The Boundary Commission for England has today launched its initial proposals for new constituency boundaries. This marks the start of 12 weeks of consultation on these proposals, during which people are invited to view and comment on the new boundaries.

The BCE is an independent a political impartial public body, and must makes its recommendations for new Parliamentary boundaries to Parliament in September 2018. This is the first of three rounds of consultation before this date.

To view and comment on the consultation please visit http://www.bce2018.org.uk/

A hard copy of the consultation document with maps is viewable at the Town Hall.

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

TEMPORARILY PROHIBITS THE USE OF THE HIGHWAY

BY ALL MOTOR VEHICLES

          LOCATION:         Witney, Highworth Place

          REASON:            to facilitate sewer cleaning works

DURATION:         Starting on 12 September  2016

                                        The anticipated completion date is 13 September         2016 – (09:00 – 17:00)

                                        (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: Via The Crofts.

Mark Kemp, Deputy Director – Commercial

Environment & Economy

DATE       11 August 2016

An Open Event for prospective county councillors is being organised to take place on Wednesday, 14^th September from 7.00pm – 9.00pm at County Hall, New Road, Oxford. 

The event is aimed at members of the community who have an interest in, or are likely to stand for election as a member of the County Council in May 2017.

As part of the evening, we have arranged for a cross-party panel of existing councillors to take part in a chaired discussion focusing on what it’s like to be a county councillor.

We are aware of a flooding problem in the splash park at The Leys. We are currently investigating but the area is closed until further notice.

Statement re Gladman Developments Ltd

Burford Road 260 Houses Application

Witney Town Council is extremely saddened by the disappointing news that the Secretary of State has this week allowed the appeal by Gladman Developments which  will permit the building of 260 homes at the Burford Road site.

At a Witney Town Planning Committee meeting in September 2014, when the application was first considered, 60 residents voiced their feelings to Town Councillors. The Town Council was extremely concerned that despite this strength of feeling the agents failed to engage in any consultation with the Council.

Despite the fact that both Witney Town Council and West Oxfordshire District Council unanimously opposed the plans, Gladman appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State has made a ruling in their favour.

Whilst Witney Town Council accepts that it is realistic to expect Witney to undergo some reasonable growth, it remains committed to protecting the historic character of the town. Any increase in speculative planning applications is a cause for concern for Councillors and residents in that that unchecked development may be detrimental to the market town character of Witney.

Witney Town Council considers that major development should not take place without provision of the appropriate infrastructure.

Chairman of Planning, Cllr Alan Beames, who summarised all the concerns raised by the Town Council Planning Committee in a speech to WODC when it was determining the application, commented;

“I am disappointed that the planning appeal by Gladman Developments against refusal to build 260 Houses North of the Burford Road Site has been granted after recovery by the Secretary of State. The loss of views over the picturesque Windrush Valley by the residents of Witney will be sadly missed.”

He continued;

“ notwithstanding the conditions attached to the permission, I remain deeply concerned with the sustainable impact this development  will have on local infrastructure provision; Schooling, Doctors, Traffic, Site Drainage, Utility provision and the Environment”

ENDS

• Witney Town Council objected to this application on the following grounds:

• Lack of sufficient infrastructure to cope with the additional residents of 270 houses e.g. roads, schools, doctors, contrary to Policies BE1, T1 and T6 of the WOLP

• No consultation with the Town Council, despite the developers claims to the contrary.

• The proximity of Flogas is a major health and safety issue and the HSE would consider the proposed development area to be a major casualty zone in the event of an explosion.

• The development poses an increased risk of flooding. Some of the houses on the proposed development would be category 3B in terms of flood risk. Any excess water will run down the valley and into the river.  This is contrary to Policies NE8, and NE9 of the WOLP.

• Run off water into the river could also pollute the waterway which would be detrimental to native wildlife such as otters which have recently returned to the area, and water voles, which is contrary to Policies NE15 and NE7 of the WOLP.

• Amenity space and the obstruction of the view should also be taken into account – this is contrary to Policies BE2, B E4, H 2, H12 (ii) NE1. NE2and WIT3 of the WO

UPDATE ON ROAD CLOSURE AT CURBRIDGE

According to Oxfordshire County Council the Curbridge Road closure will remain in place for a further 3 weeks from Friday 19th August and is now due to reopen on Friday September 9th.

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

 ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – Section 14(1)

Notice of Temporary Traffic Order

Witney, Curbridge Road – Prohibition of Through Traffic

Date of Order: 6 June 2016

Coming into force: 13 June 2016

This Order is being introduced because of drainage works which are anticipated to take 7 weeks to complete.

The effect of the Order is to temporarily prohibit any vehicle proceeding in that part of Curbridge Road on the Curbridge side of Thorney Leys Road.

Appropriate traffic signs will be displayed to indicate when the measures are in force.

Exemptions are included for emergency services and for the works and for access to premises which are only accessible from the closed section of road.

The alternative route for traffic is via Main Road, Curbridge and Downs Road to Witney, Range Road, Deer Park Road and vice versa. 

This Order will remain in force for a maximum period of 18 months or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner.

