Throughout the pandemic lockdowns people relied a great deal on access to our parks and open public spaces. Survey responses constantly highlight how much they are valued by our residents, while research supports how closely access to good quality public spaces links to high levels of good mental and physical wellbeing and the quality of life in general.
Play Area adjoining Burwell Hall
Witney Town Council is custodian of a large variety of freely available open spaces, from formal parks (three of which are protected Fields in Trust), play and recreation areas, sports pitches, even a Tiny Forest, to small areas of amenity land, cemeteries and allotments. Each of them a green oasis.
Following consultation with partners and stakeholders, it has recently drafted an Open Spaces Strategy which was adopted formally at the Full Council Meeting on 28th June.
The Open Spaces Strategy is an essential tool, and a carefully considered plan for the management, improvement and development of open spaces to a high standard and quality which meets local needs.
Taking a snapshot of where the town is now, what works well, examining shortfalls in provision, and where improvements are necessary and what the town will need in the future are just some of the areas that have been investigated. The resulting Action plan addresses five key themes.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Luci Ashbourne commented;
“Our Open Spaces Strategy is a valuable, aspirational and ambitious document that is the product of Witney Town Council listening to, reflecting on, and understanding the views of the people of Witney.
The strategy will underpin The Council’s ability to meet the needs, and enhance the lives of our beautiful community for many years to come.”
The land management plan referred to in Appendix A is difficult to read in printed format because the original is so large. so best viewed on the website
You can view all of the Town Council’s Strategic Documents in our web library
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It was with great sadness that I heard the news of the tragic death of a young girl from our town yesterday afternoon. As a parent, I know that this is your worst nightmare and I understand the pain that the family and their friends are going through and my heart goes out to them. The whole of Witney will join in offering them their condolences and support. I must also thank the emergency services for their prompt action in very difficult circumstances. They must have returned to their duties with a heavy heart. I will also be thinking today of the schools and how they will comfort our young people as they come to terms with their loss.
** Design a Christmas street light, the winner will literally see their work UP IN LIGHTS! **
We know that a mini-heatwave is forecast for this weekend BUT, can you help us warm up the town this coming Winter with some festive inspiration? Witney Town Council’s ‘Design a Christmas Light’ competition is back this year. The competition is open to any child currently at Primary School in Witney and is sponsored by Scott Fraser. We welcome entries from Witney groups such as brownies, beavers and others, as well as entries from individual children. The winning design will be turned into an actual light and installed on the Town Hall ready for the Switch On.
Pictured are Jude and Daisy, previous competition winners. Entries can be submitted via email or post and we have provided a template for you to use on our website or you can simply draw a square on an A4 sheet of paper to use. Please return your entries to: info@witney-tc.gov.uk or Witney Town Council, Town Hall, Witney OX28 6AG
*** The deadline has been extended by one week, the new closing date is next Friday 23rd July, all entries must be received by close of business – 4:30pm. ***
Don’t forget to pop your name, age, school and contact details on the picture when you return it.
The early stages of Phase II of the redevelopment of the Corn Exchange are underway.
Witney Town Council is currently tendering for specialist theatre systems for sound and lighting, along with drapes for the main hall. Tenders are due back at the end of the Summer.
A second tender for new retractable seating to complete the theatre fittings will follow.
The work will be part funded by West Oxfordshire District Council’s Community Facilities Grant Fund
Temporary Road Closure and “No Waiting” restriction at Bladon and Hanborough, A4095 ,Grove Road, Park Street, Main Road and Bladon Road
In the interests of public safety, it will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to close the road and impose a ‘No Waiting’ restriction as detailed to facilitate carriageway patching.
A temporary Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate from 6 August 2021.
The anticipated completion date is 10 August 2021. Daily closure times are 05:00-07:30, 09:30-15:30 and 18:00-20:00.
A Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and restriction and will operate on the days shown above.
Please note that Notices for urgent works can last up to 5 consecutive days only.
Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor.
A copy of the drawing showing the extent of the closure and restriction and also the alternative route for traffic is attached.
Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Tim Belton, Milestone Infrastructure ,Oxfordshire County Council on 0345 310 11 11 or 07812237621.
Witney Town Council have made two entries for the 2021 In Bloom awards. Both entries are in the ‘Parks, open spaces and cemeteries’ category and are The Leys recreation ground and Tower Hill Cemetery. Throughout the town all the Town Council beds, baskets and planters have been planted with glorious multi-colour ‘brights’ bedding and our banners to say ‘Thank you’ to NHS workers are in place in the beds situated on Welch Way and Langdale Gate.
As always, our community groups have done a great job in gardening their flower beds and community spaces. Please take time to enjoy them if you are passing – Burwell Community Garden in Burwell Drive, Edible Gardens Group have two beds in Langdale Court (behind Lakeland), Witney Fairtrade Group have two planters at The Leys, and Witney Horticultural Society have a bed in Langdale Court (opposite the Seahorse dry-cleaners).
