Changes to how you can pay for parking in the Vale
Users of district council car parks are now able to pay by mobile using the new Connect Cashless system – this replaces the RingGo service, which has been available since 2014. People can still also pay by cash.
Car park users can quickly and easily register a Connect account with a call to provide payment details – one text later and they’re all set up.
Every time they visit the car park from then on, they will only need to make a phone call or send a single text to pay for their parking. There’s more information at whitehorsedc.gov.uk/connectcashless.
Park for free and buy local this Christmas – free parking days increased in Vale towns for 2016
Vale of White Horse District Council is giving people an extra incentive to shop locally for their presents this year by offering even more free parking days in the run up to Christmas.
Traditionally the district council has offered a single day’s free parking in district council car parks in Abingdon, Faringdon and Wantage. However in the run up to Christmas, for the first time, motorists can park for free on a number of select days up until 24 December.
You can park for free in district council car parks all day on the following days (you don’t have to display a ticket during these times):
- Abingdon: Saturdays - from 26 November to 24 December
- Faringdon: 3, 6, 9 and 17 December
- Wantage: Fridays - 2, 9, 16 and 23 December
MoD announces Dalton Barracks to be closed
Dalton Barracks has been at the heart of the Abingdon community for a generation and it will be sadly missed by many residents in the Vale of White Horse.
We are currently awaiting clarification on exactly when the sale is expected to happen, and how much and which parts of the site will be sold, before we can assess how the land could help the local need for housing in the future. In the meantime, we’re expecting to adopt our new Local Plan 2031 next month.
Plans unveiled for new play area in Abingdon’s Abbey Meadow
The revamp is part of a major project to improve Abbey Meadow - attracting more visitors throughout the year.
The work will also see new toilets, new fencing around the splash park and dedicated changing facilities for children. There will also be a circular dog walk, and a new sloping path to provide people with disabilities easy access to the splash area and riverside. In a separate project the Vale is also refurbishing the outdoor pool and changing rooms.
You can find out more about the plans at http://www.matthewbarber.co.uk/news/plans-unveiled-new-play-area-abingdons-abbey-meadow
New slip roads open on the A34 at Chilton
Following an £11m investment and 13 months of construction the new north facing slip roads at Chilton have opened providing better connection to the A34.
With the forecast increase in homes and jobs in Science Vale the new slip roads will play a vital role in ensuring that the local road infrastructure meets future demands. Harwell Campus, which is set to see a significant increase in jobs on site, will benefit from an improved access to its site from the A34.
Vale of White Horse District Council Leader, Cllr Matthew Barber commented: "Providing the new access to and from the A34 will make a huge difference to the local road network, relieving pressure at Milton Interchange and Rowstock. It is a significant investment in our infrastructure and will support the growth in our local economy. There remain major safety concerns on the A34 and I support the work being done by our local MPs Nicola Blackwood and Ed Vaizey to tackle this issue with the Department of Transport."