Traffic Regulations Team (Ref JaC) on behalf of the Director for Environment & Economy, Speedwell House, Oxford OX1 1NE. 0845 310 1111.

Witney Town Council is currently exploring options with regard to the future of Langdale Hall.  Previously, under sale contract, purchasers failed to obtain the planning permission they were seeking, which would have retained and improved the existing building.  As a result the purchasers have indicated they do not wish to proceed. 

 The former Drill Hall was put on the open market in July 2014 through property agents Bidwells. In November 2014 an unconditional offer was accepted from Iceford Ltd, trading as Neptune Homes, a bespoke home improvements company which would have brought significant benefits to the town.

 Sharon Groth Town Clerk, said;

 “It is a shame that an application to register the hall as an Asset of Community Value delayed the proceedings by 6 months, and subsequently changed the original offer to that reliant on Neptune Homes getting planning permission.  However, the Town Council is now able to use this opportunity to re-evaluate the needs of a growing town, especially in light of the feedback received from the Corporate Plan survey carried out earlier in the year.”

Following a meeting of the Community Services Committee on 18th July, the Town Hall is now an official collection point for Oxfordshire West Food Bank.  You will find a box in the downstairs lobby where you can leave your items. Our location at the top of Market Square and close to the bus stops means we are a convenient drop off point for many people.  Like their HQ at Cottsway, the Town Hall is only open from Monday to Friday, so I am afraid we cannot take items over the weekend but there is another collection point in Waitrose that opens at weekends.

The food bank is currently suffering a bit of a shortage – here is their post from last week so if you can help out please do.

They are also offering a challenge to see if you could feed yourself or your family on one of their emergency parcels. The list is here or you can find it on their Facebook Page.

http://oxfordshirewestfoodbank.co.uk/

This service is run by Oxfordshire County Council.

The Oxfordshire Comet can be booked for any type of trip. Whether it’s to meet friends in town, travel across the county, attend an appointment or pop to the shops. The service is available 10.15am – 2.30pm Monday to Friday (not Bank Holidays).

For Oxfordshire residents who don’t have access to suitable public transport, wheelchair users or those with mobility issues.

It can be booked by

• individuals
• groups
• schools
• organisations
• local communities.

You do need to register before you can book the service – full details are on their website – click below.

The Oxfordshire Comet

Follow this link to read what you told us in our survey along with a brief analysis of the results and how the Town Council is responding

http://www.witney-tc.gov.uk/witney-town-council-corporate-survey-2016-results/

We have some heroes working really hard to get the splash park up and running. The team of electricians at Techlec have successfully identified an electrical fault and new equipment for that is on its way. The pump that has failed is a specialist item that we cannot just get off the shelf. A new one has been ordered but in the mean time Chris Marshall at C & C Pumping UK Ltd has amazingly built a makeshift pump from our broken one and spares that he had at his depot. This has involved him making 5 hr round trips to and from Newark on the last two days for us! Once the electrical equipment is here we can try the makeshift pump out and hopefully get the splash pads toilets and showers at the Pavilion up and running while the new pump arrives. We are doing everything we can and will continue to post updates even over the weekend so if there is good news you will find it here. Thank you all for your patience and to the guys at Techlec and C& C pumping for their determination to fix things!

Splash Park Update. Although power has been restored in Station Lane there is an issue with a waste water pump further along in the systems that serve the Pavilion and toilets, the depot, and the Splash Park. The public toilets at the far end are still useable. The Adventure park is fine and useable. Specialist technicians are investigating and outside agencies working hard with us to resolve the pump problem. It is unlikely, however, that the water sprays will be in use again before the weekend but we will keep you updated once we know more.

This flyer is available to download here and copies will be delivered to residents on the estates that the service will cover. Timetables we displayed at stops. You can also call into the Town Hall and collect a copy

Hopefully it will be sorted soon

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

 TEMPORARILY PROHIBITS THE USE OF AND WAITING ON THE HIGHWAY

BY ALL MOTOR VEHICLES

               LOCATION:         Witney, B4022 West End

                REASON:            to facilitate carriageway maintenance

                DURATION:         Starting on 25 July 2016

                The anticipated completion date is 29 July 2016

 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

The “No Waiting” restriction means that wherever there are in place yellow “No Waiting” cones, you will not be able to park vehicles on the highway.

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: Via B4022, Farmers Close, New Yatt Road, Broad Hill, A4095 Woodgreen and vice versa.

Mark Kemp, Deputy Director – Commercial

Environment & Economy                                                               Date 20 June 2016

To be eligible for the prize,

Download the Witney Town Council App

Click the ‘More’ tab and complete our short survey about Witney Lake and Country Park to be entered in the draw to win a Bird Hide Access Key worth £10.

WIN UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE BIRD HIDE AT RUSHY COMMON NATURE RESERVE AND THE TWO HIDES AT STANDLAKE COMMON NATURE RESERVE.

or search Witney Town Council in your App Store

(Terms and conditions apply)
Prize Draw Rules

The survey is also available online but entries made here are not eligible for the draw

Lake and Country Park Online Survey