West Hagbourne news October 2015 ISSUE 123

Road closures It will already be apparent that Village Association event work has started on the promised upgrade to Hagbourne Hill and Despite the cool weather, the late summer event organised by the subsequent construction of a Village Association was a success. As a precaution the marquee roundabout where this road meets was erected in the garden on Chapel Hayes, but luckily the rain the A417. held off. The communal lunch consisted of a range of pâtés, With the prolonged closure served with home‐made bread, followed by some delicious home‐ planned, it is hoped that traffic Speeding made desserts. To help all this down, jugs of Pimm’s were freely through West Hagbourne might be circulated. Newer residents took the opportunity to get to know reduced as drivers are forced to Many vehicles continue to speed in more of their neighbours. Thanks are due to Margaret & Ian seek alternative routes to Harwell York Road, despite this being a Leishman for hosting the event in their garden. campus and the A34. However, residential road with several the alternative route through children and no pavements. Harwell village is often slow due to Although some of the blame can the traffic lights by Didcot UTC be placed on drivers travelling while drivers travelling to and from through the village using this as a the east and north of Didcot will short cut to avoid a hold up on the still find the route through Coscote narrow section of Main Street, at the quickest. The works are least some of the cars belong to planned to last a year, although residents of the village the complete closure of the route If you regularly drive down York is only for 6 months. We should Road either past York Farm or past enjoy any quiet while it lasts as it is Ash Farm, please think about your highly likely that traffic volumes speed ‐ before there is an accident. will increase once the works are finished, at least until the construction of the promised relief Houses by pub Wallingford Bus Garden club road taking traffic from Didcot to An outline planning application Did you know that there is a bus Hagbourne Garden Club welcomes the A417 without passing through has been submitted for the from East Hagbourne to members and visitors alike to a West Hagbourne. construction of 14 new houses in Wallingford on Wednesdays and talk by local artist Linda Benton the field adjacent to the Horse & Fridays? Route 131 leaves Windsor entitled 'Art and the Garden'. Moor lane Harrow pub. Crescent East Hagbourne (off Talk commences in Hagbourne Although the development lies in Harwood Road) at 10h40. It then Village Hall at 7.30 on Thursday After our article in the August the Vale of the White Horse goes via the main Bus Shelter in 29th October. Refreshments edition of this newsletter, it seems District it would impact more on East Hagbourne and then on to served from 7.00pm that the closure notices for Moor West Hagbourne than on Upton. the former Load of Mischief Pub at Lane have finally arrived. Access Blewbury at 10.48, arriving in Time to get festive with the The Parish Council has objected to to the rear of properties on Main Wallingford at 11.15. Garden Club at an event to be held Street is unaffected but eastwards the present plans on grounds in Hagbourne Village Hall on The service departs from from the end of this including that the development is Thursday 26th November when Wallingford at 13.30 and arrives improved section, the lane is too big, is too urban in design, is Timothy Walker will be giving a back in East Hagbourne at 14.06. closed to all motor traffic and isolated from both Upton and It can only carry 16 people but talk on 'The Plants of Christmas' . partially obstructed by concrete West Hagbourne and likely to West Hagbourne residents would Join us for refreshments at 7.00 blocks. The blocks are positioned worsen drainage issues in the area. be joining at the first stop so it is followed by the talk at 7.30 p.m. so as to allow pedestrians and Upton Parish Council has also unlikely to be full at this point. So, Visitors welcome at £2.50 each. horse riders to pass through. expressed doubts that it fulfils any requirements for sustainable if you would like to go to For further info call

development. We await a decision. Wallingford for a couple of hours ‐ Jane on 01235 813350 to go to the market or to have a

coffee, you could make use of this service and remember if you have

a bus pass it is free.

