Exploring Mars

Yesterday at the New Frontiers for Engineering and Science exhibition I was able to find out about some exciting and innovative projects happening right on our doorstep. This was held at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory right next door to the Diamond Light Source and was a chance to showcase what is going on here.

What particularly took my eye was the ExoMars exhibition stand which is due to send up a multitude of experiments to Mars with a Mission landing in around 2013. The 'rover' robot will search for past and present life on Mars, survey the Martian environment and carry out experiments to help define the interior structure of the planet.

Of course, there was a lot more to see and hear about so the whole day was a great learning experience. e-Science, the central laser facility and particle physics all had a lot to offer. We are fortunate to have so much local skill and technology which many of us can so easily take for granted, so Open Days like this one are very welcome.

Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

This prestigious award was presented at lunchtime today to the Independent Advice Centre in Wantage. There was a full house comprising volunteers, local dignatories and councillors to celebrate this occasion. The Award was announced by the Queen in 2002 to mark her Golden Jubilee which recognises excellence in voluntary activities carried out by community groups.

The IAC has many volunteer drivers who take patients for their hospital or surgery appointments, especially from the surrounding rural areas. They receive grants from various organisations including the Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council to enable them to provide this service. There are also several volunteers who work within the office either giving advice or providing administration. This is a great tribute to them and the award was presented by Sir Hugo Brunner, Lord Lieutenant of Oxford. I was pleased to be able to congratulate him on his recent Knighthood especially after paying tribute to his work through my speech at County Council last Tuesday due to his impending retirement from office.

Check out the Independent Advice Centre's website here for further information about the services they provide.

Too Much Business

The County Council meeting today was just too much to deal with in one day. We started at 10am and only finished at 6pm and we still had more motions which didn't get debated. Why?

There were a number of members of the public to protest about the proposal for an Eco-town at Weston on Otmoor - two motions against this development were debated and agreed - a strong signal to government that imposing planning decisions from on high does not go down well locally.

We debated 20 mph speed limits for Oxford and the arterial roads, we supported lock-keepers cottages to be retained, should we restrict the use of the 'mosquito' in dispersing young people and should GP dispensing pharmacies be curtailed? All very worthy causes which affect residents in Oxfordshire. However, other motions will now have to wait until our next Council in September - not very satisfactory! Managing our Council meetings seems to be getting increasingly difficult. I think this shows signs of our unrest for what is hard about getting the right democratic balance - especially when in Opposition.

However, I was pleased that my motion to sign up the the European Charter on Equality for men and women in local life was passed before close of business, which covered a significant amount of work I have undertaken in my position at the LGA (Local Government Association) on the Community Well-being Board. During February this year I was part of a British delegation to Pisa where the Charter was signed and this will now mean Oxfordshire will be one of the first Councils to sign up as a result. The work on this has been done, some of it has to meet our statutory obligation, but it is a good thing that this will now be acknowledged. To be quite honest, I was quite astonished that I was not dismissed for once - it made for a contented bus ride home.

Visit to The Quadrant

Today councillors were given the opportunity to visit 'The Quadrant' which is simply described as 'home to a very significant proportion of the South East's scientific, R&D, high technology and other high value businesses. It is recognized internationally as a global hot spot for enterprise and innovation in science, technology and the application of knowledge.'

The area encompasses Milton Park, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot and Wantage and Grove. We visited the Diamond Light Source which I visited last July and reported here and this is now up and running providing an excellent research facility for experiments all over the world. The X-rays provided by this synchrotron are 100 billion times brighter than a standard laboratory X-ray tube. 4,500 employees work in 100 organisations on the Harwell Campus which is home to the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Medical Research Council as well as Diamond.

Milton Park is Oxfordshire's largest mixed-use business community which is host to a wide range of organisations and has one of the UK's foremost science communities. 250 acres of landscaped grounds accommodates over 160 companies which employ around 6,500 people. There are a number of park amenities including restaurants, swimming pool and nursery.

The nearby town of Didcot has been transformed with its new Orchard shopping centre and cinema and is due to expand even more due to its proximity to all the above and hosting a main line station. However, Wantage and Grove need to have some fair share of the benefits, and we hope that this will not be forgotten in the greater scheme of things to come.

The North Wessex Downs

Today I have spent at the North Wessex Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Forum, which was held at Kingsclere near to Newbury. I represent the Vale of White Horse District Council on the Council of Partners which was set up to manage and protect this important heritage site for us all to enjoy. There is a fine balance between working with farmers and organisations to respond to the pressures of the 21st century at the same time preserving its unique beauty. Once a year, we all meet to review and celebrate the enormous efforts which have gone into conserving and enhancing this area.

The North Wessex Downs AONB is the largest in southern England and stretches from Devizes to Reading, and from Swindon to Basingstoke and includes our very own Uffington White Horse.

We spent the afternoon walking to the top of Beacon Hill which is near to Watership Down (now owned by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber) from where there is a magnificent view taking in the whole Highclere estate (the house has the same architect as the House of Commons) and the rolling downs of Berkshire and Hampshire. It makes you realise how fortunate we are living amongst such a jewel in the crown of England, which has managed to retain its historical past from the Bronze and Iron age right up to the present day.

To find out more, visit their website here and if you do feel at a loose end one weekend and have the urge to explore, please visit our ancient Ridgeway which is right on our doorstep and part of this whole area of outstanding natural beauty.

Flooding Again

Well, it is only our first week in June when many of us would hope to be enjoying the sunshine, but unfortunately not ... it has been rain and more rain all day. I had to cancel my meetings for the afternoon and evening due to local road closures caused by flooding. You can see the County road closures at this link. There is a Floodwatch on the River Ock, so those by Letcombe Brook can visit the Environment Agency website to check this out.

I was alerted this afternoon by residents in North Drive who are, once again, suffering from sewerage flooding, and what made matters worse is that the Fire Service arrived, but could not pump out the water onto the fields this time because the EA refused to give permission. When I visited this afternoon, they were still awaiting the arrival of Thames Water. Fortunately, the highways drains were coping adequately after work had been done there.

The problem is that much of the problems with drainage relies on riparian owners keeping their own drains clear. Today I received a message from the owners of Millbrook Square to say that the Pill Ditch Culvert is now complete and the Parish Council are happy with the work done. Whilst excavating, they also found and connected the storm water sewer from Bosleys Orchard, so that should not flood now. OCC Highways have inspected this work and are satisfied with their efforts.

Let's hope we get the sunshine back tomorrow as predicted by the weather forecast!