.
• Nominations are now open for the the Volunteer Celebration Awards. The award’s presented by the OCVA (Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action) aims to celebrate the achievements of local volunteers, both individuals and groups. The closing date is the Tuesday 30 May, click here if you would like to recognise a worthy member of the community.
• If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities in the Wantage area please contact Vale Community Impact.
• This is a lovely time of year to visit Betjeman Millennium Park , Wantage’s hidden treasure in the middle of the town. Their recent Dawn Chorus event logged 22 different types of birds. See their facebook page for recent wildlife photos in the park by Pippa Allen. If you would like to help maintain the park, they have regular working parties.
• Wantage Silver Community Band with Musical Director Gareth Coulson invite you to their annual Supper Concert on Saturday 27 May for an evening of both classic and modern music. The now famous supper is included in the price of the ticket a wonderful way to spend a May evening. This year the concert will take place in the newly built hall extension to the Wantage Silver Band Hall and will be the very first Supper Concert to be held in that hall. Bar available. Tickets from Regent Arcade Bookshop, Brett’s Pharmacy, Grove or online or call 01235 770378.
• The Wantage and Grove Campaign Group will be holding its AGM at Wantage Methodist Church on Monday 22 June at 7.30pm. The theme this year is “What are developer contributions and how are they spent?” Where are all the promised schools, roads, hospitals, leisure facilities etc, collectively referred to by the snappy title of “infrastructure”? Before any bricks are laid, local planning authorities and developers agree to millions of pounds worth of infrastructure needed to serve the growing population but that seems to be the point at which things get tricky…
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The Wantage Community Larder is at the Beacon from 2.30pm to 4.30pm every Friday. Prevent food from being wasted. Costs just £3.50 per week for 14 items. For more information, please follow the larder on Facebook.
• Sustainable Wantage runs a Library of Things to help reduce consumption and waste, enable people to save money and do things they might not otherwise do and to help to build a mind-set in our community that sharing things is an excellent option.
• Vale Community Impact seeks new volunteers for various roles including advisors, ‘good neighbours’ and drivers. Please contact them on 01235 765348 or recruitment@vci.org.uk for more details.
• Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects used and new clothing for kids up to 14 years old. Collection points include Wantage Parish Church and St John’s Church Grove. Please click here to see the full list, plus opening hours. Or message them at w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com or via their Facebook page to arrange individual drop off/collection.
• Wantage Tennis Club is open for new membership. See here for more details.
• Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• The Mix on Mill Street runs lots of workshops, repair cafes, refillables, recycling projects. Please follow them on facebook or contact Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com
• If you want to find out about concerts, theatre and films in and around Wantage and Grove or local arts, theatrical or music groups to join, subscribe to the Arts Hub newsletter by emailing artshubwantage@gmail.com
• If you own a bike, Neighbourhood Watch strongly recommends registering it on the bikeregister.com database as every police force in the country uses it to search for stolen and recovered bikes.
• Volunteer drivers are needed in the Wantage and Grove areas – click here for details.
• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue saves thousands of birds and animals. To support them you can make monthly donations here or make a one-off donation to Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue sort code 08-71-99 account number 01764669.
Thursday 18 May 2023
This week we cover gardens, fundraising, good neighbours, volunteer awards and roadworks – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for news of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group’s forthcoming AGM.
This week’s news
• This Sunday 21 May is the Wantage Market Garden Open Day, behind the Community Services Building, Charlton Village Road. Entry is free and you’re welcome to bring your own picnic. There will be a seed swap, flowers, fruit and veg, homemade cake, tombola, kids activates, beverages and much more. All proceeds will go towards maintaining the garden. Click here for more information.
• All welcome at the Melodies and Memories fundraising event in aid of Alzheimer’s Research in Letcombe Regis Village Hall this Saturday 20 May , organised by BelleVie Care with local music acts, food and drink, prizes and more.
• Nominations are now open for the Oxfordshire Volunteer Celebration Awards. Please click here to nominate an individual or a group by 30 May. If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities in the Wantage area please contact Vale Community Impact.
• Next Thursday 25 May, come along to the Good Neighbour Pop-Up Café, at the Down to Earth Community Café, The Old Stables, Stirling’s Close (opposite Wantage Library). The event is free and includes a free hot or drink, plus a sweet treat. Everyone welcome as the aim is to bring people together. Ideal for anyone feeling a little lonely or isolated, or simply wanting to meet new people from your area. If you need a lift, call the Vale Community Impact Team and they can arrange it for you 07458 130408. The event will be held from 2pm to 4pm, click here for details.
• This is a lovely time of year to visit Betjeman Millennium Park , Wantage’s hidden treasure in the middle of the town. Their recent Dawn Chorus event logged 22 different types of birds. See their facebook page for recent wildlife photos in the park by Pippa Allen. If you would like to help maintain the park, they have regular working parties.
• Wantage Silver Community Brass with Musical Director Gareth Coulson invite you to their annual Supper Concert on Saturday 27 May for an evening of both classic and modern music. The now famous supper is included in the price of the ticket a wonderful way to spend a May evening. This year the concert will take place in the newly built hall extension to the Wantage Silver Band Hall and will be the very first Supper Concert to be held in that hall. Bar available. Tickets from Regent Arcade Bookshop, Brett’s Pharmacy, Grove or online at www.wantageband.org/events/tickets or call 01235 770378.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
Curiouser and furiouser
The Wantage and Grove Campaign Group will be holding its AGM at Wantage Methodist Church on 22 June 2023 (postponed from 1 June) at 7.30pm. The theme this year is “What are developer contributions and how are they spent?”
“You may be wondering,” the group’s summary of the event asks, “where all the promised schools, roads, hospitals, leisure facilities etc, collectively referred to by the snappy title of “infrastructure” are. Before any bricks are laid, local planning authorities and developers agree to millions of pounds worth of infrastructure needed to serve the growing population but that seems to be the point at which things get tricky…
“You may be curious, or furious, or possibly both – if you would like to find out more, and maybe contribute to the debate, you will be welcome to come along to our meeting. We’d love to see you there.”
Community notices
• The Wantage Community Larder is at the Beacon from 2.30pm to 4.30pm every Friday. Prevent food from being wasted. Costs just £3.50 per week for 14 items. For more information, please follow the larder on Facebook.
• Sustainable Wantage runs a Library of Things to help reduce consumption and waste, enable people to save money and do things they might not otherwise do and to help to build a mind-set in our community that sharing things is an excellent option.
• Vale Community Impact seeks new volunteers for various roles including advisors, ‘good neighbours’ and drivers. Please contact them on 01235 765348 or recruitment@vci.org.uk for more details.
• Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects used and new clothing for kids up to 14 years old. Collection points include Wantage Parish Church and St John’s Church Grove. Please click here to see the full list, plus opening hours. Or message them at w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com or via their Facebook page to arrange individual drop off/collection.
• Wantage Tennis Club is open for new membership. See here for more details.
• Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• The Mix on Mill Street runs lots of workshops, repair cafes, refillables, recycling projects. Please follow them on facebook or contact Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com
• If you want to find out about concerts, theatre and films in and around Wantage and Grove or local arts, theatrical or music groups to join, subscribe to the Arts Hub newsletter by emailing artshubwantage@gmail.com
• If you own a bike, Neighbourhood Watch strongly recommends registering it on the bikeregister.com database as every police force in the country uses it to search for stolen and recovered bikes.
• Volunteer drivers are needed in the Wantage and Grove areas – click here for details.
• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue saves thousands of birds and animals. To support them you can make monthly donations here or make a one-off donation to Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue sort code 08-71-99 account number 01764669.
Thursday 11 May 2023
This week we cover good neighbours, crafting, art, fundraising and a local group set up to encourage active travel – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Vale Community Impact are seeking new volunteers for various roles including advisors, ‘good neighbours’ and drivers. If you didn’t know, VCI is a local charity focused on providing advice, help and support to everyone in need, across the Vale of White Horse. If you’d like to get involved, please contact them on 01235 765348 or recruitment@vci.org.uk for more details.
• Wantage Silver Community Brass with Musical Director Gareth Coulson invite you to their annual Supper Concert on Saturday 27 May for an evening of both classic and modern music. The now famous supper is included in the price of the ticket a wonderful way to spend a May evening. This year the concert will take place in the newly built hall extension to the Wantage Silver Band Hall and will be the very first Supper Concert to be held in that hall. Bar available. Tickets from Regent Arcade Bookshop, Brett’s Pharmacy, Grove or online at www.wantageband.org/events/tickets or call 01235 770378.
• The Wantage Art Group will be featuring the artwork of Oxfordshire based artist Linda Benton on Wednesday 17 May, at the Holy Trinity Church, Charlton, 7.30pm. New members and visitors are all welcome and entry is £5.
• All welcome at the Melodies and Memories fundraising event in aid of Alzheimer’s Research in Letcombe Regis Village Hall on Saturday 20 May , organised by BelleVie Care with local music acts, food and drink, prizes and more.
• This Saturday 13 May sees the return of the Sustainable Shrivenham Crafter’s Café at the Hub, from 10am to 3pm. Come on down and craft to your hearts content. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you and you can also learn how to make a friendship bracelet.
• We’ve lost nearly 97% of flower rich meadows since the 1970s and with them is gone vital food needed by pollinators like bees and butterflies. A healthy lawn with some long grass and wildflowers benefits wildlife, tackles pollution and can even lock away carbon below ground – and best of all, to reap these benefits all you have to do is not mow your lawn in May (or ideally for longer). For more information on No Mow May, click here.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
Leaving your car at home
Do you like getting around Wantage and Grove on foot, mobility scooter or by bike? Could you help the Wantage and Grove Active Travel – WAGAT group check some routes this May?
WAGAT has put together some suggested routes for signposting and they are looking for people to try these out to check if there are issues along the route that make it difficult to use, to confirm where signs are needed, and to check how long the journey takes between signposting points. Maps for all routes can be picked up from The Mix on Mill Street. There are nine different routes to check, and any help would be much appreciated. Please email Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com.
The group is in discussions about funding for new signs initially with Wantage Town Council and wants to get the balance right between making the routes clear and avoiding too much street clutter.
Reflecting on the coronation
On 10 May, Penny visited Educafé in Newbury, as she usually dies, on this occasion with Newbury College student Max Taucher who’s been doing some work experience with us this week. They started chatting to people about the recent coronation and they soon realised that the many and varied comment merited a separate article – so here it is…
Thursday 4 May 2023
This week we cover science, art, music, electric vehicles, pop-ups and swifts – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• This month’s Wantage Café Scientifique talk is on Wednesday 10 May at Wildwood Cinema. In conjunction with the International Day of Light, Professor John O’Hagan’s talk on ‘Light of Life’ will outline how humans use light for vision, the potential harm from too much light and the non-vision benefits of light exposure. Click here for details and updates.
• The Wantage Band will be performing at the Bandstand in Newbury’s Victoria Park this Sunday, as part of the Newbury Spring Festival. Pop along to the park for the free open-air event from 3pm to 4pm. There will also be all sorts of other celebrations going on in the area to celebrate the coronation.
