Author Archives: adminimport

Upsetting notices

Some people reported seeing a poster outside Field House announcing plans to redevelop the area that could lead to demolition of Field House. Similar messages came by letter to some Elms Parade traders. These messages were confusing and upsetting.

The notices contained misleading information; the deadlines given were wrong.

I asked the Vale officers about them. The notices didn’t come from the Vale. They said perhaps it was a legal notice required by the applicant, Doric. I spoke to Doric’s planning consultant, and indeed, that was the case.

Notices are required to be sent to all freehold parties and those with leases longer than 7 years. That’s why some traders had a letter and some didn’t.

At the time they were sent or posted, the deadlines were correct. Now that it’s taken a bit longer than expected for the planning officers to check all the documentation, the dates have moved along.

Consultation will begin the day the official letters to residents and local businesses are sent out, and will last for 6 weeks. Everyone will be notified, and I’ll post it here. Even after 6 weeks, you can still send in your comments. There will be more info about the consultation later, probably next week.

 

 

Waste (further disruption)

I’ve just had this notice from the Vale:

Dear Councillors,

As you may be aware, flooding in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse is continuing to have an impact on waste collection services. This is due to a number of road closures across the two districts. The flooding and its associated impact is set to worsen over the next 24 hours.

We have been advising residents in both districts that, if their waste is not collected on their scheduled collection day*, they are to leave the bins on the roadside and crews will attempt to pick them up the following day.

At present, the increased severity of the flooding is having a continued knock-on effect on waste collections and these catch-up services are slowed down. The waste crews are working extremely hard to minimise any delays, however as the situation worsens this is becoming increasingly difficult due to the flooding itself, the associated road closures, and traffic congestion.

The Biffa street cleaning crews are currently working into the evening to assist with the filling and distribution of sandbags. These crews would normally be deployed to help the waste collection crews catch up after delays, but we are sure you’ll understand that protecting people’s homes from flooding has to be our first priority at the moment.

This information will be broadcast on our website and via Twitter, as well as communicated to local radio stations, news desks, and other local authorities.

We are grateful for our residents’ patience and co-operation at this time.

*Please note that our adjusted Christmas calendar is effect at the moment, so scheduled collection days are different to the rest of the year.

Kind regards,

Natalie.

Communications Team
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils
communications@southandvale.gov.uk
@southoxon / @whitehorsedc
01235 540300.

 

 

 

Waste collection disruption

I’ve just had this notice from the Vale.

Dear Councillors,

As you may be aware, flooding in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are having an impact on waste collection services. This is due to a number of road closures across the two districts.

For now, we are advising residents in both districts that, if their waste is not collected on their scheduled collection day*, they are to leave the bins on the roadside and crews will attempt to pick them up the following day. We will let you know if this situation changes.

We are also publishing this information on our website and via Twitter. Residents subscribed to the text and Binfo services will also receive this information directly.

*Please note that our adjusted Christmas calendar is effect at the moment, so scheduled collection days are different to the rest of the year.

Kind regards,

Natalie.

Communications Team
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils
communications@southandvale.gov.uk
@southoxon / @whitehorsedc
01235 540300.

Doric’s Application Submitted to Vale

At a little after 2pm today, the Vale received Doric’s planning application.

This will be checked on Monday and put up to the web as soon after as is possible. I’ll put out a message when it’s available to see online. A paper copy of the application’s attachments and plans will take longer to arrive in Botley, but I’ll let you know about that too.

Consultation begins on the 6th of Jan.

For info, the applicants previously filed this notice, which mentions a hotel and gymnasium (for the first time, as far as I know) but doesn’t mention a community hall: http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/archive/2013/12/20/10890840.Botley_District_Centre/

Arnold’s Way Road Repairs

Arnolds Way for web(UPDATE 18 Dec 13. The road signs have come down. I heard from County Councillor Janet Godden that these repairs have been postponed. I don’t know the new date. Disappointing.)

Arnolds Way is set to have its potholes repaired. At least, I assume that’s what’s happening. Months ago they were all outlined in green, which I like to think means, ‘Go Ahead and Fix These!’

Road is to be closed Monday 23 Dec for all day.

This is between Cedar Road and Hurst Rise Road.

Handily, school is out.

More handily, Lime Road is on its Christmas break.

 

 

Neighbourhood Plan for Botley?

At the most recent meeting of the Botley Traffic Advisory Committee (BTAC), discussion was around the basically unsatisfactory nature of the traffic in Botley. One instance after another came up for discussion and possible solutions.

