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Newsletter 2 January 2024

Dear [Forename]

Happy New Year.

This is a short newsletter just to keep you up to date.

First Wantage Community Hospital.
There is a public meeting on 11 January from 7.30pm at the Silver Band Hall on Tugwell Field OX12 8FR (just out of town from the Lord Nelson for those that don't know). This will be the last meeting before recommendations are put to the NHS and County Council so if you care about the services available in the Community Hospital please go to the meeting. It will be your only opportunity to question those responsible.

The fight against the reservoir continues. The Group against the Reservoir (GARD) has called on the Secretary of State for the Environment to order a Public Inquiry into Thames Water’s plan to go ahead with their “unacceptable, unnecessary and expensive” proposal for a huge reservoir near Abingdon, completely ignoring strong opposition in their consultation process.
Thames Water only has a ‘conceptual design’ of the project, with few detailed investigations of the area’s geology, even after 25 years of promoting the project. It was turned down at a public inquiry in 2010 and should not be allowed to go forward without a full design being open for review.
GARD, CPRE and most of the Oxfordshire Councils believe that the inclusion of the reservoir in Thames Water’s plan should not be allowed to proceed for further development until a proper, transparent, public assessment of the proposal’s costs, environmental impact, drought resilience compared to alternatives, and safety and flood risk potential has been carried out and published. We agree with them - approving the plans now is like giving Thames Water a blank cheque.

You have until 10 January to take part in the Oxfordshire County Council 24/25 budget consultation https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2024-25. It's not the most informative Budget simulator I've seen and the feedback form is really a blank box with lots of questions about you but it's the only chance you have to comment on their budget.

There is no chance to have a say on the Vale District Council Budget. That has already been discussed at a council meeting in December and their meetings are not recorded (unlike County Council Meetings). You can see the papers and draft minutes from the meeting here https://democratic.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=108&MId=3194

As you know, you can read previous newsletters at https://wantageandgrove.org/newsletters.php and find a list of many of the sports, cultural and community organisations in OX12 at https://wantageandgrove.org/organisations.php
For roadworks see 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


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