Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes the Town Council’s newsletter, biodiversity in the Vale, dragons, bears, dolphins, music, art, garden waste and the Dickensian committee.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include St George’s Day Celebraton in Wantage & Year of the Horse exhibition at Dolphin Art Gallery.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• St George’s Day Event – Come and Join the Celebrations
• Town Survey Working Group
• Engaging with Young People in the Community
• Extra Garden Waste this April
• Footsteps – Child Pedestrian Safety
• Living Well at Home
• Flexicare Community Walk
• Just One Thing: Helping Tackle Climate Emergency
• Update from MP
• Town Electorate Meeting
• Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner Update
• Vale and Downland Museum Wins Green Award
• Sustainable Wantage Updates

• The Vale’s biodiversity

Vale of White Horse District Council has published a new biodiversity report. “This is the first time the council has put together such a document which depicts the natural highlights in the district, including the largest surviving example of alkaline fen in central England at Cothill and an increasing water vole population in the River Ock. The report also sets out the council’s actions to conserve and enhance the area’s natural world.”

You can read more by clicking here.

• Other news

• To celebrate St George’s Day, this Sunday 26 April, come down to Wantage town centre for a fun-filled day of dragons, live music, and medieval-themed entertainment for the whole family. Browse a fantastic selection of stalls, enjoy great food, and soak up the lively atmosphere. With free children’s entertainment and free entry, it’s the perfect day out for all ages. Don’t miss this legendary celebration, click here to see the schedule of live events.

• Gold Care Homes plans for a major redevelopment of St Katherine’s will be on public display at The Beacon 11am to 3pm this Saturday 25 April. This is your opportunity to learn more about the proposals, ask questions, and share your views directly with the project team. There is also an online consultation. See more details here.

• This Saturday 25 April, little ones can enjoy an afternoon of bear-themed stories and crafts at Wantage Library. Come along at 2.30pm for a fun, relaxed session for children and their grown-ups can have fun too. Free to attend, no need to book, click here for details.

• To celebrate their participation in the Warneford 200 project, the Vale & Downland Museum is offering a free drop-in art workshop, which is open to everyone on Tuesday 28 April. Between 10.30am and 1.30pm, come and have a go at a variety of techniques inspired by the Warneford 200 exhibition which is currently on display in the Squires Gallery. No need to book, click here to find out more.

• Quick reminder about Dolphin Art Gallery‘s stunning exhibition celebrating the Year of the Horse running throughout April. See more details here. If you’re inspired by the exhibition don’t miss the gallery’s creative drawing and painting workshop with animal artist Liz Armstrong on Thursday 14 May from 6pm to 9pm. See all details here.

• Good news that Sustainable Shrivenham’s The Hub is set to reopen on Saturday 2 May, at 9am. Think refills, preloved treasures and waste-cutting goodness. They will be ready to start accepting donations from Monday 27 April, but before bringing anything in, check the ‘accepted donations list’ and email them to check if someone will be onsite to receive your donations before you come, at sustainableshrivenham@gmail.com. For more information, click here.

• Great news for local gardeners: if you have a valid 2026/27 garden waste permit, you can put out extra garden waste for free this spring between 20 April and 1 May 2026 on your normal collection day. You can put out up to four extra sacks (max 60L) of garden cuttings per permit. Leave them open and place them next to your brown bin. See here for more details.

• A reminder that the Dickensian Committee is still seeking volunteers to help run this year’s event in December. The event will not be able to continue if they can’t get enough volunteers to help. Click here for further information.

• Penny Post’s second volume of short stories and parodies by Brian Quinn, Gravity and Rust, is available from any bookshop, including Wantage and Hungerford Bookshops and the White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough. Click here for more information.

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes the local MP, garden waste, equine art, a redevelopment, jigsaws, volunteers and crafts.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include East Hendred Spring Fair & Wantage Maker’s Fair.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• This week’s news

• A reminder that the Wantage Chamber of Commerce round-table discussion with Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot on Friday 17 April, at the Beacon Theatre. This event is free to attend and open to all businesses in Wantage and the surrounding area to voice their concerns around topics that affect their business and what can be done to tackle these concerns. Tea and coffee will be available from 11:00 am, with the session beginning at 11.30 am and finishing at 12.45 pm. For more information and to confirm your attendance, click here.

• Dolphin Art Gallery in Wantage Market Place has a stunning new exhibition celebrating the Year of the Horse running throughout April. See more details here. If you’re inspired by the exhibition don’t miss the gallery’s creative drawing and painting workshop with animal artist Liz Armstrong on Thursday 14 May from 6pm to 9pm. See all details here.

• This Saturday 18 April it’s the Spring Fair at Snells Hall, East Hendred with live music, bar, BBQ, stalls, raffle and tombola, as well as crafts, games and more. In aid of Snells Hall, St Augustine Church and a local scout group. Taking place from 12 noon until 3pm, for more details click here.

• Sustainable Shrivenham is now accepting donations of good quality, complete jigsaws at The Hub. They are still in the process of setting up and not officially open yet, however they are typically available to received donations Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm. Send them a message if you want to confirm a drop-off time. To find out more, click here.

• A reminder that the Dickensian Committee is still seeking volunteers to help run this year’s event in December. The event will not be able to continue if they can’t get enough volunteers to help. Click here for further information.

• On Saturday 18 April, 30 local artists will be at The Beacon for the Makers and Craft Fair, a celebration of local art and handmade goods. From jewellery, to textiles, pottery, painting and more, you will be able to browse and buy from the makers’ stalls but also learn some creative skills at two available workshops, which will also be running during the event. The Beacon Makers Fair is free to attend, but workshops must be booked in advance. Find out more here.

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes art, an MP coming to town, volunteers, a fundraising quiz, stitchers, short stories and clothes  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Grove Spring Show & The Mix’s Stitch Clinic.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Equine art 

Dolphin Art Gallery in Wantage Marketplace has a stunning new exhibition celebrating the Year of the Horse running throughout April, bringing together 22 original and limited edition artworks by outstanding artists including Anthony Dobson, Josie Appleby, Allan Lancaster, Boid, Hue Folk and Liz Armstrong. Each has captured the horse in their own unique and captivating style, making this one of the most varied and exciting shows the gallery has hosted. See more details here.

