Dear [Forename]

We had a good session about the Future of OX12 last night (with a couple of technical hitches but that's the problem of combined zoom/physical meetings). I'm sure that if we do more of these joint sessions our organisation will be slicker. Anyway I have now put the notes from the evening up on the website so please take a look. They are available here: https://www.wantageandgrove.org/images/Whats_the_Future_for_OX12_with_notes.pdf

While I have your attention, I have a consultation which you might be interested in. You know that the West end of Wantage Market Place (outside the King Alfreds Head and Marmalade) has been pedestrianised for the last couple of years using a temporary closure order under Covid. Well, now the Town Council want to make this permanent. See https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wantage_marketplace_experiment22? for the consultation. You can respond until 1st July but please don't forget. I'm sure it helps the trade of the eating establishments here but what about the rest of the Market Place? Is it a good thing or not?

Also please don't forget the the Vale and South Oxfordshire District Councils consultation on the new Joint Local Plan which will guide the kinds of new housing and jobs needed and where they should go, informing planning application decisions for the districts. This consultation is on the main issues facing our districts and how we could use the Joint Local Plan to address them. See Joint Local Plan for details. We have until until 11.59pm on Thursday 23 June 2022 to respond.
Question 2 is an interesting one. In fewer than 50 words, if you could make one change to improve where you live, what would it be? don't forget to include the name of the town, village or area you’re talking about. I'm sure that you could answer that one but as someone on facebook said we need a 'dynamic vision' for OX12 and not simply piecemeal developer-led plans with little regard for the existing community.
The next section talks about how things are now and points out that Most of our residents live in historic villages and market towns, and we have a duty to manage any change in these locations extremely carefully. I'd like to see that 'duty' being taken seriously.
The following section gives a brief overview of the vision - it's mainly motherhood and apple pie (if you know what I mean) but then the question asks How much do you agree with this vision for the Joint Local Plan. A vision for the future of OX12 would be much more useful!

That's enough for now. It's the Jubilee weekend soon and I hope that you have a super time.

Now that we are all out and about again don't forget that you can check for road works which may delay your journey at https://one.network/

I nearly forgot - if you are a facebook user we have a new page - please join us there and we can chat online. https://www.facebook.com/groups/wantageandgrovecampaigngroup

Thanks for reading.

Best wishes
Julie

Julie Mabberley
Campaign Manager

Wantage and Grove Campaign Group
www.wantageandgrove.org