Christmas wishes to all in the Vale
With just over a week to go until the big day I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Find out about Christmas waste collections online at www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/bankholidays.
Vale Local Plan (Part One) adopted by Council
The Vale of White Horse District Council has tonight adopted the Local Plan: 2031 (Part 1), ensuring communities are better protected from speculative development.
Following this evening's Council meeting where the Local Plan was formally agreed the final version of the plan can now be published.
The Vale is now considered to have a five year housing land supply and major developments should now proceed in accordance with the Local Plan.
The council will now use the Local Plan (Part 1) to determine planning applications throughout the district. This means the Vale Council will have much greater control over what developments are allowed to be built.
I am delighted that we’ve been given the go-ahead to adopt Part 1 of the Vale Local Plan: 2031. After a process that has taken several years and has seen communities across the Vale contributing to the Local Plan we are now in a position to have much greater control over all development in the Vale.
Adopting the Local Plan not only gives the Council more control over where housing is delivered, but also makes it easier to secure the much needed infrastructure funding that should go with it. This will be enhanced further when we adopt the Community Infrastructure Levy as well.
The Council has also agreed the Blewbury and Faringdon Neighbourhood Plans which were both supported by an overwhelming majority of residents at recent referenda.
In spring 2017 Vale of White Horse District Council will consult on the preferred options for the Local Plan: 2031 (Part 2) – this will cover allocating strategic sites to meet Oxford City’s unmet housing need, and other sites to ensure that the Vale’s own housing needs are met in full.
New play equipment gives Faringdon youngsters early Christmas present
Vale of White Horse District Council has given children in Faringdon an early Christmas present - £80,000 worth of new play equipment in Pye Street Park play area.
The new equipment includes swings, a roundabout, a multi-play area, rockers and a zip wire.
The play area has also been upgraded with a new rubber surface, making it even safer for children using the site.
New changing facilities and toilets for Abbey Meadow
People visiting Abingdon’s Abbey Meadow will benefit from a further improvements, including new public toilets, changing facilities and an accessible path leading to the popular splash park.
The improvements are in addition to the new play area, announced by Vale of White Horse District Council last month, and are part of a project to revamp the riverside area and make it more attractive for people to visit throughout the year.
Support for the homeless
Nearly £110,000 is being invested by the Vale of White Horse District Council to support those who are rough sleepers or are at risk of becoming homeless.
The funding will provide 13 supported beds for the district's most vulnerable residents for the next three years and will include ongoing support to help them get back to a stable life.
The council has stepped in to contribute towards filling the funding gap, following Oxfordshire County Council cutting its housing related support funding by£1.5 million.
At the same time the Vale's housing and homelessness support service has been recognised by the National Practitioner Support Service (NPSS) as one of the country’s top performers. The review by the NPSS ranked the council in the top eight nationally!
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