News

Power station Hall grant U3A Soon after 09h00 on Saturday 26th Hagbourne Village Hall has won a Didcot & District University Of The September, the peace and quiet of grant of £2,320 to install additional Third Age meets on the third West Hagbourne was broken by insulation in its roof space, as well as Tuesday each month at 2pm at the sounds of a large explosion. to replace the existing fluorescent Didcot Civic Hall. This was the second scheduled tubes with modern LED units. Visitors are welcome to come to a explosive event as part of the The money has been provided by the meeting as a taster before joining. demolition of the coal‐fired plant Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment 20 October, The Organ Grinder, by at Didcot Power Station, the (TOE2) and funding partner Grundon John Hunt Pond work previous being in July 2014 when Waste Management Ltd. With work the first three cooling towers were 17 November, Mapledurham Work has started on regenerating due to be completed during the demolished. This time it was a part Watermill, by Corry Starling the village pond. Chris and Sue lay summer holiday period, the work will of the 48m high northern wall of 15 December, Christmas Lunch tell us that they plan to remove the not only help to reduce energy costs, the main building. Despite and Entertainment, details to be deep layer of silt that has built up but will also provide a much cosier washing down of the site prior to announced since the last time the pond was environment particularly for the pre‐ demolition, a plume of dust could dredged (in 1920). Lowering the school group who use the village hall Tel: 07802 237963 or email be seen rising above the site. The bottom this way should help to during the daytime. Richard Elliott, [email protected] northern cooling towers and keep water in the pond throughout chairman of the Management chimney are due to be demolished http://u3asites.org.uk/didcot the year, rather than drying up in Committee, said: “We are delighted next spring and summer. summer. The sides will be sloped to have secured this grant to allow us so that wild life can access the to carry out this work. These were water more safely and aquatic two of the recommendations made Village Garden plants will be added to keep the Garden waste by the recent energy audit carried The village garden is settling down water clean and to enrich the out on our hall, which was also for winter, having provided some If you have a brown bin, on mostly funded by TOE2, and without habitat. Next year they plan to th colour throughout the growing Thursday 15 October, the install an ornamental duck house which we would not have considered season. This year many of the equivalent of two garden waste and hope to introduce call ducks. these measures. There were several original plants have had time to bins can be put out for collection. In addition to this refurbishment, other actions recommended which establish and spread. Place any extra garden waste in a the retaining wall along the road we are presently looking at clear plastic bag or cardboard box. implementing.”Fiona Danks, TOE2 Additional planting will be made in side will be strengthened, with the autumn and the usual bulbs new foundations, to repair the Director, said: “We are delighted to support this project which will help will be put into the various planters damage done when a car went for an early spring display. into the pond. to make Hagbourne village hall much more welcoming whilst also cutting fuel bills and reducing its Lunch club carbon footprint. We recognize the

The monthly lunch club at the valuable contributions that Horse & Harrow continues to community buildings such as this attract a good turnout. village hall play in local communities The September event saw the and we are keen to encourage all birthday of Mrs Coster one of the such buildings to make energy ” regular lunchers, marked with a efficiency improvements Oktoberfest birthday cake . Hagbourne Village Hall is one of the Didcot Civic Hall is hosting the social centres for the villages of East Lunches take place on the third Almost Oktoberfest with an and West Hagbourne. The scene of Friday of the month and if you Oompah Band, German Beers & countless parties, annual meetings, want to be on the mailing list for Bavarian food. On Friday the local pre‐school, the home of the reminders, please let Sue or November 6th (almost‐October) Marion know your email address. HAMS theatre group, numerous From 6 pm to late. Tickets are £10 The next two lunches will be on sport‐ and hobby‐based activities, (from the Civic Hall) which includes Friday 16 October and Friday 20 and the location for many post‐ a free 1 litre stein for everyone. November. All welcome. We are church events, the Hagbourne (though they will be empty) planning to arrange a special Village Hall is alive with the life of our Christmas meal in December. two villages. Parish Council