If you’re inspired by the exhibition don’t miss the gallery’s creative drawing and painting workshop with animal artist Liz Armstrong on Thursday 14 May from 6pm to 9pm. See all details here.

• An MP at the Chamber

A reminder that the Wantage Chamber of Commerce round-table discussion with Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot on Friday 17 April, at the Beacon Theatre. This event is free to attend and open to all businesses in Wantage and the surrounding area to voice their concerns around topics that affect their business and what can be done to tackle these concerns.

Topics such as business rates, high street challenges, and local planning are all welcome — “If it matters to your business,” the Chamber stresses, “It matters here.”

Tea and coffee will be available from 11:00 am, with the session beginning at 11.30 am and finishing at 12.45 pm. For more information and to confirm your attendance, click here.

• Other news

• A reminder that the Dickensian Committee is still seeking volunteers to help run this year’s event in December. The event will not be able to continue if they can’t get enough volunteers to help. Click here for further information.

• This Saturday 11 April, the Ray Colins Charitable Trust invites you to its fundraising quiz night. Doors open from 7pm to start at 7.30pm, at the Comrades Club, Wantage. Teams can be of up to six people, at £5 per person (plus a 60p processing fee). To find out more click here.

• Down to Earth Community Cafe at The Old Stables Makespace (across the road from Wantage Library) will re-open on Tuesday 14 April after a well-deserved Easter break. They rely on a wonderful team of volunteers and the food is amazing so do pop in. Check out their facebook page for all details.

• Next Wednesday 15 April Wantage Art Group is meeting at East Challow Village Hall, at 7.30pm. This month’s theme will be ‘Birds in Watercolour’ with a demonstration from Lucy de Arabuquerque. Visitors and new members always welcome. To find out more, click here.

• On Saturday 18 April, 30 local artists will be at The Beacon for the Makers and Craft Fair, a celebration of local art and handmade goods. From jewellery, to textiles, pottery, painting and more, you will be able to browse and buy from the makers’ stalls but also learn some creative skills at two available workshops, which will also be running during the event. The Beacon Makers Fair is free to attend, but workshops must be booked in advance. Find out more here.

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes the Year of the Horse, the MP at the Chamber, science, opening hours, crafts, bats, moths and clothes.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Grove’s Spring Ceilidh, Wantage Cafe Scientifique: Living with AI and Bats  & Moths Hunt.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Equine art for the Year of the Horse

Dolphin Art Gallery in Wantage Marketplace has a stunning new exhibition celebrating the Year of the Horse running throughout April. Bringing together 22 original and limited edition artworks by outstanding artists including Anthony Dobson, Josie Appleby, Allan Lancaster, Boid, Hue Folk and Liz Armstrong. Each has captured the horse in their own unique and captivating style, making this one of the most varied and exciting shows the gallery has hosted. See more details here.

If you’re inspired by the exhibition don’t miss the gallery’s creative drawing and painting workshop with animal artist Liz Armstrong on Thursday 14 May from 6pm to 9pm. See all details here.

• An MP at the Chamber

A reminder that the Wantage Chamber of Commerce round-table discussion with Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot on Friday 17 April, at the Beacon Theatre. This event is free to attend and open to all businesses in Wantage and the surrounding area to voice their concerns around topics that affect their business and what can be done to tackle these concerns.

Topics such as business rates, high street challenges, and local planning are all welcome — “If it matters to your business,” the Chamber stresses, “It matters here.”

Tea and coffee will be available from 11:00 am, with the session beginning at 11.30 am and finishing at 12.45 pm. For more information and to confirm your attendance, click here.

• Other news

• The Wantage Cafe Scientifique is back next week with the extremely topical subject of  ‘Living with AI‘ at the Wildwood Cinema on Wednesday 8 April. Dr Melanie Vollmar is a biochemist and structural biologist, who has worked for the past 10 years in software development in the field of machine learning, deep learning and AI. She will be discussing how AI works, what goes into building algorithms, and their limits. Click here for more information.

• Quick heads up that Wantage Bookshop‘s opening hours over the Easter Weekend are Good Friday 10 am to 3pm, Easter Saturday 10am to 5pm, Easter Sunday & Monday closed. See their facebook page for more details.

• Next Wednesday 8 April, enjoy Family Spring Crafts, over at the Vale & Downlands Museum. As well as crafts, listen to delightful stories and look out for a special visit from the Easter Bunny. The event is aimed at primary aged children, but younger and older children are welcome and it is £6.50 per child. There are two sessions available and spaces must be booked in advance. To reserve a place, click here.

• Sustainable Wantage is running a Bats and Moth Hunt, next Thursday 9 April, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Meet at The Mix and then head out to Betjeman Park and Letcombe Brook, to learn about moth biodiversity and identification, and have a go at using bat detectors. This event is £6 per person and suitable for ages 7+. Places are limited so booking is essential, click here to find out more.

• On Saturday 18 April, 30 local artists will be at The Beacon for the Makers and Craft Fair, a celebration of local art and handmade goods. From jewellery, to textiles, pottery, painting and more, you will be able to browse and buy from the makers’ stalls but also learn some creative skills at two available workshops, which will also be running during the event. The Beacon Makers Fair is free to attend, but workshops must be booked in advance, find out more here.

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes two reminders, remembering an airbase, markets, crafts, fairs, clothes and lunches.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Remembering RAF/USAAF Grove and Race Night fundraiser.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• An MP at the Chamber

A reminder that the Wantage Chamber of Commerce round-table discussion with Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot on Friday 17 April, at the Beacon Theatre. This event is free to attend and open to all businesses in Wantage and the surrounding area to voice their concerns around topics that affect their business and what can be done to tackle these concerns.

