News
Jubilee Path ‘green tunnel’ reborn
A joint initiative by the Environment Group and WoTHabs has successfully completed one of the tasks in the Village Plan: trimming back the overgrown Jubilee Path alongside Hardwick Road. Heavy branches from the mature hedge trees had been gradually leaning towards the road and some had started to split away from their trunks.
Guided and assisted in the work by WoTHabs members, tree surgeon Ian Hogg and his team undertook the work in two sessions, funded by The Parish Council. See the pictures in the Photo Gallery. Two tonnes of overhanging branches were removed, some of which had been hit by passing lorries. Walkers will now enjoy a clearer route.
Sally Woolhouse reports that John Southey, Martin Parham, Charles Cotgreave and Sandra Parkinson all deserve a mention for their contribution to the task.
For more information on WoTHabs go to www.oxnet.org.uk/wothabs. Cowslip Open Day is on Sunday 2nd May above Chalkhills, Hardwick Road.
Date/Time : Wednesday, 10th March 2010 16:31
Whitchurch raises money to help Haitians
The sum of £1150 was raised for the relief of people in earthquake-devastated Haiti at a tea-and-cakes event held in the village on 27 February. Stalls were set up in the village hall selling cakes, cards, plants, clothes and bric-a-brac. Winning ticket holders in the Grand Draw chose from a table full of donated items.
Church treasurer Tony Voysey said that it was a successful and enjoyable afternoon. Many people had come together to help contribute to the Haiti Relief Fund. Thanks were due to Yvonne Kerevan and Wendy Ferguson for organising the event, to the many stall holders for helping and to the village hall management committee for waiving the booking fee.
Those unable to attend who wish to contribute to the Fund are invited to contact Tony Voysey (Tel 984 3946).
Date/Time : Sunday, 7th March 2010 14:35
Bridge Company discontinues regular meetings
The Bridge Company has written to four local parish councils (Whitchurch, Pangbourne, Goring Heath and Woodcote) saying that it wishes to discontinue holding regular meetings with them. Whitchurch Parish Council has replied, expressing disappointment. The Bridge Company’s letter and the Parish Council’s reply can be read on the Parish Council page of this site. (See the final paragraph of 'Whitchurch Bridge Inquiry')
Date/Time : Friday, 5th March 2010 09:03
Cricket ground plan moves forward
Following the success of the village meeting held at the end of January to discuss the proposed acquisition of the cricket ground in Eastfield Lane and its conversion to a Community Sports Field, the Parish Council today reported the following progress.
· Further meetings have been held between the Parish Council, the Whitelock family (who currently own the cricket ground) and David Parker (the architect) with a view to amending the planning application to the satisfaction of all parties before it is submitted.
· The Parish Council has been in contact with Whitchurch Primary School to get their views on the proposed car park arrangements, site usage etc.
· The car park element of the application has been debated at some length. Having considered the views of the various parties, in particular the primary school, the application will now include (subject to professional traffic assessment advice) a limited car park of 12 spaces only, sited next to the building plot and not adjacent to the school. This aspect of the application is now agreed.
· The size of the building plot within the application has been amended and is now smaller. The corner of the plot for the house adjacent to Eastfield lane and the car-park will be used to access the Community Sports Field as well as the proposed new dwelling. This aspect of the application is now agreed.
· Although it would be very nice to replace the existing Cricket Club buildings this is not part of the application. We have been advised that planning permission would not be given to do anything other than replace the existing buildings where they are and no bigger than they are at present. This will be a project to consider in the future.
· The size of the proposed house is the final piece of the jigsaw. This aspect of the application is still under discussion. Many in the village have expressed concern about the size of the house and this is being taken into consideration.
· Throughout the process the Parish Council has been taking advice from SODC councillor Pearl Slatter and from Whitchurch resident Neil King QC, who specialises in town and country planning. The aim being that as far as possible the application should receive the best possible hearing when it comes before the planning committee. To achieve this we will have to submit a Flood Risk Assessment, a Traffic Statement, and give careful consideration to the environment which includes the trees on the site and provisions to ensure that any bats are unaffected.
· The Parish Council has ongoing contact with Whitchurch Cricket Club, who continue to support the application.