Additionally we are again running our ‘Schools Challenge’. All Witney primary schools were invited to participate, eight schools are taking part and schoolchildren have been busy planting wheelbarrows ready to be displayed at The Leys over the summer. In association with our contractor Continental Landscapes, Witney Town Council have delivered the wheelbarrows, compost and a garden centre voucher to the schools. Planted barrows are being collected and will be available for everyone to enjoy when they are in-situ at The Coffee Shed on The Leys. If you are visiting the park over the summer, please have a look at this project celebrating the power and positivity of plants.
Official In Bloom judging is expected to take place at the end of July. The Schools Challenge wheelbarrows will also be judged with the winning school to receive a cash prize of £100 funded by Witney Rotary. Runner up prizes will be awarded by Witney Town Council.
The aim is to involve Witney’s young people in local government, giving them a voice within the town and the opportunity to help shape their community with other young people in mind.
What are the benefits of being involved?
Improve self esteem and confidence
Great opportunities for personal development
Expand your skills and knowledge bank
It’s a great addition to your CV
Add Value to Your Community
Promote a positive image of the town and young people and improve relationships between older and younger people in the community
Be part of the democratic process and get involved in the decisions that affect young people in the town
Learn about your community and develop an understanding of political processes, citizenship and representation
How Does it Work?
Witney’s Youth Council consists of 14 members (residents of Witney) drawn from schools and youth organisations to give a good cross section of the town a chance to be involved. The members range between 12 and 18 years old.
You will have your own annual budget of £500 a year to support events and projects you have resolved to work on.
Youth Council meets 6 times a year at meetings that are timetabled to fall 2 weeks before each Full Council meetings. In this way your minutes and resolutions can be approved in a timely manner so that you can get started on the things that matter to you with little delay.
To find out more or to apply to become a member of the Youth Council please email: info@witney-tc.gov.uk
A long awaited replacement for a shelter removed due to constant vandalism is to be installed in Burwell Drive. The site is being prepared and it is hoped the new vandal-proof shelter will be in place by mid to late August.
A City Haven shelter with Sedum living roof
City Haven shelters have a living roof planted with sedums. This provides a wide range of benefits to the urban environment. It
absorbs rainwater, reduces stormflow, captures dust and pollutants from the air – and regulates temperatures.
Adding plants in urban spaces has plenty of other benefits, including: reducing noise pollution, reducing stress, increasing biodiversity, beautifying the city, absorbing carbon, and improving air quality. It’s also a safe haven for bees and other insects.
The decision to include a living roof for the new shelter is in keeping with Witney Town Council’s commitment to finding more sustainable solutions, and meeting its climate emergency objectives.
Despite giving her time to several local charitable enterprises during lockdown, our Mayor, Councillor Joy Aitman is looking forward to picking up the pace still more with the easing of lockdown restrictions! We asked her about experiences of a very odd term of office.
“Starting my year as Mayor during a pandemic was certainly unique. I received my chain virtually and the usual rounds of visits and attending functions were much curtailed. I spent a fair amount of time explaining to the media why we were cancelling some of our favourite town events. I was particularly sad to not host The Mayor’s Carol Service.
There was however lots going on behind the scenes where your Town Councillors and the amazing Town Officers worked relentlessly to maintain not only business as usual but so much more. I am so proud of all their service to the town.
So many of our residents rose to the occasion too. I have had the happy task of signing our Witney Heroes certificates. I frequently shed a tear when I read of the selfless acts of kindness and community, and I have been delighted to see people’s reactions to receiving them. During lockdowns I was privileged to work alongside the volunteers at Witney Fridge – packing food deliveries, The Land Army – delivering prescriptions and Witney Baby Bank – delivering nappies, wipes and formula
There has been sadness in our losses and in our new ways of living, working & schooling. Families and friends have been separated during the hardest times. However the separation seems to have brought us closer together and an appreciation of the simpler things in life. The chaos and hurt caused by the pandemic will be felt for many years to come, and we will focus the council on repairing and rebuilding over the next years.
Just as some families were harder hit than others, some will need more support to recover. As residents we must continue to help each other on this journey. We must learn to be patient as people integrate back in to the new normal and realise that it may take some longer than others, everyone will do it at their own pace.
I am so delighted to be elected as Mayor for another year, alongside my lovely Deputy, Cllr. Liz Duncan. Hopefully we will be back out and about meeting you all. Do contact us if you would like our presence at your event.