• Did you know you can now hire an electric car via the new Co-wheels car club in Wantage? The vehicle is based in The Beacon carpark.
• Wantage Celebrates the Coronation is an event for the whole community to come together to experience the momentous occasion of the Coronation King Charles III and the Queen Consort, live on a large screen. There will be live music, free children’s entertainment, rides, food and drink stalls and so much more at the Market Place on Saturday 6 May from 10am until 6pm. See more details on Wantage Town Council’s website here.
• Holy Cross Church in Sparsholt welcomes all to a very special Concert for a King on Friday 5 May, the eve of the King’s Coronation. All proceeds will be split between Holy Cross Church Restoration Fund, Sparsholt and the Dogs Trust. Tickets £30 (includes a glass of Nyetimber). See here for more details and how to book tickets.
• The Wantage Art Group will be featuring the artwork of Oxfordshire based artist Linda Benton on Wednesday 17 May, at the Holy Trinity Church, Charlton, 7.30pm. New members and visitors are all welcome and entry is £5.
• All welcome at the Melodies and Memories fundraising event in Letcombe Regis Village Hall on Saturday 20 May in aid of Alzheimer’s Research, organised by BelleVie Care with local music acts, food and drink, prizes and more.
• We’ve lost nearly 97% of flower rich meadows since the 1970s and with them is gone vital food needed by pollinators like bees and butterflies. A healthy lawn with some long grass and wildflowers benefits wildlife, tackles pollution and can even lock away carbon below ground – and best of all, to reap these benefits all you have to do is not mow your lawn in May (or ideally for longer). For more information on No Mow May, click here.
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Centre Parcs.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
Swift watch
Swifts are the last migrant birds to arrive in the UK and these amazing birds need our help as their traditional nesting places in building nooks and crannies are disappearing as is their food source of insects. Swifts are black boomerangs, scything and flickering through the air, often in squadrons of ‘screaming parties’. These small birds spend the first three or four years of their life totally on the wing, only landing when they are ready to breed, and they are the fastest birds in level flight. Here is a guide to distinguish them from swallows and house martins.
Swifts mate for life and meet their mates at the same nest every year. If you can identify where swifts are nesting or even see them flying low please log them on the RSPB’s Swift Mapper or let us know so that new swift boxes might be able to be installed close to where the birds might see them (see RSPB advice on how to attract swifts to new boxes).
Thursday 27 April 2023
This week we cover a carnival, art, clothing, a concert and refugees. We also look at a possible closure by stealth and meet one (and perhaps even both) of the candidates standing for election in the Hendreds – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Just six weeks to go until the biggest family funday of the year, the Wantage Carnival. A fantastic raffle, funfair, parade, carnival quest with a cash prize, fantastic food stalls, gin and prosecco bar, beer bar, arts and craft stalls plus superb live music from The Oxfordshire Rock Choir, The White Lakes, Horizon, Growler and Mother Girth. All proceeds go to the Ray Colins Charitable Trust, helping local people and local causes. Save the date of Sunday 4 June and click here to keep up to date with the latest information.
• Have you been noticing the bird song recently? Join Sustainable Wantage for a dawn chorus walk on International Dawn Chorus Day Sunday 7 May for some bird spotting. They will be meeting at Betjeman Park at 4.30am before heading along the Letcombe Brook corridor to Willow Walk looking and listening for birds as they go. Followed by breakfast at 6.15am at Buzz Cafe, Mill Street, Wantage. The cost £4 per person for the walk alone, or £12 for the walk plus breakfast. Click on the links to book your place.
• The Wantage Art Group will be featuring the artwork of Oxfordshire based artist Linda Benton on Wednesday 17 May, at the Holy Trinity Church, Charlton, 7.30pm. New members and visitors are all welcome and entry is £5.
• Sustainable Wantage has just launched its Library of Things. The aim of the Library is to reduce consumption and waste, enable people to save money and do things they might not otherwise do and to help to build a mind-set in our community that sharing things is an excellent option. For example instead of buying a new sewing machine you rarely use, you can just borrow one as and when you need it for a much cheaper price. To get started, simply register or login and get browsing.
• If you’re having a spring clear out of your child’s old wardrobe, the Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank would greatly appreciate any donations. They are currently in particular need of clothing for 5-11 year olds. Details of where to donate can be found on their Facebook page, or emailing w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com.
• Wantage Celebrates the Coronation is an event for the whole community to come together to experience the momentous occasion of the Coronation King Charles III and the Queen Consort, live on a large screen. There will be live music, free children’s entertainment, rides, food and drink stalls and so much more at the Market Place on Saturday 6 May from 10am until 6pm. See more details on Wantage Town Council’s website here.
• Holy Cross Church in Sparsholt welcomes all to a very special Concert for a King on Friday 5 May, the eve of the King’s Coronation. All proceeds will be split between Holy Cross Church Restoration Fund, Sparsholt and the Dogs Trust. Tickets £30 (includes a glass of Nyetimber). See here for more details and how to book tickets.
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Centre Parcs.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Closure by stealth?
In her latest column in the Herald (which you can also read here), Julie Mabberley of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group reflects on a day spent in The Beacon, “the only council-owned and managed community hall in Wantage.” She goes on suggest that “to call such buildings “community hubs” but that implies that it is a welcoming public place where people can get together – and the Beacon is not.”
One of the problems, she says, is that you can’t get any refreshments there – not even a water fountain, still less a café, the old one having been closed during the pandemic and hasn’t re-opened since. She also reports that getting a local coffee van to set up in the car park apparently caused the District Council insuperable problems so that plan had to be abandoned. “It seems to me,” she continues, “that the District Council is trying to close the Beacon by stealth.” The evidence as Julie Mabberley has presented it does seem to suggest that, though it’s also hard to see what the motive might be. Not spending money might be one, though a café could presumably be introduced through a deal with a third-party at little or no risk to the Vale. It could be argued that, without one, The Beacon becomes a less attractive venue.
She concludes by asking the wider question as to whether Wantage town centre still the hub of the local community and suggests that the cafés and bar that have benefitted from the pedestrianisation in the western end of the Market Square would claim that it was. The reality, however, may be that, with Grove and Wantage now in many ways all but one place (though not administratively), the real geographical centre is now somewhere perhaps a mile north of the market square. If so, the fact doesn’t seem to officially recognised and not does there seem to be any clear idea how this might evolve. The more further development erodes the distinctions between these two places, the more pressing this issue might become. Places with rapid development are likely to be faced with just such challenges, in, addition to the usual ones of ensuring that they have enough infrastructure of meet the needs of their new residents.
The hustings in the Hendreds
The Vale of White Horse (and many other districts) goes to the polls in the local elections on 4 May 2023. You can find a list of all the councillors standing for election in the Vale by clicking here.
There are two candidates standing in the Hendreds ward: Sarah Frances James, Green Party and Janet Shelley, Conservative Party
We asked them both them a few questions (at the time of writing this, Janet Shelley has yet to contact us but we’ll add this in as soon as we receive it) about their hopes, concerns and priorities for the ward and the wider area; and also about the questions of what they would take with them if consigned for an indefinite period on a desert island…
Thursday 20 April 2023
This week we cover health and wellbeing, a concert, a community garden, a clothing bank and a larder. We also look at some forthcoming events, including the Wantage & Grove Campaign Group’s AGM – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• This weekend the Vale Community Impact team will be attending the Health and Wellbeing event at the Beacon. Come along to find out more about what exciting activities are available in and around the area to enable you to enjoy a healthier and more fulfilled lifestyle. That’ll be on Saturday 22 April, 12pm to 4pm, visit their website for more details.
• Gary Strickland and local charity Parkinsons.Me gave thanks on Facebook to the company JISC who recently volunteered at the Parkinsons.Me community garden. They replanted the sensory gardens, cleared ditch to improve water run off, installed and painted a gate, cut the grass and planted potatoes, kale, brussel sprout and onions in the veg patch. If you are a local company looking for a for team building event or volunteering at the garden, then please get in contact at mail@parkinsons.me or call 07729 801048 . They would also welcome any sponsorships or donations to support the garden or the other projects the charity runs in support of local individuals and families living with Parkinson’s.
• Next Thursday 27 April, there will be a drop-in event for the Kingsgrove Community development, regarding planning and infrastructure updates. There will be optional site walk at 6pm, meeting outside the Wantage Primary Academy. The main drop-in event will be running from 7pm to 9pm and is an opportunity to meet neighbours, have a chat and find out more about how the development is taking shape. and plans for the new community building. Refreshments will be provided and all are welcome.
• Sustainable Wantage has just launched its Library of Things. The aim of the Library is to reduce consumption and waste, enable people to save money and do things they might not otherwise do and to help to build a mind-set in our community that sharing things is an excellent option. For example instead of buying a new sewing machine you rarely use, you can just borrow one as and when you need it for a much cheaper price. To get started, simply register or login and get browsing.
• We mentioned previously the Easter initiative run by the Ray Collins Charitable Trust. They reported on their Facebook page that on Good Friday, 14 volunteers delivered over 200 Easter eggs to local families. Not only that, also but on Easter Sunday 50 local residents enjoyed a fantastic roast beef dinner with all the trimmings, as well as tea, coffee, cake, Easter eggs and live music. Well done to all the wonderful volunteers who made this Easter into such a lovely day for so many people.
• If you’re having a spring clear out of your child’s old wardrobe, the Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank would greatly appreciate any donations. They are currently in particular need of clothing for 5-11 year olds. Details of where to donate can be found on their Facebook page, or emailing w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com.
• Wantage Celebrates the Coronation is an event for the whole community to come together to experience the momentous occasion of the Coronation King Charles III and the Queen Consort, live on a large screen. There will be live music, free children’s entertainment, rides, food and drink stalls and so much more at the Market Place on Saturday 6 May from 10am until 6pm. See more details on Wantage Town Council’s website here.
• Holy Cross Church in Sparsholt welcomes all to a very special Concert for a King on Friday 5 May, the eve of the King’s Coronation. All proceeds will be split between Holy Cross Church Restoration Fund, Sparsholt and the Dogs Trust. Tickets £30 (includes a glass of Nyetimber). See here for more details and how to book tickets.
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Centre Parcs.
• Quick reminder thatWantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Where’s the money gone?
A date for the diary for those interested in housing issues in the OX12 area: the AGM of the Wantage & Grove Campaign Group (W&GCG) will take place at Wantage Methodist Church 1 June 2023 at 7.30pm. the theme this year is “What are developer contributions and how are they spent?”
“You may be wondering,” the article about this in the 20 April 2023 edition of the W&GCG newsletter begins, “where all the promised schools, roads, hospitals, leisure facilities etc, collectively referred to by the snappy title of “infrastructure” are? Before any bricks are laid, local planning authorities and developers agree to millions of pounds worth of infrastructure needed to serve the growing population but that seems to be the point at which things get tricky…
“You may be curious, or furious, or possibly both – if you would like to find out more, and maybe contribute to the debate, you will be welcome to come along to our meeting. We’d love to see you there.”