Clerk Update Macmillan HGV’s &potholes Andrew Wise Friday 25th September saw plenty The Community led plan [email protected] There was a good response to an of action at the Horse & Harrow highlighted that the police are not advertisement placed with OALC public house as Helen, the interested in reports of oversized Councillors for the position of a replacement landlady, had decided to hold a vehicles in the village. You should Mike Butler Chair 850 523 clerk. After interviewing suitable coffee morning as part of the report breaches of weight candidates the decision was taken Macmillan Cancer Charity’s restrictions in West Hagbourne [email protected] to appoint Andrew Wise. He is also Biggest Coffee Morning initiative. directly to Trading Standards via Valerie Brownsword 850 668 [email protected] the clerk of nearby North Moreton. Although it is called a coffee their online form which can be The clerk can be contacted via morning, the main item on the found on their website Hugh Lewis 851 113 [email protected] [email protected] agenda was cakes of all shapes www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/ and sizes. The biggest problem weight‐restriction‐orders or by phone Mike Telford 851 236 There has been a meeting with for the people who came along to (0845 051 0845) or email [email protected] OCC Highways department, who support the fundraising was [email protected] are coming up with new plans for choosing which cake(s) to try. ov.uk Their dedicated Road District Councillors traffic calming ‐ and this will not Traffic Enforcement Team will Pat Dawe + Jane Murphy involve speed bumps. This will use then investigate further. Section 106 funding that was made [email protected] Please report potholes direct to available when planning [email protected] Oxfordshire Highways. If you can permission for the Bloor Homes South Oxfordshire District Council supply a photograph that gives development was approved. 01491 823000 some idea of the extent of the It took a long while to make pothole this will help assess the County Councillor contact with the correct people but urgency for its repair. SODC had passed responsibility to Patrick Greene 813 396 You can do this online at OCC and thanks to the [email protected] Most sampled at least two. Clear [email protected] intervention of our county Oxfordshire County Council councillor there has now been favourite in the morning session by telephone: 0845 310 1111 01865 792422 progress was the parsnip cake, made by or by writing to: Southern Area Office Mrs Robinson. Mike Butler, Chair Oxfordshire County Council

The winner of the ‘Spotty Cake’ Milton Road Drayton OX14 4EZ competition was Mike Hyrcko All of this information and the relevant Council Meetings whose guess of 590 was closest to links are available on the village web site. are held in Hagbourne Village Hall the actual total of 576. www.westhagbourne.org/noticeboard. 4th November 2015 htm#potholes The total raised was £345. Minutes of meetings of the Parish

Council are available online.

If you cannot find them contact the clerk or if you do not have access to the internet, call the clerk and a printed copy will be delivered to you. www.westhagbourne.org/pc_minutes.htm

westhagbourne.org

Little Acorns local events Happy, family run day nursery and out of school care. If you have items you are prepared to give away, send up a short advertisement with Including drop off & pick up to some local schools. the details for inclusion (free of charge) in Flexible sessions – am, pm, term time, school day. the next newsletter.

For further information, to request a brochure If you have an event you want to or to arrange a visit please contact us publicise please get in touch: 01235 851423 or email

[email protected] Thursday 15 October Extra large garden waste collection For the garden of your dreams ‐ MUSIC GROUP Friday 16 October consult a professional FOR PRE‐SCHOOL CHILDREN Horse & Harrow, 12.30pm Village lunch Action songs, musical games, MARY ANN LE MAY • GARDEN DESIGNS • Percussion instruments, puppets Tuesday 20 October LOTS OF FUN Café Scientifique: Professor Jane Classes in Didcot and Blewbury Langdale, Breeding crops for the future, Blissetts West Hagbourne OX11 0ND other classes available Cornerstone 7.30 Tel: 01235 850523 Fax: 08700 516043 01235 851091

www.maryanndesign.co.uk www.tinytunetime.co.uk Thursday 29 October Garden Club: Art and the Garden'. Hagbourne Village Hall 7.30

Wednesday 4 November Marquees Parish Council meeting, The Village Association has two Marquees which can Hagbourne Village Hall 7.30 be used by residents. There is a small charge of just £25 plus a returnable deposit of £50 to be paid on commencement of the hire. Thursday 26th November West Hagbourne residents wishing to use the Garden Club: Timothy Walker 'The Plants marquees do so at their own risk and the Association of Christmas' at Hagbourne Hall at 7.30 will not be responsible for any claims for accidents that may occur during the rental period.

The 12metre x 5metre and the 11metre x 4metre Friday November 6th marquees must be returned in the storage boxes The Almost Oktoberfest provided at the end of the hire. Tables and chairs are 6 pm Didcot Civic Hall £10 also available. For advanced booking and details please contact house to rent in France Monday 16 November Keith Walton 01235 851089 All donations go towards our village funds. Noirmoutier Island, west of Nantes - sleeps 7 Village Association AGM Just minutes from quiet family beach, Horse & Harrow 7:30 great biking and sailing, two bedrooms,

washing machine, dishwasher, TV Friday 20 November Horse & Harrow, 12.30pm 600€/week June + Sept Village lunch 750€/week July for more informaon

and photos

contact toerdells@bnternet.com 01235 850080 Next edition please e‐mail copy for inclusion in the December issue by 30 November [email protected]