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GROUP Didcot, Wallingford, Thame & Henley-on-Thames Thursday, February 8 - Wednesday, February 14, 2018
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Student company’s modern twist on classic play
Hedda for the 21 st centuryFree
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Charity of the year: Helen & Douglas House
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Lack of infrastructure and flooding fears delay homes By Owen Hughes BUILDING work on a major Didcot development has been put on ice as plans have been pushed back due to flood risk and design concerns. Updated plans were submitted last year for 1,880 homes, a secondary school and two primaries on a new estate on the north-east edge of Didcot. The development was approved and work was supposed to begin at the end of 2017 but this latest setback with the masterplan, design and phasing plans has delayed the 350-acre site. Town councillor Steve Connel said one of the reasons for the delay was making sure the flood risk could be mitigated as the area “is prone to flooding”, much like nearby Ladygrove. The former mayor added that he also did not want the estate to become “another Great Western Park” with homes being built before any infrastructure is in place. He said: “It’s really a chicken and egg process where they don’t want to put in shops until there are houses and people to buy from the shops. “But at the same time we can’t have a situation like we had at Great Western Park where people have been there for ages yet the first pub only just opened. “I would like the development to be as synchronised as possible.” South Oxfordshire District Council is yet to make a decision on revised
proposals, which have been lambasted for being unstructured and vague, despite saying a verdict would be given in early December. Property agents Barton Willmore submitted detailed plans in October on behalf of the University of Reading and developer Croudace Homes, which make up the North East Didcot Partnership. Cllr Connel said he would rather have the delays at this point than rush the application through without full consideration. After a planning meeting last month at which Didcot Town Council raised objections, it then extended its protests to oppose the lack of detail. The council added it shares the views expressed by the Didcot Garden Town team regarding a lack of structure, vague language and the absence of supportive material. A recent conservation report has echoed these concerns. Urban design officer Jake Bassett on behalf of the council said the plans “would not be supported from an urban design perspective”. The report criticised the proposals for lacking obvious landmarks around key buildings and spaces in the ‘characterless’ estate leaving the area without a “sense of place”. An “irrational” pattern to the development was also scrutinised in the report. Barton Willmore were contacted for comment.
Actor Joanna Page with youngsters from Crowmarsh Gifford CofE Primary School
Pupils’ natural energy shines through THESE talented young thespians put on quite a show with the help of Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page. Pupils from Cranford House School in Moulsford took part in a two-day drama workshop and performed before an audience of family and friends with youngsters
from Crowmarsh, Goring and Stoke Row and Whitchurch primary schools. The Love Actually actor watched the performance and applauded the children’s efforts. Having worked with them during the workshops, Page, who lives near Woodcote, said: “It has been
an absolute pleasure to be here with all the children. Children have a natural energy and playfulness that drama really allows to shine through.” Headmaster Dr James Raymond described the performance of Russian folk tale Ivan Tsarevich and the Grey Wolf as “spectacular”.
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