NOTES FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL

Neighbourhood Plan

An update on a neighbourhood plan for Binfield Heath: the council will be writing to everyone, either by email or via the village newsletter, to find out the level of support for undertaking this project. You won’t be asked to attend a meeting, just to answer a few basic questions about your support for the project in principle and your avail-ability to help. Watch this space…

Recreation Ground

The new goal posts have arrived - many thanks to the group of parents and young footballers who have undertaken the groundwork. Thanks too to David Bartholomew, our OCC councillor, who funded half the costs. We hope lots of youngsters will now enjoy playing there again.

Coppid Cross Roads

The council welcomes comments on the changes to the road junction at Coppid Crossroads. Changes include:

• A new entrance Gateway feature – ‘Coppid crossroads’
• A new advanced crossroads map sign
• Enhanced advanced stop signs
• New dragons teeth road markings
• An additional length of centreline
• Additional slow markings
• Refurbishment of slightly worn road marking

Planning papers

Parishioners’ comments are invited on both the revised Local Plan and the government white paper on the future of the planning system nationwide (see above). The Parish Council will be discussing the white paper at a specially convened meeting, to come up with its response by October 29.

Neighbourhood Watch

A police presence is now visible every couple of weeks in the village, to deter drug use.

There have been a number of ‘professional’ robberies in the village in the last month. These were not random or opportunistic and the culprits had specific objectives in mind. Villagers are reminded to take care of their premises and to be watchful.

Reading: the third bridge and orbital road

Reading is consulting on its Transport Strategy 2036 and several proposals would have major impacts on South Oxfordshire, David Bartholomew reported. Local parish councils in David Bartholomew’s Division, including Binfield Heath, have responded directly and also as part of a cooperative effort led by Kidmore End PC.

OCC stated in its response:

“We are opposed to the Plan in its present form, as we do not agree with the proposed schemes and measures it includes for cross boundary travel between Reading and Oxfordshire. We are particularly concerned about the approach proposed to developing large-scale ‘multi-modal schemes’ to the north of Reading, in particular the proposed Thames Crossing, Reading Orbital Route and North of Reading Park & Ride sites.”

The full response is available on the OCC website: https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk

SODC stated in its response:

“We are particularly concerned about the approach proposed to developing large-scale ‘multi-modal schemes’ to the north of Reading, in particular the proposed Thames Crossing, Reading Orbital Route and North Reading Park and Rides. We believe that development and delivery of these major schemes is inconsistent with the objectives and many of the policies of the plan, they will not be effective in managing cross-boundary travel movements, and are likely to have significant negative impacts on South Oxfordshire.”

The full minutes of the meeting will be posted on noticeboards and on this website when they have been agreed at the next meeting, October 26.

VILLAGE MATTERS

Newsletter

Marina Hart would like to hear from anyone with news or information of interest to local residents, on marina.hart@virgin.net. Most of the newsletters are emailed to save printing and delivery, so do let her have your contact details if you would like to receive one. Privacy information is available from her and on this website. Newsletters are uploaded to this site. We hope you enjoy reading them and find them useful - and please do contact her with contributions for the next one if you have any news to share.

Reporting issues round the parish

Fly-tipped rubbish continues to be a problem locally and has to be collected by District Council contractors at considerable extra cost to the taxpayer. If you see fly-tipping - or the results of it - please report it online to admin.southoxford@biffa.co.uk Similarly, potholes have been a big problem this year. If you are aware of one locally please contact fixmystreet.com and tell them the area, address if possible and postcode. It's the fastest way to get results.

Security

Do make sure your home and outbuildings are securely locked and tell your neighbours if you are going away. Report anything suspicious to Thames Valley Police on 101 or in an emergency call 999.

Keep up to date

From this page you can see diary events in the village at a glance, with a link to more information if you need it. Check which bin is going out this week and look up the bus timetable or report potholes in our roads. You can comment on planning applications direct with SODC at the click of a button, without knowing the application number. Receiving occasional news mail-outs from the Parish Council on matters that affect you is the fastest and most efficient way to find out what's going on in your parish. If you change your email address just sign up again with the new one - you don't have to delete the old one. If you no longer wish to hear news from us in this form please let us know and we will delete your email details. Visit the village Facebook page to connect with friends and neighbours and join in the chat. If you would like to contact the Parish Council direct send a mail to info@binfieldheath.org.uk or write to the parish clerk, Mandy Sermon at msermon@btinternet.com

Data protection

Regulations concerning data protection have changed. The Parish Council has prepared documents which reflect and clarify these alterations and how they affect you. Please look at the information, on the Parish Council page, which explains how the council uses and stores any information concerning you. (See also Parish Council minutes May, June and July 2018.)