Topics such as business rates, high street challenges, and local planning are all welcome — “If it matters to your business,” the Chamber stresses, “It matters here.”

Tea and coffee will be available from 11:00 am, with the session beginning at 11.30 am and finishing at 12.45 pm. For more information and to confirm your attendance, click here.

• Wantage’s newsletter

And another reminder:  March 2026 edition of Wantage Town Council’s newsletter has been published and you can read it here.

Items covered include a message for the Mayor, the town survey, local-government reorganisation, speeding, a letter from 1983, a new bus shelter, the local flood group, dog bins, grants, the summer festival, bus changes, the Dickensian evening in December and forthcoming events.

• Other news

• Remembering RAF/USAAF Grove on Saturday 28 March at Grove Village Hall will take a look back at the history of Grove Airfield which was once one of the busiest airfields in the world. During World War Two, it was a major supply hub and played a huge part in the Allied victory. This special event will feature exhibits and guest speakers focused on the airfield and the units linked to it. Book your tickets here. All proceeds go to Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, to support those serving, or veterans, of the Royal Air Force.

• This Saturday 28 March, there is a race night fundraiser at Alfredian Park, Wantage, from 7pm to 11p .in support of Wantage Town U11s and their upcoming ESF tournament. Tickets will be available on the door, £2 entry for adults, £1 for children. To find out more, click here.

• On Saturday 18 April, 30 local artists will be at The Beacon for the Makers and Craft Fair, a celebration of local art and handmade goods. From jewellery, to textiles, pottery, painting and more, you will be able to browse and buy from the makers’ stalls but also learn some creative skills at two available workshops, which will also be running during the event. The Beacon Makers Fair is free to attend, but workshops must be booked in advance, find out more here.

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Volunteering & Jobs

• Click here for local volunteer opportunities.
• Click here for local job opportunities (includes volunteer roles).

Local events and activities

For more information on events and activities across the Penny Post area, see the website calendar.

• Dates for the diary

• Sat 28 Mar Remembering RAF/USAAF Grove, Grove Village Hall.

• Sat 28 Mar Race Night Fundraiser, Alfredian Park, Wantage.

• Tue 31 Mar Children’s Art Workshop, Vale & Downlands Museum.

• Mon 6 Apr Easter Egg Trail, Mortimer Pre-school.

• Wed 8 Apr Wantage Cafe Scientifique: ‘Living with AI’, Wildwood Cinema, Wantage.

• Wed 8 Apr Family Spring Crafts, Vale & Downlands Museum.

• Thur 9 Apr Bats and Moths Hunt, The Mix, Wantage.

• Sun 26 Apr St George’s Day Event, Wantage.

• Sun 3 May Sustainable Wantage: Dawn Chorus Walk, Betjeman Park, Wantage.

• Sun 17 May Wantage Market Garden Open Day, Wantage.

• Sat 6 Jun Clothes Clinic, The Beacon, Wantage.

• Regular events

• Wantage Library events for all ages. See details on its Facebook page.

• Burnt Cakes WI meets at The Comrades Club on Newbury Street at 8pm on the fourth Thursday of every month. Secretary Jo Tomlinson on 07580 863933. See details on its Facebook page.

• Wantage Café Scientifique hosts free monthly science and technology talks at Wildwood cinema. See here for more details and links to previous talks on Zoom.

• Harwell Scottish Country Dancing Club welcomes new members at Chilton Village Hall (8 miles east of Wantage) on Tuesday evenings at 7.45pm. Please visit harwellscdc.mno.org.uk for more details.

• Grove Fields Park Run is a free community 5k walk/run/jog for all abilities every Saturday morning at Grove Fields, Mably Way, OX12 9BN. Dogs and children are allowed. See parkrun.org.uk/grovefields.

• Kingsgrove Woodland junior park run is a 2k route for 4 to 14-year-olds every Sunday morning at 9am at Kingsgrove Woodland, Wantage, OX12 7GQ. See parkrun.org.uk/kingsgrovewoodland-juniors.

• Wantage Art Group is a friendly, mixed-ability group that meets monthly at Charlton Holy Trinity Church, offering great demonstrations and interesting talks. See here for the rest of the year’s schedule and details on how to join the group here.

• Vale & Downland Museum Book Group meets at the museum’s café on the second Friday of each month at 2pm. Any questions or queries can be sent to info@valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk or see here for more details.

• Wantage market every Wednesday and Saturday from 8am to 3pm. For further details please see the Wantage Market Facebook page.

• Wantage Library has a wide range of books on family and local history as well as free online resources accessible from home. See here for details.

• Walking Netball at Old Mill Hall, Grove every Thursday from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. No previous experience is needed and all ages are welcome. See here for more details.

Community notices

• Advice and information on flooding risks and issues in the area is provided by the Future Flood Resilience Group.

• Wantage Choral Society is a thriving mixed voice choir that welcomes new singers. Contact membership secretary Delia Greaves at wantagechoralsociety@gmail.com.

• Oxfordshire Online Cycling Map, available here, helps people find quieter and safer cycling routes.

• The Wantage Community Larder at The Beacon prevents food from being wasted and helps save you money. For more information, please visit their webpage.

• Sustainable Wantage Draughtbusters offers free visits to assess and fix draughts in your house, which could help you save energy, reduce bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Click here to learn more.

• Vale Community Impact seeks new volunteers for various roles including advisors, “good neighbours” and drivers.

• The Library of Things at The Mix on Mill Street offers useful products you can borrow instead of having to buy. To learn more about this and Sustainable Wantage’s other projects, click here.

• Wantage Chamber of Commerce latest news.

• Scam reminders from Citizens Advice with most common types of scam. The golden rule is if something seems too good to be true or doesn’t feel right it might be a scam, so take a moment and get advice or just ask a friend.

• Wantage Art Group meets at East Challow Village Hall on the third Wednesday of each month. All welcome, visitors £5. Click here for more info.

• For details of current roadworks visit the one.network site and search for Wantage.

