Dear [Forename]

Firstly, please don't forget that we will be holding a meeting this evening in Old Mill Hall, Grove where you can hear why Thames water want the Mega-Reservoir and why we think it's a bad idea. It will start at 7.30 pm.
If you can't make this evening, Thames Water is holding two sessions to tell you their plans on:
- 1st February 2023 - Westgate, Oxford – ‘pop-up event’
- 18th February 2023 2pm – 8pm - Steventon Village Hall – Drop in session
and GARD (Group against Reservoir Development) also have two further meetings on:
- 14th February, 7.30pm in Steventon Village Hall
- 16th February, 7.30pm in Preston Road Community Centre in Abingdon.

You only have two days left to comment on the set of proposed priorities to support improved health and wellbeing across the county from the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire (BOB) Integrated Care Partnership. They have 18 priorities each with a number of areas of focus which they plan to use for the next five years (unless NHS priorities change again). I'm more interested in what they aren't going to cover since the list seems very comprehensive. You do have to get to the last three before they start talking about access to services though. https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/health-and-care-proposals-need-public-feedback/ . You can comment until 29 January.

Also please comment on the application for an Anaerobic Digestion facility to be built at Grove Farm off Cow Lane near the Sewage works (and the Letcombe Brook) between Grove and East Hanney. Planning Application P22/V2955/FUL (whitehorsedc.gov.uk) See our column in the Herald here - https://www.wantageandgrove.org/column.php?id=304) for a few more details. You can comment until 1 February.
Just think what the A338 will be like with an additional 68 tractors or HGV's each day for most of the year but up to double this number in the harvest periods. Think what the smell could be like if there is a leak? Most of the local parishes seem to be against it.

St Modwen have submitted another outline planning application for the rest of the housing on Crab Hill (699 homes) - I'm not sure why they need another outline application but it only arrived this morning so I need to study the details.

The County Council is consulting on the proposal to introduce a 20mph speed limit throughout East Hanney, replacing the majority of the existing 30mph speed limit in the process. The 30mph speed limits will be retained on the A338 Oxford to Wantage road south of its junction with the Steventon Road, and on Steventon Road eastwards of its junction with the A338 - where they will meet the existing 50mph speed limits which will also remain. You can comment until 5pm on Friday 3 February. East Hanney - proposed 20mph speed limit | Let's Talk Oxfordshire

The digging at Tulwick Park opposite Bellingers in not because they have planning consent but simply that they want to see what archaeology they will be destroying if/when they get permission. The appeal for the current plans take splace from 21 February.

The proposed changes to parking in Wantage Town Centre were approved by the County Councillor responsible for Highways yesterday so I don't know where you will be able to park when collecting your takeaway in Newbury Street in future - except of course that the traffic warden doesn't work evenings and doesn't come here often.

We also have a number of other consultations at the moment including:
- The Water Resources South East Draft Plan (including the Mega-reservoir) https://wrse.uk.engagementhq.com/ - closing 23 February
- Government changes to national Planning Policy https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/levelling-up-and-regeneration-bill-reforms-to-national-planning-policy/levelling-up-and-regeneration-bill-reforms-to-national-planning-policy - closing 2 March
- Thames Water draft plan (including the Mega-reservoir) https://thames-wrmp.co.uk/ - closing 21 March

Finally don't forget that you can check for any road works which may delay your journey at https://one.network/

Thanks for reading.

Best wishes
Julie

Julie Mabberley
Campaign Manager

Wantage and Grove Campaign Group
www.wantageandgrove.org

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wantageandgrovecampaigngroup