I am also excited to be able to hold fundraising events in our newly refurbished Corn Exchange. I can’t wait to invite residents to join me for a cup of tea in our 1863 Cafe Bar. One of my first dates was with Ted Allum a resident on Smith’s Estate, who celebrated his 100th birthday during our first lockdown. We were finally able to meet to celebrate his 101st birthday. Ted is a true gentleman and it was a delight to spend time with him and Councillor Andrew Coles.
The Mayor with 101 year old Ted Allum, and Councillor Andrew Coles.
I had an interesting visit to a local Witney company, Moshon Data, who manufacture soft targets for the car industry to enable them to test Auto Emergency Breaking. As part of Global Road Safety Week they demonstrated how technology will help to reduce low collision accidents. I was a passenger in a car that was driven at the soft target that represented a 7 year old child. It was fantastic to see how fatalities can be prevented.”
Whenever possible Joy has been out and about supporting local groups and events and will be happy to be able to commit to more of this.
In May Witney Pride held a series of very successful online events and a Pride Walk, which Joy was delighted to support.
The Mayor with Cllr Andrew Coles at the Witney Pride walk in May 2021
And in July, the Mayor supported the lunch of the very first pop up cafe for the Good Grief Trust. The trust aims to plug the gaps in local bereavement support & bring the bereaved together.
Following on from No Mow May, Witney Town Council is keen to continue to support the health of our precious pollinator insects, and other wildlife. We are running a residents’ garden competition
Create a wild oasis in your garden.
Big or small it doesn’t matter. Every bit of Wild Witney is valuable.
Send your photos in to us so that we can share some on social media.
If you are not yet familiar with this new system it is worth following the link below to the main menu page and exploring all the links. You can find our minutes agendas and reports here too, along with details of all our councillors and committees.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act, 1984, that the Oxfordshire County Council
TEMPORARILY PROHIBITS THE USE OF THE HIGHWAY BY ALL MOTOR VEHICLES
LOCATION: Witney, section of B4022 from A40 to Oxford Hill (westbound slip road)
REASON: To facilitate CCTV and Ground Penetrating radar surveys
DURATION: Starting on 13 September 2021.The anticipated completion date is 18 September 2021.(date included). The closure will operate nightly between 20:00 and 06:00 (Traffic Regulation Notices cover a maximum of 5 consecutive days.)
ACCESS: Limited access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for frontages within the closed section of road, subject to the progress of the works.
SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: A40 westbound to exit with Ducklington Lane onto Welch Way and High Street, A4095 Bridge Street, B4022 Newland and Oxford Hill.
Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Chris Corbetis at Balfour Beatty on +44 (0)7860 832360.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act, 1984, that the Oxfordshire County Council
TEMPORARILY PROHIBITS THE USE OF THE HIGHWAY BY ALL MOTOR VEHICLES
LOCATION: North Leigh, A4095 Witney Road between Common Road and Park Road
REASON: To facilitate section 278 carriageway widening
DURATION: Starting on 29 September 2021
The anticipated completion date is 1 October 2021 (date included). The closure will operate each night 21:00 to 05:00 hours (Traffic Regulation Notices cover a maximum of 5 consecutive days.)
ACCESS: Limited access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for frontages within the closed section of road, subject to the progress of the works
SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE ROUTE:via A4095-A44-A34-A40-B4022-A4095 and vice versa.
Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Rob Skull at Northavon Group Ltd on 01761 435493 or email Rob.Skull@northavongroup.com
With the pause in the lifting of COVID restrictions, the opening of the Splash Park is also on hold until July 19th at the earliest provided that the Government Roadmap out of Lockdown is on track at that point. We will carefully monitor that and review plans accordingly.
The Leys splash park operates with unchlorinated water and is housed within the adventure play area in close proximity to the play equipment which means that it doesn’t allow for safe social distancing following the current government guidelines for Covid-19.
We know that this is disappointing and Witney Town Council is looking forward to being able to reopen this facility as soon as restrictions allow. The splash park has been commissioned and all testing carried out so it is ready to go as soon as we have the green light.
The Witney Town Council meeting scheduled for the 28th June at 7pm will be held in the Main Hall of the Corn Exchange. The agenda can be found here. Agenda Full Council 28 June 2021
Following the extension of Covid-19 restrictions until 19th July, the meeting will be subject to social distancing, track and trace and other precautionary measures to help mitigate the spread of the virus. The number of public permitted to attend will be limited, with no exceptions. For further information on the measures please see the agenda and guidance for members of the public wishing to attend document, below.
If you would like to attend, to speak on a particular agenda item please contact the Democratic & Legal Services Officer as soon as possible using the contact details provided within the Public Guidance document. We thank you for your co-operation and understanding.
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With the pause in the lifting of COVID restrictions, the opening of the Splash Park is also on hold until July 19th at the earliest provided that the Government Roadmap out of Lockdown is on track at that point. We will carefully monitor that and review plans accordingly.