The Parish Council emphasised their hope that the application will be ready to be submitted to SODC in the near future. Further progress will be reported here.
Date/Time : Thursday, 4th March 2010 10:56
Bridge toll rising to 20p for card users
The concessionary bridge toll, available to those paying by plastic bridge card, will rise from 13.89p to 20p on Monday 1st March, the Whitchurch Bridge Company announced today. The company also announced the introduction of a Frequent User Scheme. The full statement is shown below.
'To enable the Company to build up sufficient cash to fund the reconstruction of the Bridge in 2013, the Bridge Card Toll will rise from 13.89p to 20p on Monday 1st March. This change is smaller than the increase in the regulated cash Toll from 20p to 40p approved by the Secretary of State last year. In accordance with an Undertaking given by the Company, the Bridge Card Toll will now be held at 20p until at least 2013.
Although the new 20p Bridge Card Toll represents a substantial saving on the 40p cash Toll, the Company wishes to further limit the impact on local residents who need to use the Bridge several times each day. The Company will therefore be introducing a Frequent User Scheme which will allow any Bridge Card user an unlimited number of crossings for a fixed cost of £18 per month.
Company Secretary Geoff Weir says “We recognise that any increase in the Tolls will be unwelcome, but we hope that users of Whitchurch Bridge will understand that the reasons for it were thoroughly scrutinised at last year’s Public Inquiry and accepted by the Secretary of State.
Our new Frequent User Scheme offers savings and convenience for just £216 per year, which is less than 60p or 3 crossings per day'.
More details of the revised Tolls and the new Frequent User Scheme are available on the Company’s website at www.whitchurchbridge.com, and on leaflets from the Toll Booth.'
A Community page has recently been added to the Bridge Company’s website, giving detailed information about traffic flows and an analysis of bridge card usage. Also appearing on the page is a Corporate Social Responsibility Statement.
Date/Time : Monday, 15th February 2010 14:16
Car stolen from driveway in High Street
Thames Valley Police issued the following notice today:
Between 1230 hours on Friday 12th February and 1200 hours on Saturday 13th February a vehicle was taken without owners consent from High Street, Whitchurch. Unknown offenders have taken a blue VW Golf vehicle from driveway. Please be extra vigilant and report any suspicious people or vehicles in the area to the Police. If you have any information relating to this message please call the Police on 08458 505 505 and quote URN 658 of the 13th February.
Date/Time : Monday, 15th February 2010 12:32
Microlight hangar plan revived
A previous application to build light aircraft hangars at Whittles Farm, Mapledurham RG4 7UP, was withdrawn last year after a barrage of objections from the public, mainly on the grounds of a potential noise nuisance. The application has now been resubmitted to South Oxfordshire District Council, this time for three hangars instead of four.
Details are available on the SODC website at: http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/planning/ApplicationDetails.jsp?REF=P10/E0078 .
Members of the public wishing to comment can do so on the form provided on the website. Comments must be received no later than 26th February 2010.
Postscript: the applicant Mr Emmons came to a meeting of Whitchurch Parish Council on 15th February to clarify aspects of his proposal. He explained that the hangars are for microlight aircraft of the type pictured above, which are noise-certified, fly at 80 to 100 mph and are less intrusive than some lawnmower-engined slower aircraft. He invited anyone with queries to phone him at 01491 671459.
News Editor, 16 Feb 2010
Date/Time : Saturday, 6th February 2010 17:44
Great enthusiasm for cricket field plan
A hundred Whitchurch residents squeezed into the Village Hall on Saturday afternoon to hear about the proposed acquisition by the Village of the privately-owned cricket field in Eastfield lane and its potential new role as a community sports ground.
Matilda Oppenheimer explained that the proposal is for ownership of the field to be given to a charitable trust controlled by the Charity Commission and operated by the Parish Council on behalf of the Village. In exchange for the gift of the field to the Village the owners would retain a plot of land with planning permission for one house. Within the proposal, car parking space would be provided for the sports ground and also for the school.
Architect David Parker presented details of the proposed house. There were some comments from the floor on its size but its design appeared to meet with general satisfaction.
It was emphasised that this is a unique opportunity for the village to acquire the cricket field for future generations and to protect it from the risk of being lost to housing projects. The trust covenant would prevent such land use. This would still allow for replacement of the existing pavilion in due course.
