West Oxfordshire District Council has today launched an 8-week public consultation to help shape the development of the new West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041.
The consultation runs from 30 August – 25 October 2023 and is focused on 3 particular elements:
Draft local plan objectives – a series of draft objectives which are intended to guide the future evolution of the plan in terms of its overall approach and anticipated policy content;
The future pattern of development in West Oxfordshire – different scenarios for how and where we might look to focus future growth in the period up to 2041;
Call for sites, ideas and opportunities – an open invitation for stakeholders to put forward their thoughts on how land in the District might be used in the future such as new housing, employment, infrastructure, community use, green space, nature recovery and renewable energy.
The feedback received will then be used to inform a series of preferred policy approaches which will be the subject of further consultation in due course.
Hard copies of the consultation material will shortly be made available at Council Offices and all district libraries.
To complement the digital consultation, we will also be running a number of ‘in-person’ consultation events, further details of which will be made available as soon as possible.
If you have any questions relating to the consultation, please contact the Planning Policy team on [email protected]
Click here to take part
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Have Your Say On The New Local Plan
On August 30th 2023 the WODC will be launching its Local Plan Consultation for 8 weeks closing the 25th October 2023. I recognise many of you are sceptical of consultations, but it is important for you to have your say.
The Local Plan shapes our future and the decisions made for the future of West Oxfordshire and is key in developing the areas where we live and work ensuring the surrounding environment isn’t negatively impacted.
The Local Plan legally has to be reviewed and updated. Many of you will be aware we currently don't have enough housing land supply to meet the current local plan which effects how we make planning decisions. Currently when planning applications are submitted refusal can only be granted if “substantial harm” is identified outweighing the benefits regarding that application.
Aston Parish Councillors and villagers recently spoke at an appeal by Terra to build more houses in Aston. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful and could not stop the planning being approved as the benefits were considered to outweigh any harm despite presenting a very strong argument.
It is important for those of us in villages to have their say. Within the consultation, which is all encompassing, they will be looking at where housing should be built. There will be several options for you to look at but two of the options focus on villages.
Dispersed Growth - A more even distribution of growth with emphasis on small - medium scale development taking place in villages.
Village Clusters - similar to above but with villages considered collectively in 'clusters' based on available services and facilities.
We all recognise that there is a real need for housing and equally a huge demand for affordable housing. The question is are villages the right place? Villages will still play their part in regard to additional housing numbers but without your input it could be much larger and have a much greater impact on where many of us live now.
Whilst this will be available online and will be fully interactive allowing you to make comments WODC will be engaging with Town and Parish Councils and will also be happy to receive written feedback on the consultation via email or post.
Please register now to ensure that you can have your say. Your Parish Council are already working on this but will need your help!
To sign up for more information on the forthcoming Local Plan consultation please visit https://yourvoice.westoxon.gov.uk/en-GB/
Lysette Nicholls (District Councillor)
[email protected]

This summer Thames Valley Police (TVP) will open its doors to the public for the force Open Day.
The event will take place between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 2 September and will be hosted at our training centre in Sulhamstead, near Reading.
The Open Day provides a fantastic opportunity for you to get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to police one of the biggest non-metropolitan policing areas in the country.
Our Roads Policing Unit, Forensic Investigations Unit, Contact Management team and Major Crime Unit are just a handful of over 40 exhibitors who will be there to showcase their work.
Read more➡Thames Valley Police Open Day returns | Thames Valley Police

Temporary Traffic Regulation Order – S14 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
Temporary Road Closure – at Bampton, Aston, Back Lane
Due to collaborative works now taking place during this closure the dates have been extended and will now run from 4-22 September 2023. 
A request has been received from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks for a temporary road closure to apply to a section of Back Lane, whilst a new electrical supply is installed.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate from 4 September 20234 up to and including 15 September 2023, 24 hours per day

(The maximum duration of a TTRO on a road is 18 months and on a footpath is 6 months, or until completion of the works, whichever is the earlier.)

Notice of intention to make the Order will be published in the local press.

A copy of the drawing showing the extent of the closure and also the alternative route for traffic is attached.

Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Emma Owen at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks on email [email protected]​

T12291 / RAG