• Free soil improver for local gardeners and allotment-keepers can be collected from the two dark green grit bins at the edge of the Memorial Hall Carpark in Shrivenham. More details here.

• Wantage and Grove Children’s Clothing Bank collects used and new clothing for kids up to 14 years old. Visit their Facebook page for more details.

• Wantage Tennis Club is open for membership. See here for more details.

• Betjeman Millennium Park relies on volunteers. If you would like to help with any aspect of the park please see here for how to get involved.

• Wantage Parish Church offers an “Around Table” hot meal every Wednesday to eat in or take away. Visit its Facebook page for details. Supported by Oxford Food Hub.

• The Mix on Mill Street runs lots of sustainable projects. Please follow them on Facebook for more details.

• The Community Fridge at The Mix, 15 Mill Street, Wantage gives away free surplus food from supermarkets. Follow The Mix on facebook here to find out when they’ve had a delivery or pop in during their opening times: Mondays 1pm to 4pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays 10am to 4pm.

• If you own a bike, Neighbourhood Watch strongly recommends registering it on the Bike Register 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 visit their facebook page for more details.

• Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue saves thousands of birds and animals. To support it you can make donations here.

News from your local council

Note: “the most recent meeting” refers to the most recent one for which minutes (in some cases draft) or some other summary is available. Other meetings may have taken place since. Some councils publish minutes more promptly than do others. If the link is scored through this may be because draft minutes have been replaced by approved ones and the drafts file deleted. If so, please follow the links provided to the council’s website.

• The most recent meeting of Wantage Town Council for which minutes are available was on 26 January and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: committee reports; the flag policy; the town survey; youth engagement; reports from District and County Councillors; The Beacon lease; and the Mayor’s communications. Note that the Council delegates much of its work to committees. Click here for more on these.
To see the dates and agendas of future meetings, please click here. To see the minutes, please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Ardington & Lockinge Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 10 March and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: the neighbourhood development plan; reports from the County and District Councillors; financial matters; planning matters; repairs and maintenance; working groups and committees; and parish communications.
To see the dates, agendas and meetings for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Watchfield Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 5 March and you can download the minutes here. items covered included: a councillor co-option; public questions; planning matters; land at Oak Road; repairs and maintenance; financial matters; and the Pavillion.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of East Hendred Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 5 March and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: mather house’s potential conversation to an HMO; the NDP; reports from the District and County Councillors; financial matters; planning matters; the Sports Club; working groups and committees; and repairs and maintenance.
To see the dates of future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), the agendas and past minutes, please click here. 

• The most recent meeting of East Challow Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 11 February and you can download the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of East Hanney Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 11 February and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates of future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see the agendas, and minutes please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Shrivenham Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 7 February and you can download the minutes here.
To see the dates of future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see the agendas, please click here. To see the minutes, please click here.

• The most recent meeting of West Hendred Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 22 January and you can download the minutes here.
To see the dates and agendas of future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see the minutes, please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Letcombe Regis Parish Council for which minutes are available was the annual meeting on 13 January and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Grove Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 13 January and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates of future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see the agendas and minutes, please click here.

• Wantage area council contacts

• Parishes: click here for Wantage Town Council, Grove Parish Council, West Challow Parish Council, East Challow Parish Council, Ardington & Lockinge Parish Council, West Hanney Parish Council, East Hanney Parish Council, Shrivenham Parish Council, Watchfield Parish Council, West Hendred Parish Council and Letcombe Regis Parish Council.
• Vale of White Horse District Council: click here to visit the website.
• Oxfordshire County Council: click here to visit the website.
• Swindon Borough Council: click here to visit the website.

• News from other areas

• Penny Post area: see the following separate sections: Hungerford area; Lambourn Valley; Newbury area; Thatcham area; Compton and Downlands; Burghfield area; Wantage area; Marlborough area.
• News and views from across the area and beyond: see the most recent Weekly News with Brian column.

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes Wantage’s MP to come to the Chamber of Commerce, a less-than-specific planning application in East Hendred and Wantage’s latest newsletter – plus crime, spring cleans, a fundraiser, refills, textiles and Grove’s history.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Wantage Crime Writers Evening & Remembering RAF/USAAF Grove.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• An MP at the Chamber

The Wantage Chamber of Commerce round-table discussion with Olly Glover, MP for Wantage and Didcot on Friday 17 April, at the Beacon Theatre. This event is free to attend and open to all businesses in Wantage and the surrounding area to voice their concerns around topics that affect their business and what can be done to tackle these concerns.

Topics such as business rates, high street challenges, and local planning are all welcome — “if it matters to your business,” the Chamber stresses, “it matters here.”

Tea and coffee will be available from 11:00 am, with the session beginning at 11.30 am and finishing at 12.45 pm. For more information and to confirm your attendance, click here.

• East Hendred’s HMO

The 5 March meeting of East Hendred Parish Council considered application P26/V0216/FUL at Mather House: “Change of use from bed and breakfast (use class C1) to 18 bedroom HMO (house of multiple occupancy) (sui generis), installation of flat roof extension, erection of bin store and associated works.” You cn see the appliucation details here.

• Other news

• There are a few tickets left for Wantage Bookshop’s bestselling crime writers evening with Val McDermid & Elly Griffiths next Tuesday 24 March at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church. Book your tickets here. Val McDermid’s multi-award-winning novels have been adapted for TV and radio, most notably the Wire in the Blood series. Her Karen Pirie novels have now been adapted for a major ITV series. Elly Griffiths is author of the Dr Ruth Galloway books, the Brighton Mysteries and a series about time-travelling detective Ali Dawson.

• Next Saturday 28 March, there is a race night fundraiser at Alfredian Park, Wantage, from 7pm to 11p .in support of Wantage Town U11s and their upcoming ESF tournament. Tickets will be available on the door, £2 entry for adults, £1 for children. To find out more, click here.