The proposal was received with great enthusiasm.
The Parish Council declared its great pleasure at the outcome of the meeting and thanked the many who had come and given constructive support. They hoped the same enthusiasm would be shown when the planning application goes before the SODC planning committee in Crowmarsh.
The meeting was attended by David Sexon, OCC councillor; Pearl Slatter, SODC councillor; Hugh and Jane Whitelock and their sons Ben and Tom; Mike Butt, Chairman of the Cricket Club; several member of the Cricket Club including David Mattimoe, Tim Close and Lyn Williams (captain); Stephen Trinder, Chairman of the Village Plan; Dawn Chesters, Head Teacher of Whitchurch School (who provided helpful comments about car park access); Nick Edmondson, Henley Standard; and all the members of the Whitchurch Parish Council.
Further news on the planning application will be posted on this site as it becomes available.
Date/Time : Monday, 1st February 2010 15:19
Sustainability group formed
A joint Pangbourne and Whitchurch Sustainability group was formed at a meeting in Pangbourne Village Hall on Friday 29th January. About 24 people attended the first meeting, a quarter of them from Whitchurch. The group will aim to promote sustainable living, by focusing on such topics as energy conservation, waste and local growing of food.
Peter McManners, elected joint chairman with Heather Thorne, said that the possibility of generating hydro-electricity from the Thames, as is planned at Goring, could be considered in due course, though first indications were that the relatively small drop at our weir (1m compared to Goring’s 1.75m) makes this less viable.
Jim Donahue of Hardwick Road, Whitchurch, was elected vice-chairman of the group.
Date/Time : Monday, 1st February 2010 11:54
Give Way sign fights back
Oops! A car driver braked unsuccessfully on the slippery High Street this afternoon, approaching the Ferryboat narrows. The BMW ended up in an awkward position, trapped by the Give Way sign, and had to be temporarily abandoned. Thanks to Stephen Trinder who came across it and sent in this photo.
Date/Time : Monday, 4th January 2010 17:38
Photos of Whitchurch in the snow
Several people have sent in photos taken in recent days when the village took on the look of a traditional snowy Christmas card. To see them, click on an image in the gallery on the home page. Thanks to Claire Scott, Jennifer Bruce and Mike Scott for their contributions. Thanks also to Nick Brazil for his many photos, also in the gallery, showing the chaos and the beauty of the transformed landscape.
The Whitchurch Web team wishes you a Happy New Year!
Webmaster David Robinson
Website host Phil Weir at SiteSpider
Photographer Nick Brazil
Events Editor Pam Scott
News Editor Richard Wingfield
Date/Time : Friday, 1st January 2010 10:14
Snow closes High Street
Whitchurch woke this morning to a snowy High Street lined with abandoned cars. A snowfall of two to three inches yesterday afternoon had led to slippery conditions on the hill which gradually made it impassable. Long term High Street resident Tania Hawley said that in 35 years she could recall few occasions when cars had been abandoned like this. She said that the timing of the snowfall, shortly before the homeward journey, had made things worse.
By mid-morning many people, some pulling toboggans, were heading along Hardwick Road towards the hill beyond Bozedown Farm.
You are invited to send your best photographs of Whitchurch in the snow to the News Editor (there is an email link near the bottom of the Find Us/Contact Us page) and the best will be added to the photo gallery.
The picture above was contributed by Harry Butterworth. It was taken at 8.50 this morning when normally there would be a stream of cars in both directions. Harry learned later that the owner of the Astra car on the left of the picture was taken in and given overnight shelter by a kind Whitchurch resident.
PS By midday a gritting truck had got through and traffic began to flow again. Most of the abandoned cars were reclaimed by their owners during the afternoon. A heavy frost is forecast for tonight and roads are expected to be icy in the morning.
Date/Time : Tuesday, 22nd December 2009 10:24
Project for hydro-electric power from the Thames
At a meeting in Pangbourne on 10th December, a member of the Goring & Streatley Sustainability Group described their project for generating hydro-electric power from the Thames. The plan is to install three Archimedes Spiral turbines on the weir near Goring lock. These would be turned by falling water to generate 250 kW of power, enough to supply electricity to 300 homes. There is said to be strong local support for the scheme.