Other items in the newsletter include:
- A reminded about the Health and Wellbeing Event on Saturday 22 April in the Beacon.
- Local elections in the Vale on 4 May.
- Annual parish council meetings – dates and details for Grove, the Hanneys and Letcome Regis.
- A pilot scheme of shred EVs in Oxfordshire.
Thursday 13 April 2023
This week we cover a guided walk, clothes, meals, roadworks and a report from Ray. We also look at a forthcoming a health and wellbeing event – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• This Friday 14 April Wantage Library is holding a fun Easter Lego Challenge. Can you build an Easter Bunny or an Easter Egg out of Lego? No need to book, just drop in and have a go. All children need to be accompanied by a parent or carer.
• Next week on Tuesday 18 April, join Ashley Chapman from the district council’s Active Communities team for a free guided walk around the Kingsgrove Woodland Walk trails. Meeting at 10:15am at the Kingsgrove Café at the Public Square on Rutherford Road, the walk will last roughly an hour and there will be a free drink at the Kingsgrove Café at the end. There is free parking next to the café, and behind the school further down Rutherford Road. All abilities welcome, please wear sturdy shoes. Click here to keep up to date.
• This Saturday 15 April, Sustainable Wantage will be launching its Library of Things. The aim of the Library is to reduce consumption and waste, enable people to save money and do things they might not otherwise do and to help to build a mind-set in our community that sharing things is an excellent option. For example instead of buying a new sewing machine you rarely use, you can just borrow one as and when you need it for a much cheaper price. To get started, simply register or login and get browsing.
• We mentioned previously the Easter initiative run by the Ray Collins Charitable Trust. They reported on their Facebook page that on Good Friday, 14 volunteers delivered over 200 Easter eggs to local families. Not only that, also but on Easter Sunday 50 local residents enjoyed a fantastic roast beef dinner with all the trimmings, as well as tea, coffee, cake, Easter eggs and live music. Well done to all the wonderful volunteers who made this Easter into such a lovely day for so many people.
• If you’re having a spring clear out of your child’s old wardrobe, the Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank would greatly appreciate any donations. They are currently in particular need of clothing for 5-11 year olds. Details of where to donate can be found on their Facebook page, or emailing w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com.
• Wantage Celebrates the Coronation is an event for the whole community to come together to experience the momentous occasion of the Coronation King Charles III and the Queen Consort, live on a large screen. There will be live music, free children’s entertainment, rides, food and drink stalls and so much more at the Market Place on Saturday 6 May from 10am until 6pm. See more details on Wantage Town Council’s website here.
• Holy Cross Church in Sparsholt welcomes all to a very special Concert for a King on Friday 5 May, the eve of the King’s Coronation. All proceeds will be split between Holy Cross Church Restoration Fund, Sparsholt and the Dogs Trust. Tickets £30 (includes a glass of Nyetimber). See here for more details and how to book tickets.
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Centre Parcs.
• Quick reminder thatWantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Health and wellbeing in OX12
A reminder that there will be a Health and Wellbeing Event on Saturday 22 April in the Beacon from noon to 4pm. All are welcome to go along to find out more about what exciting activities are available in and around the area to help you to enjoy a healthier and more fulfilled lifestyle. There will be informative talks and demonstrations from local groups and health care professionals.
In her weekly column in the Herald (which you can also read here), Julie Mabberley, as Chairman of Newbury Street Patient Group, has clearly been busy helping to organise this She explains that she “prevailed upon the Mayor to give us one of his free bookings in the Beacon for the afternoon, approached a number of the larger organisations around the area for sponsorship and “persuaded the Co-op, St Modwen, Persimmon and Assura (which own the land on which the Health Centre is built) to give us some funding. The Hendred Ukulele Group also decided to sponsor us so the event can take place.”
The theme of the event is, she explains “’Keeping well in 2023 and beyond’” and the idea is to give you the opportunity to meet people from some of the organisations around the area who can help you to enjoy a healthier and more fulfilled lifestyle.”
For more details, please see the website.
Thursday 6 April 2023
This week we cover Lego, clothing, cafés, classic trucks, a concert and business support. We also look at a 365-day campaign group, planning issues and a health and wellbeing event – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• If you’re having a spring clear out of your child’s old wardrobe, the Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank would greatly appreciate any donations. They are currently in particular need of clothing for 5-11 year olds. Details of where to donate can be found on their Facebook page, or emailing w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com.
• Exciting news from Sustainable Wantage – their application to the National Lottery Community Fund for a grant to support their ‘Sustainable Futures’ project has been awarded an incredible £170,502. This will provide three year’s of funding support, helping them to expand their community and environmental projects, and includes the recruitment of a Sustainability Coordinator to help us deliver them. Click here.
• This Friday 14 April Wantage Library are holding a fun Easter Lego Challenge. Can you build an Easter Bunny or an Easter Egg out of Lego? No need to book, just drop in and have a go. All children need to be accompanied by a parent or carer.
• The Ray Collins Charitable Trust will be delivering Easter Eggs to local disadvantage families and holding an Easter Dinner for isolated and vulnerable members of the community. If you would like to help them this Easter you can purchase Easter Eggs online for them to distribute. Help make a real difference in our community this Easter, by clicking here to donate an Easter Egg.
• April’s monthly talk at the Wantage Cafe Scientifique will be on the subject of ‘Regenerative Agriculture in Oxfordshire’ with Ben Harrington, an Oxfordshire-based agronomist focusing on Soil Fertility and Nutritional Management. He will cover some of the current agricultural issues with pesticides, fertiliser use and other limitations for change, and highlight the success and true potential of regenerative farming and what the future of agriculture may hold. If that’s piqued your interest, go along on Wednesday 12 April at the Wildwood Cinema. For more information click here.
• Wantage Celebrates the Coronation is an event for the whole community to come together to experience the momentous occasion of the Coronation King Charles III and the Queen Consort, live on a large screen. There will be live music, free children’s entertainment, rides, food and drink stalls and so much more at the Market Place on Saturday 6 May from 10am until 6pm. See more details on Wantage Town Council’s website here.
• In related news, Wantage Town Council is calling for volunteers to assist at the Coronation event. If you would like to help, please email volunteer@wantagetowncouncil.gov.uk.
• Holy Cross Church in Sparsholt welcomes all to a very special Concert for a King on Friday 5 May, the eve of the King’s Coronation. All proceeds will be split between Holy Cross Church Restoration Fund, Sparsholt and the Dogs Trust. Tickets £30 (includes a glass of Nyetimber). See here for more details and how to book tickets.
• Date for the diary: Grove Classic Car Truck and Bike Show on the Grove Recreation Grounds on Saturday 8 July with lots of vehicles, street food, bar, music, kids activities. Free entry with donations on the day requested for local end of life care homes and mental health charity. See more details on the facebook event here.
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Center Parcs.
• Quick reminder that Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Campaigning in Wantage
As most of you will be aware, there will be elections in the Vale on 4 May and the campaigning is now seriously underway. For the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group, however, this is a 365-day-a-year job. The aims of the organisation are summarised thus:
“We are not against any development in Wantage and Grove but (i) developments should be proportionate and sustainable; and (ii) the infrastructure should enhance and improve the quality of life for its residents.” The fact the organisation is still highly active and vocal is proof that achieving these aims remains an ongoing task.
The volume of work is also proved by the number of newsletters that are sent out. These are rarely less frequent than once a month (see the archives here) but they step up at busy times: there have been five in the last four weeks and nine already in 2023. The most recent one, sent on 6 April, can be read here and includes the elections, the forthcoming annual parish council meetings, and update on Persimmon’s outline plans for the Airfield Community Centre and news of some pilot schemes and initiatives from Oxfordshire CC. There is also news of a future health and wellbeing event: on which more below…
Health and wellbeing in OX12
There will be a Health and Wellbeing Event on Saturday 22 April in the Beacon from noon to 4pm. All are welcome to go along to find out more about what exciting activities are available in and around the area to help you to enjoy a healthier and more fulfilled lifestyle. There will be informative talks and demonstrations from local groups and health care professionals.
For more details, please see the website.
Thursday 30 March 2023
This week we cover eggs, cafés, trucks, roadworks and refugees. We also consider the latest developments with the pedestrianisation of Wantage’s Market Square and have a look at the state of our water companies (and the state of Letcombe Brook) – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Quick reminder that volunteers from the Letcombe Brook Project will be litter picking along the brook this Saturday 1 April, as part of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, and are inviting anyone to join in and lend a hand. They’re meeting on the grass opposite the Mill (bottom of the hill, Mill Street) at 9:30am. Equipment is available to borrow, but if you have a litter picker do bring it along, and please bring your own gloves. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
• The Ray Collins Charitable Trust will be delivering Easter Eggs to local disadvantage families and holding an Easter Dinner for isolated and vulnerable members of the community. If you would like to help them this Easter you can purchase Easter Eggs online for them to distribute. Help make a real difference in our community this Easter, by clicking here to donate an Easter Egg.
• April’s monthly talk at the Wantage Cafe Scientifique will be on the subject of ‘Regenerative Agriculture in Oxfordshire’ with Ben Harrington, an Oxfordshire-based agronomist focusing on Soil Fertility and Nutritional Management. He will cover some of the current agricultural issues with pesticides, fertiliser use and other limitations for change, and highlight the success and true potential of regenerative farming and what the future of agriculture may hold. If that’s piqued your interest, go along on Wednesday 12 April at the Wildwood Cinema. For more information click here.
• If you or any local people you know are in need of any extra baby clothes, the Wantage & Grove Children’s Clothes Collection Bank could help. Get in touch by emailing w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com.
• Wantage Celebrates the Coronation is an event for the whole community to come together to experience the momentous occasion of the Coronation King Charles III and the Queen Consort, live on a large screen. There will be live music, free children’s entertainment, rides, food and drink stalls and so much more at the Market Place on Saturday 6 May from 10am until 6pm. See more details on Wantage Town Council’s website here.
• In related news, Wantage Town Council is calling for volunteers to assist at the Coronation event. If you would like to help, please email volunteer@wantagetowncouncil.gov.uk.
• The lovely Down to Earth community cafe at The Stables Makespace (across the main road from Wantage Library) is excited to be starting a Small Steps Saturday morning breakfast, homework and environmental activities club at the end of April for local children in need, with funding from Vale of White Horse District Council Climate Action Fund. Each Saturday, the morning’s activities will begin with breakfast followed by a supportive and focused homework club to help those in need of additional homework support. And then the fun environmental activities will begin with support from Sustainable Wantage (Wild Wantage), Edge landscaping uk, and Replenish Oxfordshire.
• Date for the diary: Grove Classic Car Truck and Bike Show on the Grove Recreation Grounds on Saturday 8 July with lots of vehicles, street food, bar, music, kids activities. Free entry with donations on the day requested for local end of life care homes and mental health charity. See more details on the facebook event here.