• Sustainable Shrivenham’s ‘The Refillery‘ will soon be moving into its new location at The Hub. The last trading day at their current high street location will be Tuesday 25 March and to prepare for the move, nearly all food in the Refillery is now 50% – to help clear stock before the transition. Now’s the perfect time to pop in, bring your containers and grab a refill bargain.

• A new textiles exhibition, ‘Small and Perfectly Formed‘ by Textiles in Oxford is coming to the Vale & Downlands Museum, featuring handmade embroidery, textile art, mixed media and more. This colourful, tactile exhibition runs until Saturday 28 March. Admission is free but donations to the museum are always welcome, find out more here.

• Looking for a fun way to get outside and help your community this spring? The Great British Spring Clean runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 29 March and the Vale of the White Horse Council is supporting local action by loaning out free litter‑picking equipment, including litter pickers, hi vis jackets and bags. Equipment is available to community groups and individuals and can be booked via the litter picking page.

• Remembering RAF/USAAF Grove on Saturday 28 March at Grove Village Hall will take a look back at the history of Grove Airfield which was once one of the busiest airfields in the world. During World War Two, it was a major supply hub and played a huge part in the Allied victory. This special event will feature exhibits and guest speakers focused on the airfield and the units linked to it. Book your tickets here. All proceeds go to Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, to support those serving, or veterans, of the Royal Air Force.

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)Thursday 12 March 2026

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes filling the empty houses in the Vale, International Women’s Day, art, textiles, home-growing, community lunches, Grove Airfield, an extravaganza and volunteers.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Stand up comedy and Crafters Clear-out Sale.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Empty no more

One of the many problems with the housing system is that there are, for a variety of reasons, a large number of empty homes. The Vale and South Oxfordshore Councils have been making an effort to tackle this issue.

Over the last year, a joint statement explains, “South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have been working with owners of 854 empty properties to understand why their properties are empty and offer support. Of these, 232 properties are now back in use (102 South, 130 Vale). An estimated 1,162 properties (597 in South Oxfordshire, 565 in the Vale) are currently empty (defined as “classified as empty from a council tax perspective as of March 2026”) but could once more become a home for those who need it most.

“Some of these homes are unoccupied for a good reason – such as undergoing major refurbishment or awaiting sale. The councils’ work targets those properties that may need some extra help in being brought back into use.”

The actual number of empty homes depends on how the figure is calculated but, as this ONS article suggests, there are probably over a million. Action on Empty Homes broadly agrees with this figure, expressing it also as one home in every twenty-five. Crisis puts the number at almost exactly a million and claims that the situation’s been getting steadily worse.

Yet another way of expressing it is that, if all these were magically re-occupied in the next three and a bit years then this would take care of the government’s housing target for this period even if not a singe new home were built. If, by equally powerful magic, developers could be persuaded to bulid out the million or so homes for which they have planning permission but not yet started then no new applications would be needed either for the next six and a half years.

Neither of these things are likely to happen. The fact that there’s a housing shortage and yet about two million properties are either ready to go or already exist is on the face of it a massive paradox. There are many reasons why homes are not built or current ones are empty. A very brief chat with the Vale’s Housing portfolio holder, Andy Crawford, on 12 March suggested that his council’s work had not revealed an overwhelming single reason for the vacancies. There were a range of cause, pretty one each one unique.

This article on the Local Government Association website looks at some of the causes and possible remedies.

Whatever progress these councils is making is to be applauded. When time permits I’ll try to see how this return-to-use rate compares with other authorities and what other methods are being tried.

• Other news

• Vale Council Leader Bethia Thomas reflects here on International Women’s Day. She points out that the Vale Council has both a female Leader and a female CEO and ” and women in senior management roles across the council.” She is also “proud to lead a cabinet and council that reflects our community with almost half of our district represented by women.”

• This Saturday 14 March the Vale & Downlands Museum will be holding a Crafters clear-out sale, from 10am to 2pm with a wide range of craft materials at a discounted price. There will also be homemade crafts including earrings, greetings cards, ornaments, etc on sale. All proceeds will go towards the Museum, click here for more information.

• Next Wednesday 18 March, the Wantage Art Group will be hosting local artist and retired teacher John Gunter to talk about his life in art and his experimental work on different surfaces. There will also be the opportunity to try your hand at painting acrylic onto a tile. Taking place at the East Challow Village Hall at 7:30pm. As always, new members and visitors very welcome, click here for details.

• A new textiles exhibition, ‘Small and Perfectly Formed‘ by Textiles in Oxford is coming to the Vale & Downlands Museum, featuring handmade embroidery, textile art, mixed media and more. This colourful, tactile exhibition runs from now until Saturday 28 March. Admission is free but donations to the museum are always welcome, find out more here.

• Looking for a fun way to get outside and help your community this spring? The Great British Spring Clean runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 29 March and the Vale of the White Horse Council is supporting local action by loaning out free litter‑picking equipment, including litter pickers, hi vis jackets and bags. Equipment is available to community groups and individuals and can be booked via the litter picking page.

• December 2026 may seem like miles away, but the Dickensian Evening Committee is already thinking ahead and currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with the planning and smooth running of this much loved town event. If you have some time to spare and would like to get involved, please contact the committee at wantagedickensian@aol.co.uk to find out more information.

• Remembering RAF/USAAF Grove on Saturday 28 March at Grove Village Hall will take a look back at the history of Grove Airfield which was once one of the busiest airfields in the world. During World War Two, it was a major supply hub and played a huge part in the Allied victory. This special event will feature exhibits and guest speakers focused on the airfield and the units linked to it. Book your tickets here. All proceeds go to Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, to support those serving, or veterans, of the Royal Air Force.

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes science, comedy, a spring clean, Dickens, remembering in Grove, reflecting in Wantage, home growing and community lunches.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Vigil of Lament and The Problem with Teeth.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• This week’s news

• The Wantage Cafe Scientifique is back next Wednesday 11 March, with ‘The Problem with Teeth (and what you can do about it)‘, hosted by Professor Paul Batchelor, an advisor to a number of governments on dental care reform. This talk will highlight how and why the condition of our teeth has changed through the ages and what this means going forward. Taking place at the Wildwood Cinema from 7.30pm. Find out more here.

