Love Parks From 25th July the Vale are running a month long programme of events giving residents the opportunity to try a wide range of low cot outdoor activities. Open to everyone aged 16 or over and at just £1 a session, why not get involved in volleyball, tennis, bootcamp, mother and baby yoga, rounders or football. Places are limited so sign up now atwww.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/loveparks. Calls for Oxford City to review its Local Plan With a huge housing target already set for the Vale the Council has called on Oxford City to review its own Local Plan before expecting to other districts to share their burden. There is a requirement for Councils to cooperate with neighbouring authorities to accommodate the so called ‘unmet need’ - when a Council simply cannot find space for new housing. Whilst most people accept that Oxford will have some unmet need the number is not yet agreed and so the Vale is asking Oxford City to review its own policies to find more space for housing and to put that plan forward for public examination. Councillors voted overwhelmingly to commission work on the options for dealing with the issue of ‘unmet need’ and to consult the public on them. Voter registration update The Vale is writing to every household asking you to confirm your voter registration. Once you receive the letter you can respond online as well as by returning the form. If you have not received the form by the end of July please contact the Electoral Registration team on 01235 540351. Didcot-Harwell ‘Connector’ Thames Travel have launched a new bus service connecting Didcot Parkway and Harwell Campus. The new service is a significant improvement on existing services and will also connect to Milton Park and Wantage Market Place. At peak times the service will run every 15 minutes and every bus has wi-fi on board. New offices officially opened The Vale’s new offices at Milton Park were officially opened in July by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. Almost exactly six months on from the devastating fire at the former offices the Vale has now settled down – for the next few years at least – at 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton, OX14 4SB. The telephone number remains unchanged at 01235 520202. Rail electrification I have met with Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council on the subject of electrification of the Great Western mainline and its impact on the bridges through the Vale. Most severely affected is the Steventon Bridge, which has been given a stay of execution. Although there is a lot of technical work still to do I am hopeful that final solution is within sight and one that will not involve closing the bridge to traffic for several months. Steventon Parish Council continue to take an active role in protecting the interests of residents and I will do my best to ensure they are kept fulling informed and their views taken into account.