You haven't heard from me for 2 months now because nothing much has been happening on the planning front until this week.
The District Council meeting yesterday approved Local Plan Part 2 so that allows 400 more homes north of Grove Airfield and 130 more home in East Hanney.
The promised £7m from the Government to complete the Wantage Eastern Link Road through Crab Hill seems to have reduced to less than £2m and even that is subject to conditions so we still aren't sure that the full road from the Mably roundabout on the A338 Grove Road to the Lockinge turning on the A417 will be completed.
Most of the major applications which affect our area are the same ones that were listed in August including:
For details on any major development please go to our Current Developments Page.
For updates on road closures see https://one.network/ (previously Roadworks.org).
Finally I just had to let you know about the Special Town Council Meeting taking place next Monday evening. At the meeting the Town Mayor, Councillor Major Jim Sibbald, will move the following motion:
"That in accordance with the provisions of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Council admit Her Majesty's Ship Queen Elizabeth and Ship's Company, being persons of distinction, in recognition of their service to the Defence of the Realm and grant them the Honorary Freedom of Wantage whereby permitting Freedom of Entry into the Town with the right, title, privilege, honour and distinction of marching through the streets of Wantage on ceremonial occasions with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and Colours flying."
Freedom of the Town requires the the recipient to have given "eminent" services to Wantage. My simple question is - What have Her Majesty's Ship Queen Elizabeth and Ship's Company done to render "eminent" services to Wantage? Have they done any more that every current and past member of the armed forces have done for Wantage and it's residents? Perhaps I'll find out on Monday evening.
We have already given the Freedom of Wantage to the 1st Battalion Scots Guards when Councillor Major Jim Sibbald was last Mayor and we did have a connection with them through Lord Wantage.
Thanks for reading.
Best wishes
Julie Mabberley
Campaign Manager
Wantage and Grove Campaign Group
www.wantageandgrove.org