Topics this week include

1. Policing:
   The meeting hosted by the Deputy Police Commissioner (and District Councillor) Matthew Barber was interesting.  According to Superintendent Rory Freeman crime has risen recently and, as Thames Valley Police have £100 million less in funding than they had 6 years ago, they have to prioritise. He said that the police have to assess incidents based on the scale of vulnerability and the availability of data.
   If a crime is in progress, when there is danger to life, when violence is being used or threatened or if it's an emergency, then phone 999. Otherwise please phone 101. Items discussed included the lack of a visible police presence since the Police Station closed, the increase in drug and alcohol related crime, anti-social behaviour and illegal parking. 
   Apparently since last year the neighbourhood policing team for Wantage and Area, (a sergeant, two constables and five police community support officers) have been ring-fenced for this area, meaning they are called to incidents outside our area less often.
   As Matthew Barber said “The Wantage & Grove area remains an incredibly safe place to live, both absolutely and comparatively, but this does not take away from the genuine concerns that people have or the distress for those who have been the victims of crime.”
2. School:
   I'm sure you have heard that King Alfred's has just received its latest OFSTED Report in which it fell from "outstanding" to "requires improvement".
   Overall, pupils do not make the progress that they should, especially the disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.
   Over time, leaders and governors have not ensured that either the quality of teaching or pupils’ outcomes are good enough.
   I'm sure they will be back up to "Outstanding" soon.
3. Correction:
   In the news from Crab Hill Forum in the last email, I reported that the Western Relief Road should open by the end of 2021 - that was wishful thinking - I should have said that the Wantage Eastern Link Road (through Crab Hill) should open by the end of 2021
4. East Challow:
   Dandara (the developers who obtained initial planning consent for the developments at the end of the Denchworth Road near the Airplane roundabout) are hosting a consultation in East Challow Village Hall on Wednesday 27 June from 3pm to 8pm. They are seeking to work with the community on a plan for a development which could pay for a West Wantage Link Road.
   This is, of course, likely to require at least 750 new homes to be built between Crown and Haines and could effectively join Wantage, Grove and East Challow together as one community.
   Let us know if you think it would be worth it to have the Western by-pass?
5. Road works
   - Letcombe Hill, East Challow will be closed from 20-22 June
   - Thames Water will be working on Oxford Lane (near the A338) from 18-22 June and will have traffic lights there
   - Traffic lights on the A417 at Crab Hill continue to 29 June. But then further roadworks on this stretch from 2-4 July so beware!
   - The A417 traffic lights at West Hendred could continue to 2 July
   - The A4130 Abingdon Road between Rowstock and Milton Heights will have traffic lights from 26 June to 6 July
   - Advance notice that Featherbed Lane will be closed from 19th - 23rd July for Truckfest and Ickleton Road will be closed from Priory Road to Ham Road from 6th - 31st August while repairs are made to the retaining wall.

That's enough for now. Thanks for reading.

Best wishes
Julie Mabberley

Campaign Manager
Wantage and Grove Campaign Group
www.wantageandgrove.org