Welcome to the website for the village of Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire, England. Within these pages you will find information on the village, the Parish Council and its activities, a directory of local businesses and services, information on clubs and groups, and lots of other things too.
Complete the “Subscribe” option at the bottom right of this page to be notified by email when village news is posted.
More than sixty residents gathered at the war memorial in the High Street on Remembrance Sunday to honour those who lost their lives in the First World War.
The ceremony had particular significance this year because the 11th of November marked the one hundredth anniversary of the end of one of the most horrific wars in history.
The men from Long Wittenham who are remembered on the war memorial are Percy Beckett, Charles Bidmead, Kenneth Bumpass, Alec Chambers, Alan Eason, Vincent Essex, Harry Green, William Wybrow-Hallwright, William Hermon, Thomas Hopkyns, Ernest Jeffries, Fred and Frank Lamboll and Frank Leston.
On Friday the 9th of November ninety-five children and teachers from Long Wittenham Primary School had paid their respects during a special church service and afterwards at the war memorial for a moving tribute to those of another generation. The service was taken by the Rev David Haylett who also presided over the Sunday remembrance at the war memorial.
Members of the village WI had knitted poppies and a wreath was made by the craft group with guidance from Jenny Garlick. A garland of poppies was placed behind the war memorial and at the stone cross in the village.
Wreathes were laid by the chairman of Long Wittenham Parish Council Gordon Rogers, Jane May on behalf of the WI and by Linda Town on behalf of the village poppy collectors. Mr Rogers recited the names of the men from Long Wittenham who were killed and presented a commemorative sapling from the County Council and Woodland Trust to mark the 100th anniversary of the armistice. It will be planted at the entrance to the Sylva Wood Centre in Little Wittenham Road.
When the Athletic Club’s Life-Vice-President Bill Symonds decided it was time to clear out his garden shed, little did he realise his efforts would unearth a trip down memory lane for himself, the club and Long Wittenham.
Bill discovered a small metal plaque dating back to May 1937 when Archibald Bodkin officially donated the land off Northfield Lane to the village for sport. Continue reading
Residents may have noticed that The Pound, the green space on the High Street between Church Cottage and Church Farm Cottage, has undergone something of a face-lift over the past couple of weeks. The principals behind the work would like to take this opportunity to explain the background and future plans.
Past
In the past The Pound was the place where any stray animal would be kept securely until Continue reading
As previously noted here, the Long Wittenham Neighbourhood Development Plan has been revised and submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC). SODC has circulated the documents for the next (Regulation 16) consultation, which closes on 13th December. The plan documents are here:
Last evening, South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee rejected plans by Kler Group to realign the Didcot Road to facilitate the entrance to their housing development on the corner of Didcot Road and Fieldside. Seven councillors voted to reject the application and three abstained.
Speaking against the proposals were Steve Brown on behalf of the parish council and Continue reading
Long Wittenham’s tenth annual bonfire and fireworks display on Saturday 3rd November was a huge success. Watched by 420 people in Ward’s Field, the event raised more than £1,700 for local causes.
The attendance was slightly down on previous years which, combined with the additional spending on fireworks to celebrate the 10th anniversary, meant profits were slightly reduced, but the event still generated a Continue reading
Don’t forget that the Long Wittenham Primary School Favours Auction will take place at the school on Friday 23rd November. Doors will open at 7pm and the auction will start at 7.30pm. All proceeds will go to the school.
There are lots of fantastic items in the catalogue on which to bid. Continue reading
Local planning authorities are embarking on an Oxfordshire Joint Statutory Spatial Plan (JSSP) that will set out the development framework for the county right through to 2050.
The Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor proposals envisage transformational levels of growth over that period. It is therefore vital that the Plan includes strong policies that will protect the countryside and bring positive Continue reading
The Parish Council will hold its regular monthly meeting this coming Thursday evening (8th November) at 7:30pm in the Village Hall.
Download the agenda here.
Oxfordshire County Council is consulting on initiatives that will be put forward as part of a Government bid for funding under the Housing Infrastructure Fund. and local people are being given the chance to give their views.
There is significant housing and employment growth for Didcot and the area through the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district council local Continue reading