• Comedy star Ed Byrne will be gracing The Beacon’s stage next Friday 13 March for an evening of stand-up. The observational comedian, frequently seen on QI, Mock The Week, The Graham Norton Show and Have I Got News For You, as well as hosting Live At The Apollo, will also be joined by two other comedians (names yet to be announced). To book your ticket, click here.

• All are invited to join the Mayor of Wantage and Vicar of Wantage Parish for a Vigil of Lament, on the National Covid Day of Reflection this Sunday 8 March. This was planned before the latest war in the middle east, but is an opportunity to come together in reflection over everything that is happening in our nation and our world. Candles will be lit and the bell will be tolled from the church tower 27 times for those who died in the pandemic and for those that have been lost since then. See here for more details.

• A new textiles exhibition, ‘Small and Perfectly Formed‘ by Textiles in Oxford is coming to the Vale & Downlands Museum, featuring handmade embroidery, textile art, mixed media and more. This colourful, tactile exhibition runs from now until Saturday 28 March. Admission is free but donations to the museum are always welcome, find out more here.

• Looking for a fun way to get outside and help your community this spring? The Great British Spring Clean runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 29 March and the Vale of the White Horse Council is supporting local action by loaning out free litter‑picking equipment, including litter pickers, hi vis jackets and bags. Equipment is available to community groups and individuals and can be booked via the litter picking page.

• December 2026 may seem like miles away, but the Dickensian Evening Committee is already thinking ahead and currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with the planning and smooth running of this much loved town event. If you have some time to spare and would like to get involved, please contact the committee at wantagedickensian@aol.co.uk to find out more information.

• Remembering RAF/USAAF Grove on Saturday 28 March at Grove Village Hall will take a look back at the history of Grove Airfield which was once one of the busiest airfields in the world. During World War Two, it was a major supply hub and played a huge part in the Allied victory. This special event will feature exhibits and guest speakers focused on the airfield and the units linked to it. Book your tickets here. All proceeds go to Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, to support those serving, or veterans, of the Royal Air Force.

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes the latest newsletter from the Town Council, a forthcoming event organised by Oxfordshire Food Strategy and the Vale adds to its electric fleet – plus a tree walk, flooding matters, healthy eating, textiles, spring cleaning, thinking ahead to December and looking back in Grove.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Guided Ancient Tree Walk and textiles exhibition.  See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Other news

• The next meeting of the newly formed Community Flood Group will be on Tuesday 3 March, at The Beacon. The group is supported by Wantage Town Council, however it is primarily community-led, ensuring that residents have a direct role in shaping its activities and plans. Residents can register their interest or find out more by contacting communications@wantagetowncouncil.gov.uk. To find out more here.

• Last chance to share your views on food, healthy eating, local food production and environmental impact of food production. Complete Sustainable Wantage’s survey here by Saturday 28 February to enter into the prize draw for some fabulous prizes. Paper copies of the survey are available at Wantage Library and The Mix.

• A new textiles exhibition, ‘Small and Perfectly Formed‘ by Textiles in Oxford is coming to the Vale & Downlands Museum, featuring handmade embroidery, textile art, mixed media and more. This colourful, tactile exhibition runs from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 28 March. Admission is free but donations to the museum are always welcome, find out more here.

• Looking for a fun way to get outside and help your community this spring? The Great British Spring Clean runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 29 March and the Vale of the White Horse Council is supporting local action by loaning out free litter‑picking equipment, including litter pickers, high‑viz jackets and bags. Equipment is available to community groups and individuals and can be booked via the litter picking page.

• December 2026 may seem like miles away, but the Dickensian Evening Committee is already thinking ahead and currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with the planning and smooth running of this much loved town event. If you have some time to spare and would like to get involved, please contact the committee at wantagedickensian@aol.co.uk to find out more information.

• Remembering RAF/USAAF Grove on Saturday 28 March at Grove Village Hall will take a look back at the history of Grove Airfield which was once one of the busiest airfields in the world. During World War Two, it was a major supply hub and played a huge part in the Allied victory. This special event will feature exhibits and guest speakers focused on the airfield and the units linked to it. Book your tickets here. All proceeds go to Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, to support those serving, or veterans, of the Royal Air Force.

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes The Vale’s Leader’s report and a reminder about two important local topics covered at the recent Wantage Chamber meeting – plus a circular economy, weaving, trees, sustainability, growing, volunteering and community lunches.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include CircleUp information session & Black Wantage history talk. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Other news

• Anyone concerned about flooding and flood resilience in this area (which I imagine includes just about everyone) should be aware of the Future Flood Resilience Group, a non-profit organisation set up in February 2024. It works with local councils and other organisaions and conducts research and analysis, gathering data to better understand – and help mitigate – flooding along the Letcombe, Childrey and Woodhill Brooks. ​It “encourages landowners and residents to join the group and add their voices to ours in working to alleviate flooding.” Amongst the useful information on the site there’s a flood-warning dashboard which provides real-time river, rain and groundwater levels.

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes a report from the latest Wantage Chamber meeting which looked at business-rate issues and town-centre changes, a balanced budget for the Vale and local-government reorganisation – plus hedges, music, activities, trips, growing and community lunches.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Wantage Green Gym & museum family fun day. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Other news

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes breakfast at the Chamber, local council reorganisation, drunk monks, history, the Leisure Centre, food and a green week.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Wantage Repair Cafe and Crown Singers performance. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Have your say on council reorganisation

A statement from West Berkshire Council (and a very similar one from the Vale of White Horse) confirms that the government has “launched a consultation on options to reorganise local councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. Local Government Reorganisation is a government-led reform to change how councils in two-tier area are structured, replacing county and district councils with single unitary structures responsible for local services.”

