New School for Grove

Last night, I attended a meeting at Millbrook Primary School to hear more about plans to deliver a new school for Grove. The evening consisted of workshops where parents and residents had an opportunity to express their views.  It was a very constructive evening with many positive and helpful suggestions about how the new school would become.

This has long been a campaign I have been involved with in the village for over 25 years, when the school bus was removed by Oxfordshire County Council taking children from Grove to Wantage.  I formed a 'Save the School Bus' campaign group and after presenting a petition to the Education Committee, schoolchildren and parents were given a year's grace, before the bus was stopped altogether. Since then, our children have had to make their own way to all 3 secondary school sites in Wantage.  Even now, as a local county councillor, I spend a lot of time dealing with casework on this issue. Time for some change I think!

When the Grove Airfield development appeared on the horizon, and the plans showed provision for a new secondary school in Grove, hopes rose that at long last this may happen. Indeed, much debate started again on this issue and one can see from my blog which started in 2007, I was headlining this topic!  

Well, here we are nearly 10 years later, and as the Airfield site still hasn't delivered to date, I was pleased to hear that the Vale Academy Trust has now become proactive on this matter. As new housing development has already taken place around the area and school places are becoming filled year by year as families move in, it now looks a good time to revisit the original plans.

The new school would aim to provide seamless education from 2 - 16, and would also provide community facilities we have been lacking for several years.  It will also mean that our schoolchildren will no longer have to travel at least 2 miles to reach secondary school with our ever-increasing busy roads and lack of proper cycle tracks or footpaths on the route.  A sixth form for the school has not been ruled out.

I look forward to keeping residents informed how this bid progresses, as I understand the case for the new school is being presented to the Department for Education by the deadline tomorrow. The new school, which could be called 'Grove Academy' expects to open in 2019, if all goes to plan.  Meanwhile, watch this space!

Maggie's Oxford Culture Crawl

As planned, I took part in the Culture Crawl organised by Maggie's Oxford. This started at Egrove Park in Kennington taking in various cultural stops across Oxford before finally arriving at Maggie's Centre next to the Churchill Hospital. I completed half of the route before I handed over to Cllr. Michael Waine who then walked the remainder. It was a very enjoyable evening whilst also raising funds for Maggie's who do a fantastic job supporting people with cancer and their families. Thanks to everyone who supported me and anyone who still wishes to make a small donation to Maggie's can do so using the link in my previous post.

Culture Crawl for Maggie's Centre Oxford

This Friday evening, 23rd September 2016,  I shall be taking part in an 8-mile Culture Crawl to raise money for Maggie’s Centre in Oxford at the Churchill Hospital site.  This is something which I am doing as Vice-Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council alongside the Chairman, Cllr. Michael Waine.

We would be incredibly grateful if you would be kind enough to sponsor us please by going to the following link:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/OCC-Chairman-and-ViceChairman

Both Michael and I received excellent care from both the Churchill Hospital and Maggie's Centre during our recovery from illness and we both wished to put something back for the help and support we received.

Thank you in advance for your support for this very deserving cause. If you are not familiar with Maggie’s Centre and would like to know more, please visit their website:
https://www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-oxford/

Lay-by at Grove Recreation Ground Refresh

As you will notice from the photograph taken above, this is the lay-by at the side of the Recreation Ground in Grove. This area is well-used by those parking for the grounds and sports facilities on the adjoining fields. It was most recently in demand for the Grove & Wantage Extravaganza event (reported on my blog post).

I had delayed getting this works done in the past, due to the Grove Airfield development coming on stream, but as delays continue on this site, and the fact that there was money in the Highways budget that needed using up before the end of the financial year, now was the time to get something done.

I know this isn't a perfect job as you can already see some water from recent rainfall in some of the pitted areas, but at least something is better than nothing, and will make life a little easier for those parking to use the recreational facilities nearby.