Local Development Framework Consultation

The Consultation Process of the latest stage of the West Oxfordshire Local Development Framework has just started. This sets out the vision for the development of West Oxfordshire for the next 15 years. Amongst the various proposals is a plan that about 400 houses will be built in the Upper Evenlode Valley (which includes Charlbury). There are even more substantial building plans set out for Witney, Chipping Norton and other nearby areas.

The plans can be inspected on-line at www.westoxon.gov.uk/CoreStrategy, as well at WODC's Elmfield Office and Town Centre Shop in Witney, the Guildhall in Chipping Norton and at public libraries.
There are also exhibitions of the plans on Fri. 19th Feb at the Corn Exchange, Witney (from 10 - 3) and at the Town Hall, Chipping Norton on Wed. 24th February (from 11 - 6).

Sun 7 Feb, 18:39 | Link

Professor David Furley

Many will have known Professor David Furley who lived on The Playing Close. David died on 26 January and the funeral is to be in the Quaker Meeting House on Friday 12 February at 3pm. All friends welcome.

Thu 4 Feb, 20:14 | Link

David Sturdy is back home

Friends and neighbours of David and Brigid will be relieved to know that David has returned home, hungry but safe and well, after a day in London and Banbury.

Posted by Jon Carpenter | Mon 1 Feb, 21:01 | Link

Woodfield Drive resident goes missing

Thames Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help in trying to trace a 74-year-old man who has been reported missing in Charlbury.

David Sturdy, of Woodfield Drive was last seen by his wife at around 11pm last night (31 January). It is believed he left the house through the back door before 8.15am this morning (1 February).

He is white, 6ft and of a heavy build. He is wearing dark moleskin trousers, a green tweed sports jacket, a green tweed cap, a jumper with green, red and brown stripes and brown sued shoes. He wears glasses and suffers from dementia.

He was due to go on a trip with his wife to London today (1 February) by train.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sgt Pete Reid at Witney police station via 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to talk to police or leave your name, please contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Posted by Richard Fairhurst | Mon 1 Feb, 17:25 | Link

HAITI EARTHQUAKE

The Hunger Lunch at The Cottages, Church Lane, on Saturday 23 January raised £800 which has been sent to The World Food Programme for its work in Haiti. Very many thanks to all who supported the event or donated. The appeal is still open.

Ann Harper 810464

Wed 27 Jan, 12:16 | Link

£50,000 grant for Nine Acres pavilion

The Oxford Mail reports that WREN have provided a £50,000 Landfill Tax grant towards the £200,000 cost of a new pavilion:

Committee chairman Robert Caston said: “The pavilion is 76 years old and unusable for young people. This is a generous grant and we’re absolutely delighted. Youngsters from the football club and the tennis club will be the ones to benefit. The pavilion will include two full size changing rooms, showers, toilets, and separate disabled changing rooms.”

(Original story.)

Posted by Richard Fairhurst | Tue 26 Jan, 23:38 | Link

Petition launched to cut speed limit on Finstock/Witney road

From the Oxford Mail:

"A grieving husband has launched a petition to cut the speed limit on a west Oxfordshire road where his wife became the eighth person to die in a decade.

"Paul Bennett’s wife Linda died in a crash last November on the 60mph B4022 near Charlbury, just three days before her 54th birthday. He is now calling for the county council to introduce a 40mph limit between Charlbury and Witney, following two deaths in the past 12 months."

People who would like to add their names to the petition are asked to e-mail their name, address and comments on the road to haileypc@live.co.uk . (More details on the Oxford Mail story.)

Posted by Richard Fairhurst | Sun 24 Jan, 23:23 | Link

Police appeal for information about Woodstock Road crash

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information after a fatal collision near Charlbury, Chipping Norton.

At about 8.20am on Thursday, a blue VW Polo and a black Peugeot 106 collided on the B4437 Woodstock Road, at the junction for New Barn Farm near Charlbury.

The driver of the Peugeot, a 26 year old woman from Woodstock, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with serious injuries. She died from her injuries on Friday afternoon.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or saw either vehicle prior to the collision, should contact Sgt Pete Jell, from the Bicester Roads Policing Department on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

(from a TVP press release)

Posted by Richard Fairhurst | Sun 24 Jan, 00:26 | Link

New use proposed for The Old Bank House in Market Street

A planning application has been submitted for conversion of the two upper floors of the Old Bank House, Market Street into a three-bedroomed flat. The ground floor would be altered to provide a suite of four offices (instead of the present three) and kitchen, and an outdoor smoking area.

The application and the accompanying plans may be seen here.

The applicants are OHL Ltd, a Rothschild family company based on the Ashton Estate at Oundle, near Peterborough. OHL already own The Old Farm House in Sheep Street.

Posted by Jon Carpenter | Fri 22 Jan, 11:20 | Link

New parking wardens for West Oxfordshire

On 25th January 2010 West Oxfordshire District Council takes over the management of on-street parking from the Police.

A new team of civil enforcement officers, called Community Wardens, will control parking both on the street and in council-managed car parks across the district. Wearing distinctive green uniforms and high-visibility jackets, the new Community Wardens will carry out regular patrols on foot throughout the District.

They will:
. help improve parking problems caused by illegal and inconsiderate parking, which will help keep roads safe and traffic moving freely
. provide advice to motorists and residents, linking the public with council services
. penalise those that flout the law by issuing Penalty Charge Notices.

All car parks in West Oxfordshire will remain free and there are currently no plans to introduce any on-street pay and display or residents parking areas (Controlled Parking Zones). In addition to managing parking the new community wardens will act as the 'eyes and ears' of the Council, reporting environmental issues such as littering, dog-fouling and graffiti. They will also work closely with neighbourhood Police teams.

. The majority of parking offences, including parking on yellow lines and in parking bays, are no longer criminal and will now be classed as civil contraventions.
. Offences that attract endorsements on your driving licence such as parking on zig-zags of pedestrian crossings will remain criminal and will be enforced by the Police and the Council.
. Income from penalty charge notices will be used to improve local transport and parking services In West Oxfordshire the service will be provided by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) who will be acting as agents of the Highway Authority, Oxfordshire County Council.

Wed 20 Jan, 09:41 | Link