There are three options:

• West Berkshire (already a unitary council), the Vale and South Oxfordshire (part of a two-tier structure) forming a new Ridgeway unitary with all the other Oxfordshire Councils combined into an Oxford and Shires unitary. Oxfordshire CC would be abolished. This is favoured by all WBC and all the Oxfordshire districts except Oxford City.
• As above but with an enlarged Oxford City Council forming a third unitary. This is favoured by Oxford City.
• The whole of Oxfordshire forming a single unitary. This is favoured by Oxfordshire CC.

The last option would not involve West Berkshire. The government wants to make unitaries closer to 500,000 people: even though West Berkshire’s population is only about 170,000, Whitehall’s main focus is to do away with the two-tier system. If the last option is decided upon, West Berkshire might therefore be left alone for a bit.

This option would also quell Reading’s desire to grab some the eastern parts of West Berkshire: for some reason, doing this only seems vitally important if Ridgeway comes into being, although quite why, Reading has not made clear.

The above council links have more information on the various proposals. Visit gov.uk’s webpage here to take part in the consultation by Thursday 26 March.

• Other news

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes the latest Town Council e-newsletter, improvements at Wantage’s Leisure Centre and a new flood group – plus fuel bills, dancing, free buses, free food, free lunches, a big green week and bookshop news.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Grove Winter Ceilidh (Barn Dance) and Wantage Jazz Night. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• The Town Council’s newsletter

The latest edition of Wantage Town Council’s e-newsletter has been published. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a “view in your browser” option so I can’t provide a link. I imagine that you’ll in due course be able to download it from this page of the Town Council’s site but, at the time of writing, this hadn’t been updated to include this one. I can, however, reveal that the publication deals with the following matters:

• Great Big Green Week
• Bag it & Bin it
• Free Park & Ride Travel in Oxford Extended
• Calling all Wantage Businesses – St George’s Day Sponsorship Opportunity
• New Community Flood Group
• Just One to Save a Planet
• Win an E-bike with Better Points
• Message from Your MP
• Riverfly Monitoring Opportunity
• Making Best Use of Technology to Help Cut Crime & Catch Criminals
• The Warm Homes Local Grant
• Booking System for Household Waste Centres

• Leisure Centre improvements

In what will be its fiftieth year, Wantage Leisure Centre is, the Vale Council has announced, “going to see some big refurbishment projects taking place throughout 2026” – and, some users will say, not before time.

Vale of White Horse District Council, which owns the centre, has been working on plans to refresh and update facilities with a budget of £982,000.

Funding for the work “comes from developer contributions in the area (CIL and S106) and capital funding from the council’s budget.” Some of these funds have been sitting around for some time. I raised this with the portfolio holder a year or so ago and was told that many S106 payments are often required for a particular improvement and that work can’t start until all of these are in. Some of these may be triggered by a development reaching a particular milestone, which may have got delayed. Further complications can result if the S106 agreements, each of which is unique, have been poorly drafted which can lead to wrangles with developers.

“The new refurbishments planned will see an extension of the existing gym,” the statement continues, “which will see it increase to twice its current size. The gym will also have new floors, lighting and be freshly decorated. New state of the art gym equipment will be installed once the extension of the gym is complete. This will improve the user experience of the gym with the latest market leading products for gym customers.”

There will also be improvements made to the swimming pool changing area. A separate project to reduce the carbon footprint of the building, which relied on a separate funding stream, is “ongoing and expected to be completed in the coming months.”

• A new flood group for Wantage 

This was taken from the above-mentioned newsletter:

“On Tuesday 13 January 2026, an active community flood group was officially formed in Wantage. The group aims to bring together local residents to help improve flood awareness and resilience across the town.

“The group will be able to apply to receive funding from Wantage Town Council as part of its budget for flood-related projects, with additional guidance and support provided by the Council. However, it will be primarily community-led, ensuring that residents have a direct role in shaping its activities and plans.

“Wantage Town Council encourages anyone interested in joining the group to get involved. Residents can register their interest or find out more by contacting communications@wantagetowncouncil.gov.uk. This new effort demonstrates the Town Council’s commitment to working collaboratively to protect its residents and strengthen community resilience.

“The next meeting of the group will be on Tuesday 3 March 2026 at the Beacon in Wantage.”

• Other news

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes business rates, changing the channel and reservoir questions in East Hendred – plus drawing, sponsors, two rivers, reading suggestions, dancing and volunteers.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Wantage Art Group and Grove Winter Ceilidh (Barn Dance). See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Business rates

See last week’s column below for our report on a recent Wantage Chamber of Commerce meeting, addressed by PCC Matt Barber, which looked at the problem of business-rate increases, with particular reference to the hospitality and retail sectors. This also has links to a campaign which is being run to help provide some relief and, as a longer-term plan, a more rational way of raising money from local businesses than this antiquated and cumbersome system currently provides.

• Ex-X users

South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Councils are removing their profiles from the social media service X “in light of recent events that saw the platform’s integrated AI tool Grok being used to for activities branded as ‘completely unacceptable’.”

The Councils had already significantly reduced their use of X over the past year as it has become progressively ineffective at communicating with local communities, but recent events have caused the councils to take things a step further.

“Leading councillors at both authorities agree that an AI tool on the platform known as Grok, that can be used to create fake sexualised images of real people and automatically post them online, is unacceptable and goes against their commitments to safeguarding and safety, notably regarding women and children.

“Instead of X, residents can get updates from the councils on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, Nextdoor and WhatsApp, as well as on the councils’ websites, email newsletters [such as Penny Post] and in the local press and broadcast media.”

Private Eye 1667 (p8) described the platform’s current offerings as “alternating between AI-generated cyber-punk hotties, spaceflight updates and assertions of imminent race war.” Looks like the Vale and SOx have come to a similar conclusion…

• East Hendred’s reservoir questions: a Q&A with Thames Water

The following is taken from the minutes of the meeting of East Hendred PC on 8 January:

• Other news

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes the Wantage Chamber takes a look at business rates, the Vale Council responds to the reservoir consultation, a look at two similar but also different chalk streams and a look back at 2025 – plus art, connections, chess, fuel bills, lunches, dances and a new book.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Making Connections Workshop & Wantage Art Group. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Business rates

If there were no method of taxing businesses and one had to be found, no sane person would come up with the current system of business rates. None the less, that’s what we’re stuck with. This has come to people’s attention again because recent revaluations have produced some massive increases for many retail businesses.