It was suggested that a joint Pangbourne and Whitchurch Sustainability Group might be set up which could investigate the possibility of a similar project on the weir at Pangbourne. Any such project would fall within the Whitchurch parish boundary. A further meeting in Pangbourne is planned for 29th January.
Shown above is an Archimedes Spiral installed on the River Dart in Devon, one of three such installations in Britain.
Date/Time : Friday, 11th December 2009 17:01
Ancient well found and restored
While working on a paved area in the garden of their house in Eastfield Lane, Jim and Yvonne Kerevan were surprised to discover a buried well that had once been used for water supply to their house Eastfield Lodge and its adjacent stables. They decided to reinstate the well and install a hand pump. Mrs Kerevan (left) said that the water level is only a few feet below ground level and they can now draw water from the well whenever they need it in the garden.
Date/Time : Thursday, 10th December 2009 17:37
Welly Dog wins popular vote at Art & Craft show
The newly refurbished village hall was packed with residents this afternoon for prize-giving at the annual Art & Craft Exhibition. Whitchurch Society chairman Peter Smith said that though there was a slight drop in children’s entries this year, more adults had submitted work than before. A huge range of paintings and photographs was on display. Other exhibits included an upholstered chair, a model sailing ship and a mobile made from painted CDs.
Pictured above is the winner of the popular vote, Amy Holland, a 16 year old student at Henley College, with her ingenious Welly Dog.
For an article on the exhibition by Peter Smith and the full list of prize winners click here.
Date/Time : Sunday, 15th November 2009 17:10
High Street weight limit confirmed
County Councillor David Sexon confirmed today that the 7.5 tonne environmental limit for traffic on the B471 has been formally approved.
This means that anyone seeing a vehicle of over 7.5 tonnes in the village, which is not delivering or collecting its main cargo within the village, will be able to report it.
For further information about the weight limit and for details of how to identify and report an offending lorry, please click here.
The environmental weight limit, which was introduced to maintain the rural character of the B471, is independent of the Toll Bridge structural weight limit, though both are at the same level of 7.5 tonnes. When the Toll Bridge is reconstructed in 2013/14 the structural limit will disappear but the environmental limit will remain. The bridge will be rebuilt to a standard strength so that it can withstand the loading from a rogue heavy lorry whose driver has ignored the environmental limit.
Date/Time : Wednesday, 4th November 2009 15:33
27 sign up for Hardwick allotments
Sir Julian Rose’s plan to let local gardeners grow crops on land on the Hardwick Estate, reported on this page two months ago, is going ahead. Interviewed in yesterday’s You and Yours programme on Radio 4, pioneering organic farmer Sir Julian said that 27 applicants had signed up for organic allotments on his land. They now have to decide on a chairman, the sizes of plots and whether to have sheds, before the project starts next March. The allotments will be on several acres of land at Collins End. An annual rental figure of £30-£50 per plot is expected. Applicants include keen gardeners from Upper Basildon, Purley, Reading and Whitchurch Hill, some of whom have been on allotment waiting lists for years. Sir Julian said that this was ‘a call to action’ and that by his scheme, which he regarded partly as a cultural experiment, he hoped to encourage other large landowners across the country to share part of their land for the benefit of local growers.
Date/Time : Saturday, 24th October 2009 12:07
New book on Whitchurch history
Local historian Peter Hawley has been delving into fascinating corners of Whitchurch’s history. Relics & Monuments, launched at yesterday’s village fete, is a paperback of 107 pages with many colour photographs. For those who have wondered why there is no riverside road to Goring or why our war memorial was not built on the former public quayside near the mill, this is the book. Its scope stretches back to the Bozedown Hill camp of 500 BC and forward to the disappearance of one of the county’s finest manorial barns from our High Street in the 1960s. Peter connects Whitchurch’s distinguished residents with the Abolition of Slavery, the Matabele War and a Patagonian Mission. The book even recalls the singing of the female workers on wartime manufacture in the Swanston squash court. Copies obtainable from the Whitchurch and Goring Heath History Society, price £7.95. Contact Vicky Jordan 0118 984 3260 or vickyjordan5@hotmail.com
Date/Time : Sunday, 6th September 2009 17:13