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Center Parcs.
• Quick reminder that Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Square bashing
As plentiful evidence from across the area has shown the matter of pedestrianising parts of town centres has proved a tricky one. I doubt it has possible to find a single instance where the views of all the interested parties – amongst which must be numbered pedestrians, motorists, cyclists, shoppers, delivery drivers, retailers, children, environmental groups, the emergency services and the councils – are all in perfect alignment. Certainly this doesn’t apply in Wantage.
The pedestrianisation of the western side of the market Square was introduced as a temporary measure two and a half years ago and was recently approved as a permanent measure by Oxfordshire CC on 23 March. The officers’ recommendation was that “The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is recommended to approve the permanent prohibition of vehicles and removal of parking places from the western end of the Market Place, continuing to utilise temporary planters and barriers, pending technical approval by the County Council of Wantage Town Council’s consultant’s permanent scheme design and subsequent construction works.” This was approved.
A consultation took place in the summer of 2022, the preamble to which you can see here. This was the best part of two years after the scheme had first been introduced so no one could claim that people had no idea what this might look like. There 193 responses. Of these 43 were objections, 44 expressed concerns and 102 were in support. If we regard the first two as both being, in the absence of all fears being allayed, effectively “no” votes, then the results are 53 v 47, fairly similar to what happened with Brexit. As we know, decisions made by such margins rarely result in the losers quietly fading away.
This article in the Herald suggests that the retailers remain ambivalent about the scheme: of the three interviewees, one described the pedestrianisation as great, one as a mixed bag and the third being definitely bad. Representatives from Wantage Town Council all seemed to welcome the news. The Town Clerk observed that “few schemes are given such a lengthy period of test.” True: but as a result only a slender majority were in favour. The Clerk also admitted that “there some loose ends.” Many would agree with this. For the time being, however, this seems to be a matter which many residents of the town will have to agree to disagree about.
Sewage in the brook
The regular column in the Herald by Julie Mabberley of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (which you can read here) looks at the question of sewage, specifically in the Letcombe Brook which flows through the town. She refers to an estimate by the House of Lords that stopping the dumping of sewage into rivers will cost an estimated £56bn, all of which will end up on our water bills.
I’m slightly dubious about this figure. It’s the obvious interests of the water firms to make it seem as expensive as possible: also in the interests of the government and the EA as both can therefore point to a problem of such magnitude that not fixing it becomes excusable. There are now a number of nature-based mitigation measures that will considerably improve the water quality in many places and which won’t require a wholesale re-laying of pipes; or which can be done now while the pipes are gradually replaced. It’s also worth noting that as far as nitrate and phosphate pollution is caused, run-off from farmland appears to be a far bigger threat than human waste. It’s not clear to me that new sewage pipes will address this problem.
Be all that as it may, the sums involved are clearly massive. As Julie Mabberley points out, the Lords’ estimate of these is some way short of the £70bn that’s been given as dividends to the water companies’ investors. Here we have another problem. That’s what private companies do: indeed, are obliged to do. Their primary loyalty is, by law, to their shareholders, not to executing government policy (exactly the same can be said of private housing developers). The real culprits, therefore, are those in Westminster and Whitehall who decided that it was a good idea to privatise the water companies in the first place. The argument might have run that’s it’s only by injecting private cash that the industry can raise enough money to re-invest. If so, the amount the Lords have suggested that still needs to be pumped in suggests that this hasn’t really worked.
Another issue, which I have heard one water company boss use in defence, is that the current system whereby excessive foul water was taken out of the system and into waterways at pumping stations rather than coming up in the street or in people’s homes is working exactly as it was designed to. Though the problem of discharges has, with increasing development and under-investment, been getting worse recently, it may also be true that, until a few years ago, no one really bothered about this too much. Matters were not helped by the EA ond Oft taking what might politely be termed a light-touch approach to the problem.
Julie Mabberley’s article also refers to Thanes Water’s online map which shows the discharges. I would add a caveat to its use. Unless the functionality has changed very recently, it only shows the most recent discharge in time, not the cumulative volume of water discharged over a given period. More money thus needs to be spent on fixing that, too. I think we can all guess who’ll ultimately be paying for that…
Thursday 23 March 2023
This week we cover a café, litter, the coronation, art and ground nesting. We also take a look at the latest Wantage & Grove Campaign Group newsletter which considers a rejected appeal and works at a medical centre – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Wantage Celebrates the Coronation is an event where the whole community can come together to experience the momentous occasion of the Coronation King Charles II and the Queen Consort, live on a large screen. There will be live music, free children’s entertainment, rides, food and drink stalls and so much more at the Market Place on Saturday 6 May, starting from 10am and going on until 6pm.
• In related news, Wantage Town Council is calling for volunteers to assist at the Coronation event. If you would like to help, please email volunteer@wantagetowncouncil.gov.uk.
• The daffodils are out, the days are getting longer, the clocks go forward and Wantage Tennis Club is looking forward to the Summer Season. New members are invited to join with immediate effect until 31 March 2024. Adult Membership for the year is £150 with reductions for couples, families and concessions, and anyone is welcome to visit the friendly club for free play on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings to see what is on offer. Coaching, tennis activities and support is provided by Andy Aitken and AA Tennis. Juniors in the termly AA Tennis coaching courses automatically gain Club membership. See here for more details.
• The lovely Down to Earth community cafe at The Stables Makespace (across the main road from Wantage Library) is excited to be starting a Small Steps Saturday morning breakfast, homework and environmental activities club at the end of April for local children in need, with funding from Vale of White Horse District Council Climate Action Fund. Each Saturday, the morning’s activities will begin with breakfast followed by a supportive and focused homework club to help those in need of additional homework support. And then the fun environmental activities will begin with support from Sustainable Wantage (Wild Wantage), Edge landscaping uk, and Replenish Oxfordshire.
• Date for the diary: Grove Classic Car Truck and Bike Show on the Grove Recreation Grounds on Saturday 8 July with lots of vehicles, street food, bar, music, kids activities. Free entry with donations on the day requested for local end of life care homes and mental health charity. See more details on the facebook event here.
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Center Parcs.
• Wantage Art Group is a friendly, mixed ability group that meets monthly at Charlton Holy Trinity Church. The group is perfect for either working artists or just those who are interested in seeing great demonstrations and interesting talks. Their next meeting on Wednesday 19 April. See here for the rest of the year’s schedule and details on how to join the group.
• Quick reminder that Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Tulwick Park and Mably Way
The Wantage and Grove Campaign Group has produced four newsletters in the last two weeks (you can see the archive here). This is not because the organisers have nothing better to do but because there has even more than usual going on in OX12 on the planning and development front.
The most recent one (20 March) starts off with a summary of the recent appeal against the decision to refuse planning permission to build 300 homes on the east of the A338 opposite Bellingers, has been dismissed. “The grounds given were that the scheme would fall outside the settlement boundary of Grove and the harm to the landscape and countryside would significantly outweigh the benefits of the additional housing provision.” There’s also a link to the decision report.
The second item concerned the work being done at the Mably Road Health Centre. This mainly concerns one-way systems, disabled parking, new entrances and other matters that are impossible to summarise, so have a look at the newsletter for yourself if the ongoing works and the changes they bring are likely to affect you.
Thursday 16 March 2023
This week we cover gardening, classic vehicles, willow-weaving, football and a hot meal. We also take a look at the state of the leisure centre, check out the latest Wantage & Grove Campaign Group newsletter and provide a final reminder about the reservoir consultation – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Sustainable Wantage are looking for gardening volunteers to help creating an edible/sensory garden renovation and seed planting at Wantage Primary Academy, Kingsgrove next Wednesday 22 March, from 1pm to 3pm. Please contact Tom at wildwantage@gmail.com for more information.
• There are a couple of spaces available on a wonderful willow basket weaving workshop at The Mix on Mill Street on Sunday 26 March. See here for details and how to book.
• Also looking for new volunteers, Wantage Town Football Club are looking for people to help support club activities, especially in the kitchen at the weekends (full training provided), people to support on match days, and people to help organise and run events. If you can help please get in touch by email at fundraising@wantagetownfc.com.
• The lovely Down to Earth community cafe at The Stables Makespace (across the main road from Wantage Library) now has a pay-it-forward token scheme which allows people with a few pennies to spare to help others in need. The cafe has been closed this week but will re-open this Friday and Saturday. The cafe owner, Kate Farrington is lovely and very happy to collaborate on community events. See more on their facebook page here.
• Date for the diary: Grove Classic Car Truck and Bike Show on the Grove Recreation Grounds on Saturday 8 July with lots of vehicles, street food, bar, music, kids activities. Free entry with donations on the day requested for local end of life care homes and mental health charity. See more details on the facebook event here.
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Center Parcs.
• Wantage Art Group is a friendly, mixed ability group that meets monthly at Charlton Holy Trinity Church. The group is perfect for either working artists or just those who are interested in seeing great demonstrations and interesting talks. Their next meeting on Wednesday 19 April. See here for the rest of the year’s schedule and details on how to join the group.
• During the second world war many airmen of the Allies died in action in the skies over France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. In the French town of Maubeuge, a small team of people have extensively researched the allied 114 airmen buried there who will be honoured by a memorial in April 2024. They are trying to learn more of one of the airmen, Reginald George Hopkins, who was born in Burford and is commemorated on the board inside Hanney War Memorial Hall and commemorated on the war memorial inside St James the Great Parish Church in West Hanney. See more here and please get in touch with memorial organisers if you know anything about Hopkins family.
• Quick reminder that Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Wantage’s pool
Being a keen swimmer, my eye was caught by this article in the Oxford Mail which claims that the Wantage leisure Centre is in an “appalling condition.” Leaking roofs, broken locks and a lack of hot water were some of the complaints made. It’s worth pointing out that some of these points have been refuted by the Vale Council and GLL, the company responsible for its management. However, it’s clear that the centre could do with some serious TLC. One local resident to whom I spoke that “it’s in desperate need of refurbishment. It hasn’t changed much from when I was kid having swimming lessons 40 years ago!”
Quite why the centre has got into this state is a bit of a mystery. A spokesperson for the Vale Council is quoted in the article as saying that “We manage a number of Better Leisure facilities across the district and all have received investment over the years. Each centre operates in a different way and we have to assess their needs along with our financial position at the time with regards to what we are able to do. All the Better UK centres in the district have the same level of maintenance requirements and regular attention. Wantage Leisure Centre is nearly 50 years old and as such has become harder to maintain.”
There were until a few years ago plans to build a new leisure centre serving the ever more populous Wantage and Grove area but this was cancelled due to lack of funds. It has been suggested, including by the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group, that this is all part of a general disconnect in the area between the number of new homes being built and the infrastructure provided to support it.
The Vale spokesperson went on to say that the latest budget included plans to build a teaching pool at the facility “which will help future generations learn to swim in the area.” This may teach people in the area to swim: whether or not it will enable people to swim in the area will depend on whether what seems to be a decaying building survives past its 50th birthday.
