Draft plans are being drawn up with a view to develop the land at Hill View Farm in line with the Oxford Local Plan 2020-2036. The City Council are in discussions with the architect regarding the proposed development. We have reviewed the plans and are very concerned. There are two developments next to each other at the end of Mill Lane – the main one for 157 dwellings. The second development is next to it on land owned by Oxford City Council. We had to make further enquires requiring this proposed development and have been told that the council that they have survey this land with the potential to build about 50 houses. Access to the site will only be via Mill Lane as the County Highways have said that there can be no access to the bypass. We are hoping a public consultation will be held, but in accordance with current guidelines in relation to pandemic. In addition some local residents have told us that they have not been informed about this development by the developer or planning department. Although the plans have not yet been officially submitted, we have already passed on our concerns to the architect, especially in relation to the access to the site, and will continue to raise concerns. We will publish any information that we receive.

The government has published the whitepaper on the proposed changes to the planning system. There will be a period of consultation that ends on 29th October 2020. To find out more and to have your say just follow this link.

The Town and Country Planning Association say ‘the proposals will undermine local democracy and fail to achieve the kind of high-quality places that the government is committed to delivering’. Oxford City Council
agrees.

“The basis for the proposed ‘reforms’ is the claim that the planning system holds up development; this is demonstrably false. More than one million homes with planning permission have not been built, and more than 90% of planning applications are approved.

The County Chief Engineer has advised that we cannot have street lights installed in Elsfield Road. However we will be having solar lights installed in the path between the cemetery and junction. Also solar street lights will be installed in the play areas and School Lane.

We have been contacted by the National Institute of Health Research who are looking for volunteers to take part in clinical trials for drugs to be used in the treatment of Corvid-19. We do not officially endorse this but encourage interested persons to make thier own enquiries. They have requested that we post this text: “People aged 50 and over are being sought to take part in a trial into treating COVID-19. Over 50s with specific underlying health conditions and all over 65s with suspected COVID-19 can apply to take part in the University of Oxford study at participating GP practices or www.principletrial.org. Participants are randomly allocated to receive usual care or usual care and an existing medication. It is hoped the trial can help people get better quickly and stop them needing to go to hospital. The study is funded by UK Research and Innovation and the National Institute for Health Research. Contact the study team at principle@phc.ox.ac.uk / 0800 138 0880.”

There is an open consultation to review The Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. To find out more and to have your say just follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-highway-code-to-improve-road-safety-for-cyclists-pedestrians-and-horse-riders

The deadline is 27th October.

The Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) has been produced as part of the City Councils statutory duties required by the Local Air Quality Management framework. It outlines the actions we will take to improve air quality in Oxford City from 2021 to 2025. Follow this link to have your say: https://consultation.oxford.gov.uk/consult.ti/AQAP/consultationHome

Thames Valley Police have started a campaign to encourage better cyber security. To find out more just follow this link: https://rlsd.co/p/QF1kKQ

The County Council are promoting Street Tag as a way of encouraging personal fitness. Find our more here: https://streettag.co.uk/

We received this petition which may be of interest: Give the Thames through Oxford designated bathing water status – the City Council are supporting this petition –  https://www.change.org/p/environment-agency-give-the-thames-through-oxford-designated-bathing-water-status?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_24503448_en-GB%3A7&recruiter=1146738535&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_petition

Emerging Local Plan Consultation: South Oxfordshire but will relate to the proposed development at lower Elsfield – http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/planning-and-building/planning-policy/local-plan-2034

Thames Water will be closing Arlington Drive on the section between Salford Road and Cavendish Drive. This is for maintenance work.

Starting on 1st December 2020 (at 08:00hrs), the anticipated completion date is 2nd December 2020 (at 17:00hrs).

More information here and download a map here.

The Government are planning to introduce legislation to restrict parking on pavements. You can have your say by going to the consultation on the Government’s website. The deadline is 22nd November 2020

The local plan has been approved by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and passed by the City Council. The are three sites in the Old Marston Area that have been designated for possible development. For more details please follow this link.

To find the latest government guidelines – just visit their website

Guidelines from Oxfordshire County Council: The number of corona virus cases has been increasing in East Oxford. The County Council have issued some guidelines: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/coronavirus-covid-19/controlling-local-coronavirus-outbreaks