Launton Lines Issue 255 January 2022: Parish Council Report

Launton Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 2 December 2021 at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall

Councillors present Mrs Abigail Dowman, Mr Kyle Michael, Mr Ed Sanders, Mrs Lesley Thompson, Mr Simon Turner (Chairman), Mrs Jaqueline Webber

Apologies Mr Andrew Briant

In attendance The Clerk, Mrs Jane Olds; 12 members of the public; two representatives from Richborough Estates

Richborough Estates Representatives from Richborough Estates came to give a presentation about their proposals to build 68 dwellings, which would include 35% of affordable homes and eight live/work dwellings to allow home working, on the land off Station Road, just past Grange Mews. The company anticipates submitting the outline plans in the new year.

They assured the meeting that, as well as the houses, a proportion of the land would remain set aside for biodiversity net gain and would include the wooded area close to Station Road. It was also confirmed that they saw it as an expansion of the village, not to Bicester.

Concerns were raised by members of the public about the foul drainage and the clean water provision together with the traffic issues and the Station Road crossroads.

East / West Rail Unfortunately, Ms Sa’id was unable to attend. However, she was pleased to report that a solution had been found to the issues with Grange Farm footbridge which was in line with Network Rail standards/guidelines and the team will be working hard to open the bridge either before Christmas or in early January.

Regarding the Charbridge Lane Closure, the traffic ambassadors were monitoring the performance of the works traffic travelling through the village and the EWR Team had received some positive feedback about the pedestrian crossing. Unfortunately, it was not possible for the team to govern non-EWR traffic.

It was also confirmed that the alignment of the Charbridge Lane bridge was correct and the construction team were on schedule to open on 17 December ready for the next phase of the traffic diversion.

Advance warning has also been given that the Bicester Road is scheduled to be closed between 11 April and 27 May in 2022, once Station Road has re-opened.

Report from District and County Councillors Neither the District nor County Councillors had sent reports.

Traffic Issues Members of the public attended the meeting to express their concern about the traffic situation. The Council acknowledges the issues which have been exacerbated by the Charbridge Lane closure, which, of course, is out of the Parish Council’s control.

The Council considered a suggestion that the Parish applies to Oxfordshire County Council’s "20’s Plenty for Oxfordshire" Campaign and has agreed to submit an application.

The Council also received the suggestion about looking into setting up a Community Speedwatch programme. We hope that we will be able to invite one of the Police team to the January meeting to give a presentation about the project, but this will be dependent on the current COVID restrictions.

Finance The Finance Report is available on the Parish Council website.

Planning All planning applications, which include the links to Cherwell’s Planning Portal, are put on the Parish Council website when they are received (www.launton-pc.gov.uk - in the Agenda and Minutes section). If a villager has concerns or comments about a planning application, they are welcome to come along to Parish Council meetings to bring them to the attention of the meeting. Villagers are also welcome to contact Councillors or the Clerk to make comments.

CDC Community Governance Review Cherwell had asked the Parish for views on moving part of the southern boundary near Wretchwick Way out of Launton and on moving Bicester Heritage and the Airfield into the Bicester Parish. The Council has objected to both proposals.

Parish Hall Thank you to all who have responded to the consultation on the suggested plan options. The consultation closed on 15 December and we are now collating the responses.

Village Matters

Yew Tree Field The handrails have now been installed by the OCC Footpaths team on either side where the footpath crosses the ditch from Yew Tree into the Playing Field.

Agenda items and dates of the next meetings We hope that the 6 January meeting will be in the Parish Hall, at 7.30pm, but this will be dependent on the Government restrictions that may be in force.

In order to mitigate the COVID effects, we will do our best to make sure that the hall is as safe as possible. If you’d like to chat with a Councillor, do come along after 7.15pm. Unfortunately, we are not able to hold hybrid meetings at present - please arrive in time to use the hand sanitiser and find your seats!

We are trying to reduce our printing and paper use, so if you would like hard copies of the agenda or any of the meeting papers, please let the Clerk know well before the meeting.

Suggestions for agenda items for the 3 February meeting need to be with the Clerk by 20 January and items for the 3 March meeting by 17 February.

If you’re not signed up to our mailing list to receive news from the Parish Council, you can find a signup form at the bottom left hand menu of the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/

Road Closures Report correct as at 17 December 2021

��Until 25 March 2022: Station Road, Launton will be CLOSED from beyond Grange Farm for the construction of the new overbridge and road alignment (EWR).

��28 March 2022 - 17 June 2022: Bicester Road, Marsh Gibbon will be CLOSED for rebuilding the bridge.

��11 April 2022 - 27 May 2022: Bicester Road, Launton will be CLOSED for finishing the rebuilding of the bridge

These closures are correct as at 17 December 2021. See the Parish Council website at www.launton-pc.gov.uk/road-closures/ for any further or interim updates.

Please don’t shoot the messenger!