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DIDCOT & surrounding villages Progress at FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Great Western WEEKEND Park shopping village p10 TV GUIDE Thursday, July 13 - Wednesday, July 19, 2017
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10-year plan for homes gets go-ahead, despite concerns By Eva Astreinidou A 10-YEAR development for nearly 1,900 new homes has been approved by local authorities, despite concerns about traffic and strain it would impose on the area. The development will be an extension of the Ladygrove estate in Didcot, and will feature two primary schools and a secondary school, a day nursery, a leisure centre and sports pitches. Croudace Homes and Reading University, the owners of the land, have been given planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) to build 1,880 homes, as part of the delivery plans for Didcot garden town. Residents and Long Wittenham Parish Council say the project, which will take a decade to complete, will bring Ladygrove to within a mile of the village, raising concerns about more traffic and congestion and placing more strain on Clifton Hampden Bridge. Parish council chairman Gordon Rogers said: “We have no objection in principle to new homes which are desperately needed, but in recent years we have seen higher volumes of traffic through the village and it will only get worse as Ladygrove expands. “We would hope to get developerfunded money to improve trafficcalming measures in the village.� The parish council said there is an urgent need for a new road and river crossing linking Didcot with the Cul-
ham Science Centre, which would help mitigate traffic issues. They have also expressed concern for pollution, as well as the ‘Didcot sprawl’. They said they would oppose any attempt by developers to build homes in the ‘green gap’ – land between the expanded Ladygrove and on the other side of Appleford Road towards Long Wittenham. The council previously objected to access points to the development along the B4016 because it would encourage the new residents of Ladygrove to drive through Long Wittenham to reach Oxford, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon and the M40. But the developers said drivers would seek a less congested route south via the Didcot ring road to reach Milton and the A34. Traffic computer models showed a minimal increase in traffic. Adrian Duffield, head of planning for SODC, said: “We’re pleased that we’ve been able to give building work at this site the green light – the development is an important part of our plans for growth in south Oxfordshire and it will contribute more than 500 affordable homes to the area.� More than 15,000 new homes and 20,000 new jobs are planned as part of the garden town scheme over the next 20 years. To take part in the consultation for the new homes, visit tinyurl.com/ y79bccok.
We’re so chuffed with new play park A NEW family friendly play park has opened at Didcot Railway Centre. Former Didcot mayor Scott Wilgrove cut the ribbon to declare the park, called Wilgrove Halt, open on Sunday. Rev Fran Childs, the railway centre’s chaplain, also attended the ceremony, along with visitors young and old, and some teddy bears.
Chipper the Squirrel enjoyed a ride in one of the new trains in the playpark, set against the backdrop of the rail centre’s restored diesel locomotives. The new railway-themed area has been paid for by money raised for Mr Wilgrove’s Mayoral Fund after he nominated the centre as his charity of the year when he was in the civic office.
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