Update on the Kingston Blount Play Area
The latest state of play on the revamp of the Kingston Blount Play Area is now on this website.
See: https://www.astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk/kingston-blount-play-area/
Duck Race – This Sunday
/in News/by Adam BernsteinIt’s that time of the year again when the snowdrops are out… and so it’s time for the Duck Race and cream teas.
It’s being held this Sunday, 18 February, at Fiveways. Cream teas are being served at Aston Rowant Church from 2pm to 4pm.
Please wear boots or wellingtons as with the amount of rain we have had it will be muddy in parts.
Last year was fantastic with over 100 people down at Fiveways, let’s hope the weather is the same as last year. But if it is raining just enjoy the cream teas.
Event is organised by the Church and Aston Rowant Footpaths and Amenities Group.
Five more historic images
/in News/by Adam BernsteinAnother five historic images, of people from times gone by, have been uploaded.
See https://www.astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk/historic-images
ARCC crowdfunding appeal
/in News/by Adam BernsteinAston Rowant Cricket Club has launched a crowd funding appeal to help pay for phase one of the development of the club facilities. The pavilion for the bottom field is on order and we are looking for support to assist us not just on this project but the full development of the old pavilion on the top field. All the money donated to this development will be spent on the buildings rather than the day to day running of the club.
Clicking on the link leads to a video produced by our vice chair, Thad Cooper, and details on how to sign up. Please note that it would help if donors tick the Gift Aid box and that also, it’s possible to remove the additional amount paid to crowdfunding appeal by pressing “custom amount” and entering £0.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/aston-rowant-cricket-club-new-pavilion
Steven Sowerby
Keep on recycling
/in News/by Adam BernsteinA note from SODC:
Residents in South Oxfordshire are officially the best recyclers in the country, with residents in the Vale of White Horse a close third, according to a government league table published yesterday.
However, both districts are now encouraging residents to further boost this good work by turning their efforts to reducing and reusing where possible.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) officially published the recycling performance league table on Wednesday 31 January. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils were placed in the top three of the recycling tables for English local authorities. South Oxfordshire had been ranked the highest for household waste recycling rates in 2022/23 at 61.6% and Vale of White Horse in third place with 60.9%. Each council has been in the top 5 for the last five years.
Alongside the high performing collection rates for both councils, locally, a recent waste satisfaction survey has yielded encouraging results for the councils’ household waste collections, indicating a high level of resident approval with this side of the service. An impressive 82% of respondents expressed satisfaction, or high satisfaction, with the overall quality of the waste and recycling services provided.
Parish Notes
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThe latest issue of the Parish Notes is out and should be through letterboxes shortly.
A PDF of the issue is online at https://www.astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk/parish-notes/
More historic images
/in News/by Adam BernsteinAnother five historic images of the parish have been uploaded.
See: https://www.astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk/historic-images/
More historic images
/in News/by Adam BernsteinAnother five historic images – this time of people and how they lived – have been uploaded.
See https://www.astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk/historic-images/
Half term fun
/in News/by Adam BernsteinA dinosaur-themed week, multi-sports, yoga, boxercise and movie screenings are just some of the free and low-cost activities available for children and their families to enjoy this February half-term.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are providing the activities and events at venues across the area from 11 to 18 February.
The activities are expected to be very popular so, where required, residents are encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment.
All Xplorer events take place from 10am to midday – just turn up on the day or, to book a place, visit: southoxon.gov.uk/HolidayActivities or whitehorsedc.gov.uk/HolidayActivities
Shape the future of our districts
/in News/by Adam BernsteinA note from SODC:
Requiring sustainable development; protecting and enhancing our countryside; setting higher energy efficiency standards for new buildings; and prioritising more sustainable transport options – these are all benefits planned for South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse, and everyone is being invited to join the conversation.
Innovative draft policies to address local challenges and unlock future opportunities across the two districts have been published for community feedback, as part of the councils’ work to deliver their Joint Local Plan 2041.
The six-week consultation launched on 10 January and will run until 11.59pm on 21 February 2024. Visit southandvale.gov.uk/JLP to find out more and have your say.
Among many topics the Joint Local Plan covers are some updated, new and innovative approaches such as:
- More of the housing built in the districts to be affordable housing to help those struggling to get on the property ladder.
- Setting ambitious targets, beyond the national standards, to ensure developments positively contribute to the local environment and wildlife, and deliver on climate action.
- New policies to identify and enhance our most tranquil places, and protect our dark skies by minimising light pollution for both residents and wildlife.
The two councils are working together to deliver the Joint Local Plan, which will set out what development should be allowed and where, help guide decision-making for planning applications, and set standards for environmental protection, sustainability, water quality and much more, for the years until 2041.
Using the interactive online hub, users can navigate through the Joint Local Plan topics that matter most to them; view proposed approaches, draft policies and supporting evidence documents, and explore interactive maps to see site allocations, where policies apply and more.
There are two ways for residents to share their feedback online depending on how much detail they want to get into:
- The Joint Local Plan in a Nutshell survey features short summaries of the councils’ proposed options across key topics to help make it quick and easy to take part.
- There’s also a Preferred Options document survey for those wanting to comment on specific policy areas and delve into the details of the draft policies to provide a more in-depth response.
The councils will also be out and about across the districts during January and February, with a host of local events. People can come and find out more about the plan, chat with council officers and members, ask questions and find out how to give feedback.
There will also be paper copies of consultation documents around the districts’ libraries, as well as at Abbey House, Abingdon, the Beacon, Wantage, and Cornerstone Arts Centre and Great Western Park District Neighbourhood Community Centre in Didcot, giving residents less comfortable with the internet the chance to take part as well.
In-person events:
Drop in to one of our in-person events to chat with us, ask questions and join the conversation. Find out more on the consultation webpage:
| Location | Date | Time | Venue |
| Sandford-on-Thames | Saturday 20 January
|
1pm – 4pm | Sandford Village Hall, Henley Road, OX4 4YN |
| Shippon | Wednesday 24 January
|
3pm – 8pm | Shippon Village Hall, Barrow Road, opposite Prince of Wales pub, OX13 6JQ |
| Wallingford | Thursday 25 January
|
3pm – 8pm | Centre 70, Wallingford Community Association Hall, off Kinecroft, Goldsmiths Lane, OX10 0DT |
| Henley-on-Thames | Saturday 27 January
|
11am – 4pm | Henley Town Hall, Market Place, Henley RG9 2AG |
| Thame | Tuesday 30 January
|
11am – 4pm | Candelo Lounge, 102 High St, Thame, OX9 3DU |
| Wantage | Wednesday 31 January
|
11am – 4pm | The Beacon, Community Centre, Portway, Wantage OX12 9BX |
| Abingdon | Saturday 3 February
|
11am – 4pm | Pablo Lounge, Abbey Shopping Centre, 1-3 Bury Street, Abingdon, OX14 3QY |
| Crowmarsh
Gifford |
Monday 5 February
|
11am – 4pm | Crowmarsh Village Hall, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, OX10 8ED |
| Faringdon | Tuesday 6 February
|
11am – 4pm | Faringdon Town Hall, The Pump House, 5 Market Place, Faringdon, SN7 7HL |
| Didcot | Saturday 10 February
|
11am – 4pm | Berro Lounge, Orchard Shopping Centre, 44 Orchard Street, Didcot, OX11 7LG |