27 November 2009
An accident of geography
based at Dalton Barracks who had just returned from Afghanistan and Kuwait.
The Vale of White Horse, as with much of Oxfordshire is a part of the world
that has deep military ties. In the West is the Defence Academy, and in the
East Dalton Barracks itself. Not far away are the RAF bases of Brize Norton
and Benson. Much of the residential and industrial development both existing
and proposed happens to be on old airfields, a remnant of the last World
War. It is an accident of geography that Abingdon hosts the returning
heroes, yet to the West in Faringdon there are regular tributes to those
servicemen who have fallen on the battlefield. At the homecoming parade on
Wednesday the people of Abingdon showed their support for the men and women
of 3 & 4 Logistic Support Regiments, and they did so on behalf of the whole
district who are rightly proud of the courage and fortitude shown by these
soldiers.
16 November 2009
Success of Ed Vaizey's public meeting
awful weather, a good number of people came along to the Civic Hall in
Wantage to discuss the future of the town. A wide range of subjects were
discussed, from the hope to bring a cinema back to Wantage, the future of
the Civic Hall, and such exciting cultural events as Wantage Rejuvenated and
the Betjeman festival. Hopefully other such meetings will follow shortly in
Wallingford and Faringdon.
13 November 2009
Free parking in the Vale, but for a limited period only!
Christmas period. The Council's car parks will be free on the following
dates:
In Faringdon on 28th November
In Abingdon on 3rd December (after 4pm) and 5th December
In Wantage on 4th December (after 4pm) and 5th December
Much as this is welcomed it raised two questions. Firstly why is Faringdon
only granted one free parking day, as opposed to two days in Abingdon and
Wantage, this is a question I have asked and will report back on the answer.
I am pressing for Faringdon to also have free parking on 5th December.
The bigger question is that if the Lib Dems running the Vale recognise the
benefit to local businesses of free parking, why have the so strongly
opposed Conservative pressure to make the Council's car parks free all the
time. The Council should do more work to reduce the costs of running it's
car parks, and therefore make free marking more achievable. The cost to the
Council would produce a real benefit to our local communities.
08 November 2009
We will remember them
The sermon during the service in All Saints' was, as ever, aimed perfectly at the mixed audience present. Rev'd Charles Draper managed to include some light humour, interest the children, and still lose none of the necessary sobriety.
Afterwards, at the war memorial attached to the Old Town Hall, it was an honour to lay a wreath on behalf of Ed Vaizey, my fellow councillor Roger Cox, taking on the role on behalf of the Vale of White Horse District Council.
As ever, I find it a moving event which really does bring the act of remembrance to life, and unites our small town in a way that very few events do.
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