Regardless of how many manage to survive this – and not all will – the whole system needs reform. To tax a business on the basis of an arbitrary evaluation of the value of the property, rather than the profitability of the business itself, is insane. One might as well tax domestic residents according to how much their house might be worth rather than on how much they earn – oh, hang on, I’ve just described council tax. That needs sorting out, too.

Business rates are more serious, though. For one thing, the sums involved can be vastly higher than what you pay at home. Also, it doesn’t confer any benefits at all, not even getting your businesses’ bins emptied.

Also, forget the idea that at last whet you’re paying is benefitting people in your district. The retention rates vary but, to pick one example, West Berkshire Council only keeps about 15% of the business rates it collects. The rest ends up with the Treasury for redistribution to other areas. That seems fine until you reflect that a Commons committee in 2019 described this system as “broken”.

What we’re looking at here, therefore, is not a levy which particularly benefits the local area or is bases on any particular ability to pay, but a rather crude and partially regressive tax that is, through an archaic and capricious system, levied on people who run their own businesses.

This matter was considered at the meeting of the Wantage Chamber of Commerce earlier this week and which was addressed for the PCC Matthew Barber. You can read our account of it here. Many of the concerns expressed have a far wider application than just OX12.

• Reservoir reaction

Vale of White Horse District Council has submitted its consultation response on Thames Water’s proposed reservoir for the district. “We’ve provided our feedback on Thames Water’s statutory public consultation,” the Vale’s leader Bethia Thomas said, “and we will continue to represent our residents and urge water providers, regulators and government to listen to local voices.”

The council has argued the plans fail to fully consider the long-term impacts to the local community and the environment, both during a decade of construction and the irreparable damage to the countryside. Any reservoir would also come at the expense of significant carbon emissions which the council argues would impact the district’s ability to become carbon neutral by 2045.

“Thames Water has still failed to make a plausible case for the damaging, disruptive and pointless giant mega-reservoir,” the Vale’s Water Champion Andy Cooke said. “We remain opposed to the current proposal, with all of the issues that are inextricably linked to its world-beating size as a fully-funded reservoir – issues that remain unaddressed even at this supposedly late stage of design.”

You can click here for the Vale’s statement which includes links to the consultation and the Vale’s response.

• Two different chalk streams

As we report here, the upper reaches of the mighty River Lambourn have recently sprung back into life. This is an almost magical transformation from dry river bed to swiftly flowing chalk stream which often happens t this time of year and which can take effect over only a few days.

When the river isn’t flowing, there’s virtually no amount of rain that will make it do so until the underground aquifers are ready. Any surface water will rarely settle for more than a few hours: then it’s gone, mainly by being infiltrated into the soil. This is in contrast to the superficially quite similar Letcome Brook a few miles to the north where rainwater will have a more immediate effect.

The water water behaves is a complicated business and it’s not one I clearly understand. What was needed was a clear article written by an expert which could explain these differences: and this week, I found one. Many thanks to Colin Lloyd, one of the founders of Future Flood Resilience, for writing this and for assisting me in writing a layman’s summary of it. You can read this article here.

• A look back at 2025

We’ve covered a large number of stories in this area over the last twelve months. See last week’s column (below) for some of the major ones, several of which won’t go away or keep coming back…

• Other news

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

Our usual round-up of Wantage area news includes re-starting the local plan and a look back at 2025 – plus trees, science, making connections, trams, grants and draughts.  See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Wantage area events include Wantage Café Scientifique & Talk on The Wantage Tramway. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• Re-starting the local plan

The following statement was issued by the Vale Council on 8 January:

“Council officers will meet with government planning Inspectors with the hope the districts’ Joint Local Plan will continue its examination. In September, Inspectors examining the district councils’ plan said it had failed on the “Duty to Co-operate”, suggesting the councils might need to withdraw the plan from the examination process as a result.

“But following a ministerial statement from Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, the government indicated that it intended to remove the Duty to Co-operate from the plan making process early this year, and that it would apply to Local Plans currently going through the examination process.

“The Inspectors examining the Joint Local Plan wrote to the councils asking them how they’d like to proceed and they replied they’d like the examinations hearings to resume so the plan can move forward towards adoption. The councils have now received a response from the Inspectors saying they have decided to hold a Procedural Meeting (PM) with the councils to discuss the best way forward for the examination process.

“The meeting, which will be held in public at a date and time to be confirmed, will not discuss the soundness of the Plan but instead will focus on practical arrangements of resuming the examination of the Plan given the anticipated change in the law.

“Anne-Marie Simpson, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Planning, said: ‘This news offers some welcome encouragement that our Joint Local Plan examination can move forward and we look forward to the meeting with Inspectors to discuss how this could happen. As I’ve said before, I believe this plan delivers on our vision and priorities as well as providing help to our neighbouring districts.’

“Andy Foulsham, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Policy, Programmes and IT, said: ‘I’m pleased the Inspectors’ reply suggests that the tireless work over the past four years to reach this stage will not be wasted. This is a good Local Plan – it’s robust, innovative, forward-thinking and based on strong community engagement’.”

• Other news

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

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

• Latest local newsletters

• South & Vale Business Support
• Challow News
• Letcombe Register
• Wantage Town Council Town News
• Wantage and Grove Campaign Group (dissolved on 5/11/25 but website is still live)

• News from other areas

• Penny Post area: see the following separate sections: Hungerford area; Lambourn Valley; Newbury area; Thatcham area; Compton and Downlands; Burghfield area; Wantage area; Marlborough area.
• News and views from across the area and beyond: see the most recent Weekly News with Brian column.