Witney Town Council is pleased to announce that Burwell, Woodgreen and Quarry Road play areas have opened today and these will be followed by others as the week progresses.

The safety of everyone is paramount and we have been using the time since the recently issued Government guidance on reopening to carefully risk assess each play area and start to implement necessary changes required to make them safe for our residents and visitors.

To allow for safe play and social distancing there are restrictions on the total number of people that can be inside the fenced areas. Please take note of these on the posters you will find at each of the open play spaces when you arrive.

Unfortunately, we will not be reopening any of our playgrounds or outdoor gym equipment on Saturday 4 July.

The health and safety of our residents and visitors is our priority, and therefore we need time to consider the practical implications of the recently issued Government guidance on reopening.

It is however our intention to reopen as soon as practical and we would like to thank you for your understanding during these challenging times. Please keep an eye on our website and social media channels for further updates.

Following the recent Government announcement that play areas and outdoor gyms can reopen, Witney Town Council is working hard to reopen these and taking precautions to manage risk. We will communicate further information when we can reopen them. Please remember. They remain closed for now.

 Agenda Halls Cemeteries and Allotments Committee 29 June 2020

Climate, Biodiversity and Planning Committee Agenda 30 June 2020

Planning Applications 30.06.20

 At its extraordinary Council meeting on 8^th June Witney Town Council put forward the following motion.

Witney Town Council notes that a consortium of councillors, residents and social enterprises in the town worked together to compose ‘Witney Reallocating Road Space Proposals’ – termed ‘Witney’s Big Green Plan’ – which was submitted to Oxfordshire County Council on 18 May. The measures were drafted in relation to travel in the town whilst public transport capacity is limited and social distancing is required due to COVID-19. They were informed by a wealth of detailed local knowledge, including from Windrush Bike Project.

We note that the main recommendations of Witney’s plan, which was tailored to the government’s proposals, match OCC’s stated priorities:

• School Streets
• 20 mph speed limits
• Reallocation of road space in favour of pedestrians and cyclists

We express commitment to Witney’s Big Green Plan throughout and beyond the pandemic by

• working with Witney’s Traffic Advisory Committee to implement the plan alongside representatives from all councils, transport providers and user groups
• setting out the contents of the plan formally in a WTC Active Travel Infrastructure Development Plan
• communicating with residents as we work together to improve safety, public health, air quality and sustainability.

Having moved to formalise ‘Witney’s Big Green Plan’, Witney Town Council will continue to feed local details and wish lists into work being prioritised by the County and District Councils and will look at how it can access the funding available to facilitate measures which reduce vehicle miles in the town and promote active travel choices by creating new walking and cycling spaces. The plans will capitalise on emergency measures already planned and implemented in response to the need to get the town ’open’ again following the Covid -19 lockdown.
It is hoped to find ways to extend these temporary measures to make some of these permanent.

Improving existing infrastructure and connectivity will benefit those with a rediscovered appreciation of walking and cycling as a safer, greener and cheaper option for getting around.  Active travel reduces both air pollution and congestion and therefore meets the  criteria within the Town Council’s Climate Emergency sustainability priorities.

Cllr Ruth Smith, chair of the Climate, Biodiversity and Planning committee, says,

“Everyone I have corresponded with – at county, other Witney councillors, our MP – states the two parallel purposes of improving active travel now: responding to the COVID-19 crisis and starting to embed the changes we know we need regardless. As a town council, we have resolved to look for opportunities to make Witney greener and healthier at every turn. We know there are people who have to drive, so we will seek solutions that acknowledge that, whilst leading the call for safer and more connected all-age cycling and walking.”

To comment on the social distancing changes to the town centre, which can be adapted, please contact West Oxfordshire District Council at enquiries@westoxon.gov.uk

To have your say on how the government’s Reallocating Road Space Phase 2 funding should be spent in Witney, please fill in this Oxfordshire Country Council questionnaire: https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/consult.ti/OxfordshireActiveTransport

TRAFFIC REGULATION NOTICE
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT, 1984

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act, 1984, that the Oxfordshire County Council

Climate Biodiversity Planning 16 June – Agenda

Planning Applications 16.06.20

All Council meetings are open to the public unless otherwise stated.  The Climate, Biodiversity & Planning Committee are scheduled to meet on Tuesday 16 June at 6pm and you can watch the meeting by following this link https://zoom.us/j/95539955337?pwd=N05Mcjh1cnpTVGM4Rm5OWEg3bndMdz09

Password: 308385

Or Telephone:

Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

United Kingdom: +44 208 080 6591  or +44 208 080 6592  or +44 330 088 5830  or +44 131 460 1196  or +44 203 481 5237  or +44 203 481 5240

Webinar ID: 955 3995 5337

Password: 308385

Under the Council’s public participation policy if members of the public wishing to address the Climate, Biodiversity & Planning Committee on an agenda item you must contact the Town Clerk (townclerk@witney-tc.gov.uk) at least 24 hours before the meeting in order to arrange the necessary access to be able to speak at the meeting due to it being held virtually.

Agenda 8th June EOC