Plans, pipes and consultations
I mentioned above about the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group and draw your attention to the most recent, 10 March, newsletter, which you can read here. Normally, produced about once a month (see full list here), there’s been so much going on recently that no fewer than three were sent out in the last week. The most recent includes an encouragement to let your local councillors know what you think about leisure facilities (or the lack of them)” in the area in advance of a new Leisure Strategy as part of the next Local Plan; a summary of what appears to be intensely arcane debate about housing targets ar the Tulwick Park planning enquiry; and updates on Crab Hill, the Health Centre extension and annual parish meetings in the area.
Julie Mabberley of the W&GCG also writes a regular column in the Herald, and you can read this week’s here. This concerns Thames Water’s consultation on its water management plans, by far the most controversial aspect of which is the proposal to build a mega reservoir between Wantage and Abingdon. The article re-caps several reasons as to why this can be seen as a bad, indeed unnecessary, idea and laments the fact that a proposed pipeline from the Severn (which appears to be cheaper, less intrusive and more flexible) doesn’t form part of TW’s plans at this stage. You have until 21 March to make your views known.
Thursday 9 March 2023
This week we cover community impact, ground nesting, a scientific talk, art and refugees. We also point you to the Wantage & Grove Campaign Group’s list of important local consultation and highlight one Wattage-based organisation that’s just received some lottery funding from the Vale – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Wantage-based charity Vale Community Impact gives independent help, support and advice to residents across the Vale of White Horse via the walk-in Independent Advice Centre, Good Neighbour and Community Transport. You can support them by signing up to play the White Horse Lottery at £1 per week and you could be in with a chance of winning a family break to Center Parcs.
• Wantage Art Group is a friendly, mixed ability group that meets monthly at Charlton Holy Trinity Church. The group is perfect for either working artists or just those who are interested in seeing great demonstrations and interesting talks. One member worked at the Mary Rose Trust for eight years doing all the illustrations and is giving a talk about it iat their next meeting on Wednesday 15 March. See here for the rest of the year’s schedule and details on how to join the group.
• Unfortunately this month’s Wantage Café Scientfique’s talk on Eels and their life cycle by Anna Forbes from Action for the River Kennet, had to be cancelled this week due to bad weather. Fortunately, the talk has been rescheduled for September. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates and information about other upcoming talks.
• During the second world war many airmen of the Allies died in action in the skies over France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. In the French town of Maubeuge, a small team of people have extensively researched the allied 114 airmen buried there who will be honoured by a memorial in April 2024. They are trying to learn more of one of the airmen, Reginald George Hopkins, who was born in Burford and is commemorated on the board inside Hanney War Memorial Hall and commemorated on the war memorial inside St James the Great Parish Church in West Hanney. See more here and please get in touch with memorial organisers if you know anything about Hopkins family.
• Quick reminder that Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Walkers, horse-riders, off road cyclists please be mindful of your impact on ground-nesting birds this spring and summer. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Several consultations
The newsletters from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group have come in two episodes this month, with (as of 9 March) a third to follow. Most of these concern a number of consultations,
The 8 March one covers the Thames Water Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP) consultation, which closes 20 March.
The 9 March one covers the following consultations:
- Local health services (a short one from local MP David Johnson).
- Local Government Boundary Commission is consulting on the council boundaries for County Councillors in Oxfordshire, which closes on 8 May.
- Oxford City is consulting on its housing numbers for its new Local Plan, which closes on 27 March.
In all cases, the newsletter provides, as well as links to the consultations, some background and some observations as to points that might be worth bearing in mind.
Nine grants
Nine charity organisations across the Vale have each received £1,000 of unrestricted funding to support their work with local communities thanks to the White Horse Community Lottery.
We contacted one of the recipients, The October Club in Wantage. “We are grateful for the donation from the White Horse Community Lottery, ” a spokesperson told me. “We are a small charity based in Wantage that runs a day centre four days a week for people with all forms and levels of dementia. Clients come from all parts of the Vale and beyond if required. The charity owns the property which the Day Centre runs from so is always grateful for any donation to help with the running costs, maintenance of the building, plus buying stimulating activities for the clients.
Thursday 2 March 2023
This week we cover pastors, roadworks, a café, a hot meal and refugees. We also have a look at where recent opposition from bus companies leaves Oxfordshire CC’s Twenty is Plenty policy – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Wantage & Grove Street Pastors were pleased to be joined on the streets last weekend by Matthew Barber, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police. They are grateful for all the support and funding from the Thames Valley Police to help to make a difference in the community. See the pastors’ website for more about the service they offer patrolling Wantage & Grove on Friday and Saturday nights to care for, listen to and help people who are out on the streets.
• This month Wantage Café Scientfique’s talk on Wednesday 8 March at the Wildwood Cinema will be on Eels and Thames Catchment Community Eels, all about the complex life cycle of the eel. The talk is held by Anna Forbes from the Thames Rivers Trust, a registered environmental charity dedicated to improving the River Thames. For more information click here.
• Bethia Thomas, leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, has issued a statement on the war in Ukraine: click here for the full text.
• Click here to read the March 2023 newsletter from local MP David Johnson.
• March news from Sustainable Wantage includes latest news on their Library of Things which has over 80 items now and is almost ready to go live. But first they need volunteers to check each item thoroughly to make sure it’s fit for purpose and useful to the community. You will be asked to sign up to the Library of Things site, check out the item (free of charge!), collect it from The Mix and then use it at home as you normally would before returning it. All electrical items have been fully PAT tested. Afterwards you will be asked to complete a short survey. The items that need checking are: pressure washer, electric spray gun, pasta machine, party pastry maker, electric pressure cooker, sewing machine, overlocker, camera tripod, tile cutter, bike stand and glue gun. If you can help please contact Jess via wantagemix@gmail.com indicating which item(s) you’d like to test. The Library is also looking for donations of a 10 piece metal cutlery set and wood and masonry drill bits.
• With clients waiting for Good Neighbour companions, drivers and advisors, The Vale Community Impact team has a local volunteering role for you whether you have an hour spare or a day. Please share with friends & family and get in contact with us about volunteering on 01235 765348 or recruitment@vci.org.uk
• Wantage Parish Church offers a hot ‘Around Table’ meal every Wednesday to eat in or take-away between 3.30pm and 7pm. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.
• Now we are officially in spring, dog walkers need to be mindful of their impact on ground-nesting birds. Of course dogs love to romp but skylarks and nightjars are endangered species and if an adult is disturbed they will not return to their nest, leaving their chicks to die. Dog walkers are requested to keep dogs on leads less than 2 metres long when walking in potential bird nesting areas. Please see more details here about national requirements for dog walkers between 1 March and 31 July.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Twenty is less than plenty
It’s good news that the national £2 cap on single bus fares has been extended until the end of June. This is certainly good news for Penny who uses our number 4 service to go to Educafé in Newbury most Wednesdays.
As Julie Mabberly of the Wantage and Grove Campaign group points out in her latest article in the Herald (which you can also read here), bus companies in Oxfordshire have also been in the news recently for a different reason. The Oxford Bus Company has objected to the County Council’s policy that 20mph zones be introduced across the county. ”
“Buses need to make progress where they can,” Julie Mabberley quotes and OBC spokesperson said, “in order to be a viable and attractive alternative to private cars and to attract patronage in order to help to achieve the council’s stated objectives to remove one in four car journeys. Following this policy on speed limits will not achieve this and will be highly likely to lead to a material reduction in bus services in Abingdon [which this particular consultation covered} which will have long term negative impacts on a large number of the residents of the town.” The decision has been deferred for further consultation.
I’m not sure whether the bus companies have a valid point or not. One thing’s for sure, though: as Julie Mabberley points out in her conclusion, this does leaveOCC’s “twenty is plenty” policy in some disarray. When I first heard of this I assumed that the bus companies were, as it were, already on board with this and that the thinking was thus joined up. It seems I was wrong.
Thursday 23 February 2023
This week we cover art, energy, granting wishes, household support and refugees. We also look at a funding boost for the Vale and suggest a way in which you can help change the law – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Wantage Art Group is a friendly, mixed ability group, perfect for either working artists or just those who are interested in seeing great demonstrations and interesting talks. The group meets on the third Wednesday of the month in Charlton Holy Trinity Church Hall and new members or guests are always welcome. Group member Debby Fox who worked at the Mary Rose Trust for eight years doing all the illustrations is giving a talk about it on Wednesday 15 March. See more details here.
• Bethia Thomas, leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, has issued a statement on the war in Ukraine: click here for the full text.
• South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have now closed the Household Support Fund and are no longer accepting any new applications for this fund. £139,615 has been made available to residents in the Vale and £142,615 to residents in South Oxfordshire to help people with the rising cost of food and energy bills. You can read more here.
• Everyone in OX12 and Stanford should have received a paper copy of Sustainable Wantage’s Saving Energy leaflet through your letterbox. Sustainable Wantage thanks everyone who was involved with this project and has posted a digital version of the leaflet here that can be shared on social media.
• The new-ish Down to Earth cafe across the road from Waitrose carpark now hosts fortnightly boardgame afternoons every other Saturday. They also offer affordable ‘warm space’ lunches for £2 on Thursdays and toasted sandwiches for £2.50 on Tuesdays. See here for their full opening times.
• The Ray Collins Trust is still offering support with £200 worth of energy vouchers if you live in Wantage & Grove or within 5 miles. If you are a family receiving benefits or an over 65 struggling on a pension you could be eligible for these vouchers to help you through the winter months. Contact the wonderful team at Vale Community Impact to apply on 01235 765348 or help@vci.org.uk
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Funds for the Vale
Seven projects which will help increase life chances and support local businesses will benefit from £2 million in government funding, according to a statement issued by the Vale and South Oxfordshire Councils..
“South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have been allocated £1 million each from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to provide better community and neighbourhood facilities and improve public open spaces to help increase the health and wellbeing of residents.
“With the new funds, the councils are already starting work to support community facilities to reduce their energy bills and lower their carbon emissions. Another study has begun to see where and how the councils can provide more arts and culture opportunities and leisure activities in areas that need it most.
“Businesses will also benefit from the funding over the next two years with projects to support their sustainability, help deliver enterprise facilities and increase peoples’ skills.”
You can read the full statement here.
Changing the law
This matter is highlighted by the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group but is applicable across the country, though perhaps particularly so in OX12 given the amount of development that the area has experienced.
The most recent article by Julie Mabberley of the W&GCG in the Herald (which you can also read here) begins with the observations that “The Government is consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and we can all help to change the law.” You can visit the consultation here: you have until 11.45pm on Thursday 2 March to respond.
It then turns to the matter of the five-year housing land supply rule. As she explains, “if the Local Authority can’t demonstrate that they have a pipeline of approved housing developments which is more than enough to meet the housing need for the next five years, then developers can use the “presumption in favour of development” to force approval to build houses wherever they want to. This has allowed developers to submit applications on sites that aren’t in a local plan.”