At one point, Keith Stenning, the Oxfordshire County Council Area Steward for the Vale locality, said, “The biggest weapon for tackling traffic problems is a Neighbourhood Plan. I don’t know how far you’ve got along toward developing one?’ He looked around. Parish Clerk, Parish Council Chairman and Cllr Erc Batts (all of whom have been unsupportive of recent community efforts to start creating a Neighbourhood Plan) looked down and shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Keith continued, ‘Until you have a Neighbourhood Plan in place, you won’t be listened to.’

That was both good news and bad news. It’s good news that someone from outside the parish has said that it would be good for the parish. I’ve been encouraging the parish council to explore this for a long time. It’s bad news in that we don’t have a Neighbourhood Plan, but we DO have serious traffic problems, which are likely to increase as a result of current and upcoming planning applications that will bring more cars into Botley.

In the last two months, a working party was set up, a professional expert panel was assembled for a public meeting (which was very well-attended, by the way) with time for Questions and Answers. But the parish council hasn’t supported the work they did nor recognised that people want such a plan, nor that such a plan will be helpful.

A Neighbourhood Plan for North Hinksey, or for Botley (if we join hands with Cumnor Parish) would give local people a say in where local development takes place, and go along way to ensuring development is where we need it and of good benefit to the community.

Garden-grabbing specualtive planning applications to demolish one or two family homesand put up blocks of small flats must be controlled.

The Vale adminstration hasn’t been able to get any policies in place to help. The Localism Act gives parishes and towns some power, but they must exercise that power through consultation and a Neighbourhood Plan.

In case I’m not being clear, I support a Neighbourhood Plan for Botley, and the working group that has already been formed. I call on the Parish Council to authorise this important work, to give local people the control we need over development in our community, and to recognise the already established working group as having shown they can get the work done professionally and bring the community along with them. I applaud that and what to help however I can.

The parish council has Neighbourhood Planning on their agenda for Thursday the 19th meeting (at 8pm). You can attend and hear the debate, you can write to them via the clerk (nhpcclerk@msn.com). If you write, please copy the working group: botleyneighbourhoodplan@yahoo.co.uk so they’ll know your views.

More info onthe Government’s Neighbour Hood Planning scheme. 

Oxford Times article about Botley’s NPAg Em Phil NP Botley

Waitrose – Yes, please.

Waitrose store_frontWaitrose have recently consulted with local residents about their plan to open a food store on Botley Road, at the old MFI/Halfords site.

See their info here: http://www.waitrosebotleyroad.co.uk/

I like Waitrose for a lot of reasons; their food is good, community mindedness is at the forefront of their concerns, they’re green, and they have a good employee-ownership business model. (Part of John Lewis.)

I especially want them to open a store on Botley Road.

I hope they do, and I hope they stay enough ahead of the planning and construction game to contribute to the downfall of Doric’s plans to demolish West Way and Elm’s Parade to build another food store.

 

Doric Petition and Motion

West Way presents petition Dec 13West Way Community Concern gathered over 2200 signatures on the petition they presented to the Vale of White Horse council last Wednesday. Many local residents came along to show their support. The intention is to get a development that’s right for the people of Botley, and not just the pocket book of the Vale and its developers.

In the days preceding the meeting, I worked to see if we could come up with a realistic motion that would urge Cabinet to do something to help. I wanted to find some way to get a motion passed, so it had to overcome party political interests (which would just have a critical debate and a vote along party lines, so that wouldn’t help).

In collaboration with West Way Concern and the Leader of the Vale Council, we got this motion tabled:

Council acknowledges the strong local opposition to the proposals outlined by Doric Properties for the redevelopment of the West Way area, Botley, on the grounds that residents feel their scale is inappropriately large and completely out of character for a suburban residential area.

Council urges Cabinet to do all they can to persuade Doric Properties to meet with residents and work in partnership with the local community of Botley to find a way forward.

I proposed it, the Leader seconded it, and the council approved it.

I spoke about the responsibility the council has to consult the people who are affected by council decisions. (You can read what I said here.) The Leader said he (and therefore, Cabinet) would do all they could to encourage Doric to address local concerns about the plans and work with local people for a solution that works for Botley.

I intend to follow this up with public questions at future council meetings about what Cabinet have done to so urge Doric, and what results have they had.

Doric’s planning application is expected on Friday. At a meeting earlier this month,  we learned that the consultation clock starts ticking after the planning application has been checked and it’s been verified that all the required documents and plans are included. I will be notified when the plans are received by Vale Planning Department. Planning Officers will put  them straight up onto the planning site so we can see them over the holidays. There will be also hard copies, but I’m not sure when or where. (I think West Way Concern are instrumental in that.)

We will have at least 6 weeks to lodge objections, and possibly more (as many as 16). We’ll know more details when the application is received at the Vale.

To keep absolutely up to date, please be sure to check West Way Community Concern’s website or their Facebook page.