On Friday evening, I attended a Locality Review meeting in Wantage where we were to find out how much funding we could alllocate to our area from Oxfordshire County Council. Our Locality includes Grove, Wantage and the division which includes the Hanneys, Hendreds, Steventon and Marcham. We were told that there is £75,000 to allocate over the next 18 months to spend on projects which could include crossings and other road safety measures, weed clearance, new footpaths, drainage and gully emptying amongst other things. Basically, the County Council has decided to allow local members to decide where the priorities lie within their areas.
It was decided amongst the three councillors who represent these areas that the fairest solution was to split the money 3 ways which would mean each area having £25,000 each. I would therefore look after Grove's allocation, Cllr. Jenny Hannaby would look after Wantage and Cllr. Iain Brown the Hanneys and Hendreds.
I have submitted a proposal along with the parish council to install a zebra crossing at the Denchworth Road by the Bay Tree Public House. This was pursued several years ago when residents approached me about the dangers schoolchildren and elderly residents faced when trying to get across this busy road especially during peak times. However, there was not enough money in the budget and the scheme was put on long-term hold. It will be excellent if we can now get this project back on track.
The other proposal we have put forward is to get some routine annual weed maintenance back to the village. I have had numerous complaints from residents about untidy and neglected areas around the village, and also the terrible state of the traffic islands as you come off the A338 into Grove. Now hopefully we shall be able to deal with this and give people a sense of pride in their community again. I shall be progressing these projects over the next few weeks and will keep you informed.
In the meantime, Cllr. Jenny Hannaby will be progressing a zebra crossing at Ham Road in Wantage, again a long-awaited scheme and similarly, some weed maintenance work for Wantage. If you know of any particularly bad areas then let us know.
Dear Zoe
ReplyDeleteThe Cyril Wickham Way footpath is badly in need of weedkilling and if there is any money available to do this it would be greatly appreciated.
John and I have removed a stretch of weeds along the footpath from behind the garages at the end of Mandarin Place for a distance of 20 to 30 yards and this has made a big difference. We have also made a little garden where there was previously rubbish piled high and the passers by very much appreciate this. We are also daily picking up rubbish along the footpath and this all seems to be inspiring the residents who use the footpath to take better care of the area. We would really appreciate some help from the Council to extend this improvement. There is one particularly bad area which would benefit from clearing. This is behind the garages at the end of Mandarin Place. If the chain link fence could be removed, the rubbish removed grass could be planted and it could then be maintained as part of the green area beside it At present this area behind these garages is being used as dumping site for all sorts of unsavoury items.
Look forward to your reply.
Mary Firth
Many thanks for your comments and all your hard work in helping improve Grove's environment. If everyone did their little bit to help, everywhere would look so much better. My husband and I regularly help to keep weeds and litter clear around Churchward Close. I shall go and take a look at the garages at the end of Mandarin Place and report back to you. I shall also need to liaise with the parish council who will be involved with the work.
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