The point here is if the supply falls below five years at any point then the local plan can effectively be trumped by a developer. In a suggested answer to what is – perhaps tellingly – the first of 56 questions in the consultation, she proposes the phrase “all development should be led by local plans and not allow speculative development at the whim of developers.” Local plans take a devil of a long time to do and are rigorously examined before adoption. All this seems slightly pointless if there’s such a loophole permitted. It’s a bit like a bank having a good and regular customer and freezing their account if slip into the red, even briefly and to a small extent. Mind you, some banks do behave like that.
Another threat to local decision-making is, as Julie Mabberly points out, the proposed National Development Management Policies (NDMP). These would, she explains, give the Secretary of State free rein to create, modify or revoke such policies unilaterally, without consultation. ” We don’t think,” she adds, ” it’s wise to allow any politician that level of power.”
Indeed. There is a constant tension in the planning process between what should be decided centrally and which locally. Central government, whatever it says to the contrary, likes to have central powers in many matters – the clue’s in the name. The NDMP proposal seems like an attempt to continue to get planning authorities to do all the hard work but then over-rule this on a whim; much as the five-year rule gives developers keeping their eyes on the changing level of the housing supply a fairly easy route to getting speculative approval. I’m not sure if this is the way Whitehall wants the system to work. Others elsewhere may have different views and the above-mentioned consultation is your opportunity to say so.
Thursday 16 February 2023
This week we cover a choir, the OX5 Run, a clothing bank, sustainability and refugees. We also point you towards the soon-to-close consultation on the mega-reservoir and publish a response from a Vale councillor about the prospects for improvements to local leisure facilities – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Sustainable Wantage thanks all the hardworking Millbrook plot helpers last weekend for tackling very determined roots of a couple of hazels that dominated the space and shaded out some other plants. They will be replaced some pollinator friendly plants in their place all are welcome at their next Green Drinks on Wednesday 22 February at The Sh0ulder of Mutton on Wallingford Street.
• The OX5 RUN is coming back on Sunday 26 March. Each year thousands of children are treated at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, children’s ward at the Horton General Hospital and Critical and Emergency areas. This very special event, helps us make a real difference to these young patients and the hardworking NHS staff that look after them. Run, jog or walk the dog, five miles around the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace, and help us raise big smiles! This event is open to anyone over the age of 10 and above and is suitable for any ability so why not register here.
• Otters have been sighted on Letcombe Brook which excites many people but some are concerned about their predation of other species. Letcombe Brook Project Manager Mark Bradfield explains that “otters have a very wide diet and travel large distances every night to hunt, especially on a small stream like Letcombe Brook. They live at low population densities which they control by scent marking etc. On the Letcombe they spend a lot of time eating the signal crayfish which are much easier to catch than a brown trout. They will even eat rabbits. More of a problem to the wild brown trout in the brook is human pressures – all the blockages, pollution, siltation that covers their spawning beds, people catching and removing the bigger breeding trout.” See Mark’s video of the otters here.
• Have you got some old children’s clothes that are no longer needed? The Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects both used and new clothing, suitable for kids ages zero to 14 years old. They have several collection points around the town including Wantage Parish Church and St John’s Church Grove. Please click here to see the full list, plus opening hours. Alternatively, you can message them at w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com or via their Facebook page to arrange individual drop off/collection.
• The Mix on Mill Street is running a Library of Things for residents to borrow and is looking for donations of a pressure cooker, metal detector, string of outdoor solar lights, glue gun for crafting, heavy duty paper shredder, tool and knife sharpener and sack trolley. If you can help please contact Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com
• The new-ish Down to Earth cafe across the road from Waitrose carpark now hosts fortnightly boardgame afternoons every other Saturday. They also offer affordable ‘warm space’ lunches for £2 on Thursdays and toasted sandwiches for £2.50 on Tuesdays. See here for their full opening times.
• The Ray Collins Trust is still offering support with £200 worth of energy vouchers if you live in Wantage & Grove or within 5 miles. If you are a family receiving benefits or an over 65 struggling on a pension you could be eligible for these vouchers to help you through the winter months. Contact the wonderful team at Vale Community Impact to apply on 01235 765348 or help@vci.org.uk
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Last call for the reservoir
The Wantage & Grove Campaign group, and others, have been vocal in their opposition to the plans proposed by Water Resources South East (WRSE) to build a mega reservoir East of East Hanney. The regular article by Julie Mabberley of the W&GCG in the Herald, which you can also read here, has more on this. You can see the draft plan by clicking here and the Herald article also has information on how you can take part in the consultation (which should also be on the website), as can the first part of the latest (14 February) W&GCG newsletter. You have until Monday 20 February to make your views known.
Arguments in favour of the scheme can be found in the above-mentioned weblink. Articles against it can be found in the Herald article. There are about ten of these, many of which are less about the gargantuan scale of the proposed project than criticisms of the fundamental assumption that it is needed at all. Have a look at the pros and cons and then tell Water Resources South East what you think.
Splashing the cash
In the past, most recently last week (see below), we’ve asked some questions about how the developer contributions collected over the years are going to find their way towards the long-hoped-for leisure-facility improvements in OX12. On 12 February 2023, Vale Councillor Andy Crawford posted the following on the Mayor of Wantage’s FB page which (with his permission) we’re happy to reproduce in full.
“Given the recent flurry of postings I thought it may be worthwhile to clarify where we are with Leisure spending in the Wantage and Grove area.
“The Vale District Council’s budget was published last week and is available on its website. On the existing Wantage Leisure Centre over £4 million will be spent. Of this half is as a result of a successful bid to a decarbonisation fund (at no cost to ratepayers) which will allow the replacement of old gas boilers with state of the art heat pumps, solar panels and much enhanced insulation. Not only will this have a massive impact on CO2 emissions it will also make the Leisure Centre more viable as it will slash running costs.
“The other half – £2 million – will be spent on the long awaited learner pool extension with additional changing facilities as well as a revamp of the current changing area. This money is provided by developer contributions which have been collected piecemeal over the years from various housing developments specifically as “swimming contributions”. On the “dry” sports side – ie sports hall contributions collected from developers – there will eventually be a pot of around £3.5 million once contributions are fully collected.
“This is a world away from the £18.5 million cost of the previous administration’s “Wessex Leisure Centre” which is no doubt why they pulled the project from their list of current capital projects back in 2019, a decision ratified in 2020.
“Senior Vale officers have held several meetings with Grove Parish and Wantage Town Councils with the aim of understanding what local current need and priorities are. It’s vitally important that a sports hall design and location is affordable, deliverable and viable. Although I’m a Wantage resident and representative my preference is that the new facility should be in Grove so as to balance up provision between the two communities, particularly given that additional investment is also going into the Wantage Leisure Centre as explained above.
“Finally to clarify reports to the contrary no “Grove/Wantage” ringfenced developer contributions for Leisure have been spent elsewhere. In fact it would not be legal to do so as the contracts the Vale has with developers makes it quite clear where money can be spent and failing to do so would allow developers to claw the money back. Hope this puts some minds at rest.”
The most recent (14 February 2023) W&GCG newsletter has some thoughts on this (about half way down). These include a warning that the various processes to accomplish the above goals, from draft design to construction, is not going to be quick. It’s also “made more complex as land is owned by King Alfred’s Educational Trust ( a separate charity) and Oxfordshire County Council have an interest as do the Vale Academy Trust as part of the Joint User Agreement which allows schools to have sole use of facility in school/term time.”
“Given that it has taken the last four years not to develop a Leisure Strategy,” the newsletter continues, “I don’t have a lot of confidence in the ability of the District Council to complete these steps quickly.”
Thursday 9 February 2023
This week we cover half term, a clothing bank, energy vouchers, a café and crafts. We also take a look at what’s happening with OX12’s leisure facilities – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Half term is quickly approaching, so if you’re looking for ideas to entertain your little ones, take a look at our February Half Term Guide for a list of activities and events happening in and around our local area. Some highlights from our area include Wacky Wizard Family Day, at the Vale and Downland Museum and superhero craft and storytime, as well as Police craft and storytime at Wantage Library.
• Have you got some old children’s clothes that are no longer needed? The Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects both used and new clothing, suitable for kids ages zero to 14 years old. They then pass them on to other local families in need of support. They have several collection points around the town including Wantage Parish Church and St John’s Church Grove. Please click here to see the full list, plus opening hours. Alternatively, you can message them at w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com or via their Facebook page to arrange individual drop off/collection.
• The Mix on Mill Street is running a Library of Things for residents to borrow and is looking for donations of a pressure cooker, metal detector, string of outdoor solar lights, glue gun for crafting, heavy duty paper shredder, tool and knife sharpener and sack trolley. If you can help please contact Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com
• The new-ish Down to Earth cafe across the road from Waitrose carpark now hosts fortnightly boardgame afternoons every other Saturday. They also offer affordable ‘warm space’ lunches for £2 on Thursdays and toasted sandwiches for £2.50 on Tuesdays. See here for their full opening times.
• The Ray Collins Trust is still offering support with £200 worth of energy vouchers if you live in Wantage & Grove or within 5 miles. If you are a family receiving benefits or an over 65 struggling on a pension you could be eligible for these vouchers to help you through the winter months. Contact the wonderful team at Vale Community Impact to apply on 01235 765348 or help@vci.org.uk
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
No underwater money tree in OX12
We were in Wantage earlier this week as we had a table at KA’s careers day at The Beacon. Parking was at the Leisure centre across the road. The car-parking areas looked slightly more chewed than they did when I last went there about three years ago. As for the Centre itself, much the same could be said about that. I haven’t been to swim there for about a decade but, from the outside, there was nothing to suggest that it wasn’t much the same within. Hungerford’s pool, which I use regularly, has just had a bit of a face-lift and an extension to the fitness-class area is planned for the summer. Had anything similar happened here? I wondered. No time to enquire, however, as our customers were waiting for us.
Assuming this is a no-change, this contrasts with the Centre at Abingdon. This now has “state-of-the-art facilities including: a gym, fitness class studio, an eight-lane swimming pool, teaching pool, two squash courts, eight badminton courts, a sports hall, sauna and steam room, six indoor tennis courts and four artificial grass courts.” The inverted commas are because I’ve quoted this from the most recent article in The herald by Julie Mabberley of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (which you can read in full here). The headline is “Leisure funding is still not spent in OX12.”
It seems that the problem is that a lot of the developer contributions (through Section 106 agreements) “were earmarked by the District Council for the new Wessex Leisure Centre that it planned to build between Wantage and Grove.” In 2020, this project was cancelled. A new Active Communities Strategy was also announced as being in development although this won’t appear until later this year. As she points out, the money that’s been sitting around won’t buy nearly as much as when it was paid, given the way inflation is going. S106 agreements also specify what there money is to be sent on. If the specified use is abandoned, or significantly modified, or conflated with something else then the sums may need to be returned.
