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More than thirty residents attended the special Parish Council meeting on Thursday 11th October to hear details of the progress on the revision of the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) following the recent Regulation 14 consultation.
Councillor Peter Rose, chairman of the NDP Steering Committee gave a presentation outlining the history of the NDP to date and the current content of the recently revised draft of the plan. Many comments were received in the Regulation 14 consultation but these mainly concerned site allocations, the Community Hub site and the countryside/green gap policy.
In the revised plan, two sites have been ‘allocated’, the Community Hub site and the Kler site on the corner of Didcot Road and Fieldside, and two sites, the existing village hall and school have been ‘safeguarded’. South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) is unhappy that these sites are safeguarded rather than allocated. The Parish Council is seeking a legal opinion on this.
The main issues over the hub site concern the viability of the project, and the size of the site and number of houses. The meeting was told that the preferred developer and landowner have agreed that the maximum number of houses will be forty-five, and the parish council will no longer be asked to purchase the redundant land.
Regarding the concerns about the increased size of the site, it was explained that this related to the requirement by Oxfordshire County Council that the school has a larger playing field. The expansion of the site is almost entirely playing field area.
There was a question over the validity of the Countryside ‘green gap’ Policy to protect the village from ‘Didcot creep’. A landscape report was recommended but the cost is prohibitive. However, this part of the report has been improved using landscape details from Didcot Garden Town and other sources, and the site allocations should also help.
The meeting was told that because of next year’s district council elections in May, South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) has placed an embargo on all referenda between March and June.
The revised plan is nearing completion and should be lodged with SODC by the end of October to enable the next round of formalities to take place, in time to beat the district council’s referendum embargo.
A ‘yes’ vote for the NDP in the referendum will give the village more certainty against any further housing development in the near future.
Wittenham WI 70th Birthday celebrations kicked off in style on Friday 12th October, when the Village Hall morphed into an outpost of India, with wall-hangings of saris and silk.
A group of villagers, young and old, learned and watched all kinds of “moves”, and joined in an energetic dance session delightfully led by Kally Peigne from Continue reading
The Parish Council has now been advised that Kler’s planning application to realign the Didcot Road to facilitate the entrance to the site of their housing development on the corner of Fieldside and Didcot Road will NOT be considered by South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) Planning Committee on Wednesday 17th October. This is to allow time for the committee to make a site visit. Continue reading
The Earth Trust is hosting an archaeology season this month with a live archaeological excavation and free events for all ages.
From Tuesday 16th to Sunday 28th October 2018, free daily tours running at 12noon and 3:00pm will enable visitors to see the archaeology being Continue reading
Don’t miss the Long Wittenham School Christmas Fayre on Saturday 17th November 12noon to 3pm, sponsored by Thomas Merrifield.
Come along for a traditional family fayre including …
A photo shoot in the giant snow globe, yummy turkey and stuffing rolls and mince pies in Continue reading
The Parish Council has been advised that Kler’s planning application to realign the Didcot Road to facilitate the entrance to the site of their housing development on the corner of Fieldside and Didcot Road will be considered by South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) Planning Committee on Wednesday 17th October. The meeting starts at 6pm at Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7JN. Continue reading
The Sylva Foundation has a very exciting programme of activities lined up for its first Anglo-Saxon open weekend (13th-14th October) as part of the House of Wessex project.
Over the two days (10am to 4pm) there will be opportunities for all the family to experience a wide range of Anglo-Saxon activities. Continue reading
This month’s usual Parish Council meeting in the Village Hall will be preceded by a village meeting at 7pm to discuss the revision of the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP).
The plan has been updated due to changes in Government advice, the Kler public enquiry and other local pressures. The revision will make the NDP more Continue reading
The Long Wittenham 10th Anniversary Bonfire Night will take place on Saturday 3rd November starting at 6pm on Ward’s Field.
Tickets will go on sale from Monday 15th October and will be available from Long Wittenham School and Clifton Hampden Post Office.
Ticket prices are adults £6, children £3, family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children) £16. Under 4s Continue reading
The Long Wittenham 200 Club is pleased to announce the winners for September.
£10 each to:
166 Mrs Braid Continue reading
