The new minutes for the recent parish council meeting are now online to read at https://www.dorchester-on-thames.co.uk/parish-council/council-agendas/
It has been a delight to meet up with people for real in July – we had lots of catching up to do!
On the 3rd July a team from the WI and Lunch Club provided Tea&Cake for Bloomin’ Marvellous Open Gardens to raise funds for the restoration of St Laurence Church. We were in Tim and Sarah Martins beautiful barn right in the centre of the village on the Green and the weather was kind.
On the 14th July we had our ‘delayed from 2020’ afternoon visit to Bach Flower Remedy gardens and café, Brightwell cum Sotwell. A fascinating 20 min film gave us the history of Dr Bach and his search for flower remedies; the house museum contains many of his and his assistants note books and equipment; and the garden is full of the plants whose flowers he discovered were therapeutic. Nora’s Café is a gem. Check the website for opening times. www.bachcentre.com
Another postponed visit from 2020 was to Broughton Castle and gardens on 28th July when WI and Mowers and Growers joined forces and 40 villagers enjoyed an early evening tour of the moated and castellated historic house and garden. The view from the roof over the moat, walled gardens and parkland was dramatic under glowering skies but there was enough sun for a rainbow. www.broughtoncastle.com
In August the members are going to celebrate all their Covid birthdays with a Birthday Tea Party on the Green
In September we will be back on Zoom for a Live Streamed tour of Cambridge – a first for us. We will report back.
The Walking Group is having a short break over August whilst we all catch up with old friends and family but will be back in September.
W&S WI Centenary 2022. Plans are underway.
Community projects are progressing well.
Membership is rising with 5 new members this summer so far. Welcome everyone and a huge thank you to all of you who have stuck with us through the Covid year.
Dorchester residents There are already 7 Dorchester residents and we would love more of you to join us! And lifts are available. Please call Ann Wells a Dorchester resident on 01865 341 246 if you would like more information.
Warborough and Shillingford residents we would love you to join us.
Pat Norman, Secretary, pnorman87@btinternet.com
Red Notice by Bill Browder was very popular and despite us having to resort to Zoom when it was too wet to meet on The Green, it generated a huge amount of discussion about 21st Century Russia.
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier was lighter and a quick read centred on Winchester and the broderers who embroidered kneelers and cushions for the cathedral but explored the ‘left over’ women in the period between the wars and how they began to change attitudes to women in the 20th Century.
People across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being urged to have their say on the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, a government led project which will have an impact on the district in the future.
The Oxford-Cambridge Arc includes the area between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge and aims to make significant economic, social and environmental improvements across the region by 2050 and beyond.
The government is currently developing a vision for the Spatial Framework – a long-term strategic plan for growth across the area – which will help support planning for the future with the aim of helping to create jobs, drive investment, protect and enhance the environment, and provide infrastructure to make the Arc a better place to work and live.
The government has announced a 12-week public consultation on the future of the Ox-Cam Arc and people are being encouraged to help to create the Spatial Framework’s vision for the area to 2050 under the following themes:
- The Environment
- The Economy
- Connectivity and Infrastructure
- Place-making
Once agreed, the shared vision will help to determine which new policies are developed and ultimately will shape government plans for the Oxford to Cambridge Arc region.
The consultation also seeks views on the work the Government has done to set the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal, and the Government has also announced a new expert panel to advise on sustainable economic and housing growth in the Arc.
Cllr Sue Cooper, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “The Ox-Cam Arc will have an impact on our residents in South Oxfordshire for many generations to come, especially if the high population growth forecasted materialises. It is therefore vital that development is properly managed and planned and that the project’s vision really focusses on protecting and enhancing our natural environment, while also providing green focussed improvements to our local infrastructure and employment opportunities which will have genuine benefits for people living and working here.
“We as a council we will do what we can to influence the direction of this project, however it’s very important that people understand what this project means and that they are able to have their say at each stage of the process.
“I therefore urge everyone who lives and works in South Oxfordshire to have their say in this consultation, particularly our younger residents who will be most impacted by the longer-term effects of any Arc projects.”
Cllr Emily Smith, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This is really the first opportunity that our residents have had to see or comment on the government’s plans for the Arc region and their Arc Spatial Framework, which will become part of national planning policy.
“As a council we are already pushing for stronger environmental policies and powers along with investment in green technology. We know that people are concerned about the potential levels of growth and making sure that any benefits that the Arc projects bring benefit all existing residents across our communities.
“The Arc projects are likely to have a significant impact on our communities and will play a key role in how we are able to come together as a wider region to tackle the climate emergency. It’s particularly important that residents, businesses, and local partners in the Vale have a say in shaping this vision as it will help determine what policies and investments happen next.
“I urge everyone who lives and works here to find out more about the government’s vision for the Arc region and to have your say in this initial consultation.”
How to have your say
This public consultation is the first of three that will guide a new Spatial Framework over the next two years.
To find out more and to have your say visit placebuilder.io/futureofthearc. The consultation is open until 12 October 2021.
About the Oxford-Cambridge Arc
The Oxford-Cambridge Arc (the Arc) is a globally significant area between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. It is formed of five ceremonial counties: Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
It supports over two million jobs, adds over £110 billion to the economy every year and houses one of the fastest growing economies in England.
For more information, please visit the government’s website.
July edition of the Dorchester News now available for reading online.
In the May 2020 edition of Dorchester News we wrote about a proposal to improve some of the water retaining features in the Hurst meadow. The work had been planned for last summer but Covid19 restrictions intervened. We were able to carry over into 2021 the grant which we had received for this project, so we plan to go ahead in July or August this year. We have received the necessary permissions for the work from the Environment Agency and from SODC.
For approximately a week a contractor will be excavating a new scrape in an existing depression close to the present scrape, and will be deepening sections of the channel which runs through the meadow parallel to the river Thame (see diagram). During this time, and for a period following the completion of work, there will be restricted access along the mown permissive paths beside the river Thame and the Hurst channel. Initially this will be to ensure safety of the public while machinery is working, and then to allow the soil and vegetation to settle following the work. Barrier tape and signs will be erected to guide walkers, and trustees will be on site monitoring the work of the contractor.
The public footpath across the Hurst, from the main gate to the stile at Overy, will remain open.
We are confident that Dorchester residents will be understanding about the minor restrictions and will be helpful and compliant in keeping themselves and their dogs safely away from the contractor’s machinery. If anyone has any concerns, particularly when work is in progress, please contact the Secretary of the Trust (details below).
Also, starting in late July, the Earth Trust will be undertaking excavation work to enhance the wetland habitat on our other two meadows. The Earth Trust will be responsible for further notifications about this and for managing the work on site. All the costs of this work are being met by the Earth Trust which has received grant funding. The part played by the Hurst Water Meadow Trust has been to agree to this work occurring on the land that we look after on behalf of the community. Further information can be found on the website www.earthtrust.org.uk/projects/river-of-life-ll/.
During the period of work on all the projects every effort will be made to minimise inconvenience to walkers and residents.
Gillian Johnson, Hon Secretary www.hurst-water-meadow.org.uk
hurstwatermt@gmail.com
01865 340925