Julie Mabberley’s article goes on to look at what the various councils have been doing to improve leisure facilities in the area in the last 15 years. As regards OX12, the news isn’t that great. It concludes with the observation that “No upgrades have been made to Wantage Leisure Centre”; which answers the question posed in my first paragraph.
Thursday 2 February 2023
This week we cover clothing, a scientific café, superheroes, every vouchers and a library of things. We also take a look at local MP David Johnston’s latest e-newsletter, and note one surprising omission from his list of recent accomplishments – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Have you got some old children’s clothes that are no longer needed? The Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects both used and new clothing, suitable for kids ages zero to 14 years old. They then pass them on to other local families in need of support. They have several collection points around the town including Wantage Parish Church and St John’s Church Grove. Please click here to see the full list, plus opening hours. Alternatively, you can message them at w.g.clothesbank@gmail.com or via their Facebook page to arrange individual drop off/collection.
• Wantage Café Scientifique‘s next talk is by Wantage local Mike Palmer, regarding his long career as a biologist and meteorologist, having worked on the British Antarctic Survey in the Falklands and South Georgia. He worked on wildlife surveys and using and repairing instruments, often under extreme conditions, including blizzards. The talk is on Wednesday 8 February at the Wildwood Cinema. Click here for further details.
• Sustainable Wantage‘s February news includes requested donations for The Mix, opportunity to join Sustainabe Wantage’s board and how to save money on your electricity bill by not using power during peak times.
• The Mix on Mill Street is running a Library of Things for residents to borrow and is looking for donations of a pressure cooker, metal detector, string of outdoor solar lights, glue gun for crafting, heavy duty paper shredder, tool and knife sharpener and sack trolley. If you can help please contact Jo on wantagemix@gmail.com
• The new-ish Down to Earth cafe across the road from Waitrose carpark now hosts fortnightly boardgame afternoons every other Saturday. They also offer affordable ‘warm space’ lunches for £2 on Thursdays and toasted sandwiches for £2.50 on Tuesdays. See here for their full opening times.
• The Ray Collins Trust is still offering support with £200 worth of energy vouchers if you live in Wantage & Grove or within 5 miles. If you are a family receiving benefits or an over 65 struggling on a pension you could be eligible for these vouchers to help you through the winter months. Contact the wonderful team at Vale Community Impact to apply on 01235 765348 or help@vci.org.uk
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Westminster calling
You can click here to read the latest e-newsletter from Wantage MP David Johnston. He himself summarises it as follows:
“Parliament is back with a bang and I have been talking about many issues in the House of Commons this month, from concerns about children’s services in Oxfordshire to Royal Mail delivery delays.
“The biggest local news this month is a campaign success for the local AEAT pensioners, with the National Audit Office agreeing to my request to look at their case and the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament deciding to hold an inquiry into it. More details on this breakthrough below.
“It has also, as always, been a busy month for meetings, visits and other parliamentary activity. This includes re-introducing the Local Electricity Bill; meeting with the Veterans Minister; welcoming constituents to Parliament; and visiting great local businesses such as Ridgeway Adventures in Aston Tirrold.”
One extraordinary omission: he failed to say that he was one of the answers in our Christmas and New Year 2022-23 quiz, the winner of which has just been announced. Maybe he’s still reeling from the honour…
Thursday 26 January 2023
This week we cover birds, baking, flooding, energy, bikes and a prize lottery. We also, in the company of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group, take a look a lottery of a different kind in which many of us participate whenever we park our car – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• This weekend, in honour of the RSPB‘s Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend, Wantage Library are holding a family Storytime and Craft event. To book your free ticket, please ring 01235 762291.
• Quick reminder that The Cake Bar in Wantage has recently opened its doors. Alyona and Lara are two Ukranian refugees who have opened a new bakery in Wantage specialising in cakes from their country, click here for details about their story, as well as a few mouth watering pictures or some tasty treats. We can’t wait to try them…
• St John’s CE Academy is calling for book donations. They are in particular need of books suitable for children aged two to six. Apparently, they are happy to collect from those in the Grove and Wantage area.
• Vale Community Impact advice centre in the Market Square thanks the Wantage Mummers for their generous donation of £2,300, from the proceeds of their Boxing Day performances.
• Reminder about VCI’s brand new 500 Club lottery and invites residents to join for a chance to win a cash prize. The more members, the bigger the prizes. To sign up, email help@vci.org.uk by 31 January in time for the first draw in February. Each entry costs £5 per month. See here for more details and the membership form.
• Now that groundwater levels are rising (and rain is falling), concerns about flooding and sewage discharges of from overwhelmed sewers are back with us again. On the latter point, you can keep your eye on this map which has been produced by Thames Water. Traffic-light colours are used: red for discharging now; orange for discharges having happened in the last 48 hours; and green for not discharging now (but shows discharges since April 2022). The overall picture is, as one might expect, pretty awful.
• January news from Sustainable Wantage includes plans for their new Library of Things (where you get to borrow stuff you need instead of having to buy it), workshops and events at The Mix, the community fridge and a report on the primary school cycle project where reconditioned bikes and cycle training were supplied to selected Year 6 children in the Wantage area.
• The new Down to Earth cafe across the road from Waitrose carpark offers affordable ‘warm space’ lunches for £2 on Thursdays and toasted sandwiches for £2.50 on Tuesdays. See here for their full opening times.
• The Ray Collins Trust is still offering support with £200 worth of energy vouchers if you live in Wantage & Grove or within 5 miles. If you are a family receiving benefits or an over 65 struggling on a pension you could be eligible for these vouchers to help you through the winter months. Contact the wonderful team at Vale Community Impact to apply on 01235 765348 or help@vci.org.uk
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
The parking lottery
In her regular column in the Herald (which you can also read here), Julie Mabberley of the Wantage & Grove Campaign Group takes a look at the car-parking situation in Wantage. She looks back to the introduction of civil parking enforcement (ie not done by the police) in late 2021 and considers how the operation of the law of untended consequences caused problems for some residents that necessitated a review. The matter is shortly to be decided by Oxfordshire CC.
As Julie Mabberly points out, however, one can have any number of regulations but there’s no point if they’re not enforced. “As one resident pointed out,” her article concludes, “people have realised now what day the warden comes around and so park in the street when it is not the warden’s day.” OCC’s contractors can vary the days, of course, but it will probably be for a similar time period overall.
This is what makes parking so terribly exciting. If you don’t know the town you tend to follow the regulations (if you can understand them, which isn’t always easy). However, you quickly build up a picture from personal and anecdotal information of how much enforcement there is and you start to calculate the risk of detection. As well as how often the wardens come round there’s the question of how much the fine is and whether one location might offer less visibility than another. The odds of getting away with it can’t ever be precisely calculated because the wardens can change what they do without telling you,: this might seem to be a bit like the croupier rigging the wheel but it’s actually within the laws of the game. Whatever one thinks of gambling, all of us (except for those who always pay) are playing it every time we go into town.
Thursday 19 January 2023
This week we cover books, crafts, sewage, library talks, Ukranian cakes and mindfulness walks. We also take another look at the plans for the massive reservoir to the north of Wantage and a public meeting ;after in the month concerning this – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• St John’s CE Academy is calling for book donations. They are in particular need of books suitable for children aged 2-6. Apparently, they are happy to collect from those in the Grove and Wantage area.
• Vale Community Impact advice centre in the Market Square thanks the Wantage Mummers for their generous donation of £2,300, from the proceeds of their Boxing Day performances.
• The Oxford Mail provides this heartening story about two Ukranian refugees who have opened a new bakery in Wantage specialising in cakes from their country. We’re reliable informed that these are “amazing.”
• Reminder about VCI’s brand new 500 Club lottery and invites residents to join for a chance to win a cash prize. The more members, the bigger the prizes. To sign up, email help@vci.org.uk by 31 January in time for the first draw in February. Each entry costs £5 per month. See here for more details and the membership form.
• If you run a village hall or community building and need help with funding, you can get support from Community First Oxfordshire and also sign up for CCB’s useful webinar on Wednesday 25 January on Fundraising for Village Halls & Community Buildings, including information on the new Platinum Jubilee Village Halls fund, managed by ACRE.
• Now that groundwater levels are rising (and rain is falling), concerns about flooding and sewage discharges of from overwhelmed sewers are back with us again. On the latter point, you can keep your eye on this map which has been produced by Thames Water. Traffic-light colours are used: red for discharging now; orange for discharges having happened in the last 48 hours; and green for not discharging now (but shows discharges since April 2022). The overall picture is, as one might expect, pretty awful.
• The Vale and Downland Museum has an interesting talks coming up on Wednesday 25 January, ‘The largest smell in the kingdom‘, focuses on the story of how Wantage came to have the largest tannery in the country but by 1850 everything had disappeared. Click on the links to find out more about these events and book tickets.
• The Wantage Community Larder is now back. From the end of January there will be a new system where members book a slot for their collections. You can read more about this in their December newsletter here. For more information about the larder and future updates, follow their Facebook page. For a reminder of how the larder works, watch Penny’s video here.
• Want to de-stress while enjoying nature? The Mix are holding free, gentle, friendly, mindfulness walks every third Saturday of the month in 2023. The walking group will be led by accredited Mindfulness teacher Sally Harris at meet at The Mix before visiting different green spaces nearby, practicing mindful activities, to help recharge and feel more connected to nature. The first walk of the year will be on Saturday 21 January and the trail will be through Betjeman Park and Locks Lane, and along the Letcombe Brook. Booking ahead is essential, so please email wantagemix@gmail.com or phone 07768 767787 to secure your place this month. Click here for further details.
• January news from Sustainable Wantage includes plans for their new Library of Things (where you get to borrow stuff you need instead of having to buy it), workshops and events at The Mix, the community fridge and a report on the primary school cycle project where reconditioned bikes and cycle training were supplied to selected Year 6 children in the Wantage area.
• The new Down to Earth cafe across the road from Waitrose carpark offers affordable ‘warm space’ lunches for £2 on Thursdays and toasted sandwiches for £2.50 on Tuesdays. See here for their full opening times.
• The Ray Collins Trust is still offering support with £200 worth of energy vouchers if you live in Wantage & Grove or within 5 miles. If you are a family receiving benefits or an over 65 struggling on a pension you could be eligible for these vouchers to help you through the winter months. Contact the wonderful team at Vale Community Impact to apply on 01235 765348 or help@vci.org.uk
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
A public reservoir meeting
We’ve referred several times to the concerns expressed by the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group and others about the mega-reservoir planned between Wantage and Abingdon. In her latest article in the Herald, Julie Mabberly of the W&GCG describes it as “the largest bunded reservoir in the northern hemisphere.”
If you want to find out more about this, there will be a public meeting at 7.30pm on Friday 27 January at 7.30pm in Old Mill Hall, Grove. The W&GCG is, Julie Mabberly explains in her article, “working with GARD (Group Against Reservoir Development) to unpick the data and arguments that the Water Companies have put forward. There are many redactions and contradictions which need to be unpicked…”
You can also click here to read the latest (17 January 2023) newsletter from the W&GCG. Highlights include, as well as the above-mentioned issue, the Tulwick Park application; the anaerobic digestion facility to be built at Grove Farm (which I wrote about in this column last week); and two consultations about health and wellbeing and speed limits.
