Latest News from Thomas

Latest news from Councillor Thomas Ashby

Hi all, apologies for the lack of updates over the last week, it certainly has been a busy week juggling council casework, my full-time job and Scouting, but I’m here now with my latest update.

Windrush Place:

As you know, on 15th September, Councillor Jane Doughty, Robert Courts MP and I had a meeting with the Chief Executive and Head of Planning at West Oxfordshire District Council.

We (the politicians) feel and understand all of the frustrations people face about the lack of progress which was expected over the summer on the planning applications, it isn’t acceptable. From our point of view, we want to see the applications submitted by the developers and pushed through the planning process from the Council urgently, as should have been over the summer.

Shops

WODC did inform us that there have been issues around the deliverability from the original plans, which the Council sent back to the developers. The Council believe that the developers are now taking the advice they have given them on board and will reconsider the plans as soon as the developers submit these to the Council.

The estimated timeframe for these being approved is December, so we will absolutely continue to chase this over the coming weeks.

Sports Pitches

The pitches have not passed the inspection in order for them to be played on. Vistry say that there will be another inspection in six months-time. This is a result of both football clubs training and people (informally playing on the pitches) and the developer not maintaining the site or securely fencing it. They should not be used, however, the goals also should not have been erected in the first place.

Remedial work on these pitches will now be undertaken by the developer.

Sports Pavilion

The Councils Leisure Teams have objected to the plans for the Sports Pavilion on the advice of Sports England who want this facility future proofed. I do understand this, as this facility does need to be fit for the future, not just adhering to an old developer contribution document from at least 6 years ago. However, we did relay our total dissatisfaction because these issues should have been picked up at the pre-planning stage, not after a full planning application have been submitted.

The timeframe for planning approval is once again December.

Communication

Communication from the Council throughout the course of building Windrush Place has been at least dissatisfactory. Not only have I had to chase several different parties just to search for an answer sometimes, I know a lot of you have too.

The recent press release from WODC is just a sticking plaster, it certainly was not what I was expecting… Although, I suppose it was something.

Bus Shelters

I have been informed this week from TetraTech that these are now due to be installed by the end of November. Two on the Curbridge Road stops and two on the Isabelle Spencer Way stops – these are certainly a welcome development and will make bus journeys for residents more pleasant.

Road and Bridleway

The surface on Centenary Way and Mott Close is due to have its top layer of tarmac added in the coming weeks. The rest of the road will only be surfaced once all the construction vehicles have left site.

The bridleway between Downs Road and Centenary Way is due to be surface by the end of September/early October. The strip between Centenary Way and the bottom of Windrush (the woods) will be surfaced with a slightly different type of surface, so the timeframe is slightly longer – as soon as I know, I will inform you.

Robert Courts has released his own message thanking residents for their feedback to his call for help, this can be found on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RobertCourts

Potholes

There are an increasing number of potholes appearing on our roads here in West Witney. Ralegh Crescent in Deer Park was supposed to be surfaced in May, instead only half was. Cllr Ted Fenton and I continue to push for the rest to be surfaced, and I have asked Cllr Jane Doughty to raise this in my absence at Witney Traffic Advisory on 26th September.

Thorney Leys also has an increasing number of potholes and large areas of the estate are gradually getting worse – for all pothole reports, please follow: https://www.fixmystreet.com/

Witney High Street

The Public Engagement Exercise so that we as residents can have our say about how we want £1.9million spent on the High Street is still open.

I would really like to hear your opinion so that I can feedback some of your thoughts within my own response to the engagement. Please send me an email, or alternatively send your thoughts directly to Oxfordshire County Council via: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/witney-high-street

Trees, Weeds & Safety

Trees

Over the last few weeks, I have met with a number of residents who have expressed their concern and dismay over tree maintenance in Deer Park yet again. Since I was elected in 2019, my record just shows the action I have managed to get WODC to take, however, it is not enough and more needs to be done.

I have asked the Executive Member a question within the Full Council papers whether she will review the Councils Tree Management Policy. We have residents whereby Council managed trees and woodland are overgrowing onto property and the Council will not do anything. They expect residents (some of whom are elderly!) to fork out themselves to do a job that they should be doing. We have the same thing every year on Deer Park and it isn’t fair – since I was elected, the situation is improving, but more does need to be improved.

Weeds & Safety

There is “re-wilding” and there is weeds and danger. Look around our town and you will see weeds growing from drains and kerbstones left, right and centre. It isn’t a good look and it will lead to broken pavements and roads. Surely it would be cheaper to undertake regular weeding rather than have to replace pavements and kerbs? It also isn’t safe for pedestrians and cyclists, look at the shared pedestrian and cycle route along Ducklington Lane; Oxfordshire County Council know about half the path being covered in grass, but they don’t care. That’s why I am pleased that two of my colleagues, Cllr Jane Doughty and Councillor Liam Walker are leading a motion calling for the Leader of WODC to write to OCC to get all three local authorities to review their policies on these matters to ensure we see meaningful improvements to these spaces.

“Out of Office”

For the next week and a half, I will be away from Witney. Not for pleasure I’m afraid, mainly for my full-time role and a series of meetings. I will miss Witney Traffic Advisory and Full Council at WODC, but my colleagues are well informed of my views, so whilst I am physically away, I will be there in spirit.

I will still have time to respond to emails in the evenings, so please do continue to get in touch, preferably via email as it is easier to monitor!

I hope this has been a helpful update, as always, if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to send me an email.