Thursday 12 January 2023
This week we cover Mrs Harris, a lottery, a museum, a larder and energy vouchers. In the company of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group we also look at yet another piece of massive infrastructure that OX12 is being asked to host (and offer a perhaps not very practical suggestion as to how this could be turned into a tourist attraction) – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Fancy a movie this weekend? The Beacon is showing the ‘feelgood fairytale’ Miss Harris Goes to Paris at 7.30pm this Saturday 14 January. It is the story of a house cleaner who falls in love with a Dior dress and embarks on an adventure to Paris. Click here to book your seat.
• Vale Community Impact advice centre in the Market Square thanks the Wantage Mummers for their generous donation of £2,300, from the proceeds of their Boxing Day performances.
• VCI have also launched their brand new 500 Club lottery and invites residents to join for a chance to win a cash prize. The more members, the bigger the prizes. To sign up, email help@vci.org.uk by 31 January in time for the first draw in February. Each entry costs £5 per month. See here for more details and the membership form.
• The Vale and Downland Museum have a couple of interesting talks coming up later this month. On Thursday 19 January, ‘Can onions cause ear ache?‘ focuses on the interesting world of 18th century medical advice. The following week on Wednesday 25 January, ‘The largest smell in the kingdom‘, focuses on the story of how Wantage came to have the largest tannery in the country but by 1850 everything had disappeared. Click on the links to find out more about these events and book tickets.
• The Wantage Community Larder is now back. From the end of January there will be a new system where members book a slot for their collections. You can read more about this in their December newsletter here. For more information about the larder and future updates, follow their Facebook page. For a reminder of how the larder works, watch Penny’s video here.
• Want to de-stress while enjoying nature? The Mix are holding free, gentle, friendly, mindfulness walks every third Saturday of the month in 2023. The walking group will be led by accredited Mindfulness teacher Sally Harris at meet at The Mix before visiting different green spaces nearby, practicing mindful activities, to help recharge and feel more connected to nature. The first walk of the year will be on Saturday 21 January and the trail will be through Betjeman Park and Locks Lane, and along the Letcombe Brook. Booking ahead is essential, so please email wantagemix@gmail.com or phone 07768 767787 to secure your place this month. Click here for further details.
• January news from Sustainable Wantage includes plans for their new Library of Things (where you get to borrow stuff you need instead of having to buy it), workshops and events at The Mix, the community fridge and a report on the primary school cycle project where reconditioned bikes and cycle training were supplied to selected Year 6 children in the Wantage area.
• The new Down to Earth cafe across the road from Waitrose carpark offers affordable ‘warm space’ lunches for £2 on Thursdays and toasted sandwiches for £2.50 on Tuesdays. See here for their full opening times.
• The Ray Collins Trust is still offering support with £200 worth of energy vouchers if you live in Wantage & Grove or within 5 miles. If you are a family receiving benefits or an over 65 struggling on a pension you could be eligible for these vouchers to help you through the winter months. Contact the wonderful team at Vale Community Impact to apply on 01235 765348 or help@vci.org.uk
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12. The most recent one was published on 23 December 2022.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Digester dumping
I had no idea what an anaerobic digester was when I saw this in the headline of Julie Mabberley’s latest article in the Herald (which you can read here). Fortunately, she appends a definition: “anaerobic digestion is a process in which microorganisms break down organic matter in the absence of air. The process creates usable products such as biogas and natural fertilisers.” Well, who knew?
Why is she writing about this? you may ask. The reason is that it’s proposed that one of these digesters be built between Grove and Easy Hanney. She describes some aspects of the plan – including its scale, the number of lorry journeys it will result in and its water use – and concludes that it will be “essentially a large industrial plant” and “amongst the largest anaerobic digester plants in the UK.” This is an accolade that OX12 could possibly do without. One particularly striking statistic is that the tanks will be up to 17 metres high. I’m trying, and failing, to visualise what these might look like.
She asks at the end of the piece if this is yet another example of such projects being “dumped” in OX12. The reservoir, which she (and we) have referred to before is another one, and on an even more colossal scale. Clearly, if we’re going to have such things, they have to go somewhere: however, at least in the case of the reservoir, there seem to be doubts as to whether this is needed. Anaerobic digestion seems like a useful thing given how much waste we produce but should there perhaps not be more of these but each on a smaller scale? The Wantage and Grove area seems to be being asked to take on more than its share of such things.
Another point of view – if you can forgive my lapse into flippancy for a moment – is that both plans should be conflated. An anaerobic digester on top of the vast reservoir would be an eye-catching 50m tall and so would probably become a tourist attraction in its own right. Then, on top of that, the Vale could build the leisure centre that was promised for Grove and Wantage the funding for which was pulled a few years ago. The digester could supply the power and the reservoir the water. And think of how great the views would be from the leisure centre’s windows. Looks like a win-win to me. I look forward to seeing those with the necessary technical expertise taking this ambitious plan forward. What could possibly go wrong?
Thursday 5 January 2023
This week we cover a larder, mindfulness, a sustainable café, energy vouchers and business support. In the company of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group we also take another look at a proposed new reservoir and count the leaks from our water pipes – plus there’s our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Following its break over the holidays, the Wantage Community Larder will next be back on Friday 6 January at the Beacon. There will be a new system from the end of January where members to book a slot for their collections. You can read more about this in their December newsletter here. For more information about the larder and future updates, follow their Facebook page. For a reminder of how the larder works, watch Penny’s video here.
• Want to de-stress while enjoying nature? The Mix are holding free, gentle, friendly, mindfulness walks every third Saturday of the month in 2023. The walking group will be led by accredited Mindfulness teacher Sally Harris at meet at The Mix before visiting different green spaces nearby, practicing mindful activities, to help recharge and feel more connected to nature. The first walk of the year will be on Saturday 21 January and the trail will be through Betjeman Park and Locks Lane, and along the Letcombe Brook. Booking ahead is essential, so please email wantagemix@gmail.com or phone 07768 767787 to secure your place this month. Click here for further details.
• January news from Sustainable Wantage includes plans for their new Library of Things (where you get to borrow stuff you need instead of having to buy it), workshops and events at The Mix, the community fridge and a report on the primary school cycle project where reconditioned bikes and cycle training were supplied to selected Year 6 children in the Wantage area.
• The new Down to Earth cafe across the road from Waitrose carpark offers affordable ‘warm space’ lunches for £2 on Thursdays and toasted sandwiches for £2.50 on Tuesdays. See here for their full opening times.
• Village halls that need finishing funds for well-developed projects can apply to the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Fund by 20 January.
• The Ray Collins Trust is still offering support with £200 worth of energy vouchers if you live in Wantage & Grove or within 5 miles. If you are a family receiving benefits or an over 65 struggling on a pension you could be eligible for these vouchers to help you through the winter months. Contact the wonderful team at Vale Community Impact to apply on 01235 765348 or help@vci.org.uk
• Vale Community Impact office is proud to be recognised as a “Safe Place”, located in the Market Square, Wantage. If you are feeling anxious, lost, confused or are being abused or harassed you can go to them for help and support, as one of the designated Safe Places. The Safe Places scheme supports elderly people, people with dementia, those who may have physical or learning disability, people with mental health needs or someone who feels unwell. Click here fore more information about other Safe Spaces around the country, and look out for the Safe Places logo where you are.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group covering the many planning and development issues in ox12. The most recent one was published on 23 December 2022.
• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.
• For the latest business news from South & Vale Business Support, please click here.
• If you would like to support Ukrainian refugees please join the Wantage & area Ukrainian refugee support Facebook group.
• Letcombe Register‘s latest edition has plenty of local news and events including the village diary, parish council updates, and much more.
• The latest issue of Hanney News offers colourful and comprehensive news for East and West Hanney.
Dumping the water
In her latest column in the Herald (which you can also read here) Julie Mabberley of the Wantage and Grove Campaign Group considers the problem of water. Not the clean water that falls from the sky (usually too much or not enough), nor the dirty water that increasingly is overflowing from our sewerage system but the water that comes out of our taps. The water that appears here is, she points out, only about 75% of the amount that starts its journey towards our showers and kettles: the other 25% is lost en route. Imagine if oil or gas pipes, or financial transactions, had that level of attrition. Oh, it doesn’t matter, one might say – it’s only water.
However, we’re paying for this. Our bills include the cost of treating sewage, some of which doesn’t get traced and of purifying water, some of which never reaches us. Profits and dividends go the the shareholders, many of whom are offshore. How we get, clean, store, transport and re-cycle our water are increasingly being subjected to scrutiny on environmental grounds, a factor that probably didn’t test that high 20 years ago. All in all, it’s become a major national problem with requires fully joined-up national thinking. Was the privatisation really such a good idea? Would a nationalised industry have done any better?
These are hypothetical and to some extent political questions. What concerns Julie Mabberly, and all residents of OX12, is whether Thames Water’s claims that it will significantly reduce its leakages by 2050 can be believed, considering as she points out that “they haven’t hit any target that they have produced so far.” We’re expected to do our bit, too, reducing our usage by about 15%. Other water companies have different targets; which is odd, as humans’ need for H2O isn’t determined by what part of the country they live in.
The other thing that rightly bothers her is the proposed mega-reservoir between Wantage and Abingdon. The statistics stupefy: the size of 12,600 football pitches, with walls the height of about eight elephants and holding 100m cubic metres of water. Opinions differ, as she has expressed several times, as to whether this is the best solution.
Moreover, as she points out, this isn’t really for Thames Water customers” “The plan shows that up to 120 million litres per day could flow from Oxfordshire to Southern Water (Southampton) and up to 100 million litres per day could flow from here to Affinity Water (Slough).” To put it in business terms, the project seems mainly designed for the domestic export market. It looks, she concludes, as if “as usual” OX12 is “a dumping ground for construction that no-one else wants.”
Another thing that Julie has long been highlighting is the disparity between the amount of development in the area and the infrastructure created to support it. I suppose that, if this plan goes ahead, TW, the government and the local councils could say: “no infrastructure in the Wantage and Grove area – what are you talking about? We’ve just built you a lovely new reservoir. You won’t find any infrastructure bigger than that…”
News from other areas
- Penny Post area – please see the following separate sections: Hungerford area; Lambourn Valley; Newbury area; Thatcham area; Compton & Downlands; Theale area; Marlborough area.
- News and views from across the area and beyond: please see the most recent Weekly News with Brian column.
Please note that this section is presented as an archive of past columns and is not updated. Some web links may no longer be active (usually indicated by a score-through), for instance when a consultation has closed. For reasons of space, the Events, Community Notices and News from Your Local Councils sections have been deleted from the archive posts.
To see the current Wantage Area Weekly News section, please click here.
Other archives
Please click here to see the other archived columns for this (and all the other) weekly news sections.
